Downgrades?

that is really the only one out west that I care about, as it is very deceiving in its appearance and the fact it is a LONG downgrade.

I ran into this one off the turnpike in PA a few months ago....thank god I only had 4,500# going down and 15,000# going back up it.

 

Most Operaters prefer the old standard track side booms instead of the high tracks,they flip over. I HH for pipelines and side booms are a PITA.

 

They may be....But #####....You ever see an open trench job with say 10 side-booms all lifting then lowering a mile length of pipe into the trench???...
Nothing short of phenomenal...

 

The lowering-in. I tend to stay clear of that part of the project when possible.

 

I know it's an old thread. But all this downgrade threads recommend using Jakes, but what if it's wet, or snow covered? We are being told to never use Jake's in those conditions.

If that's true, what, use lower gear than you would with Jake's and stab brake the whole time?

I just came down I17 south from Flagstaff to Phoenix, 6% for about 12 miles at night. I tried 7th gear and stab braking and notice brake fade coming on, and the engine light came on. The light went out when I turned the Jake's on, but I was disappointed, the truck behave the way I've been told.

The short of it. If Jake's are a danger in slick road conditions, I don't want to become reliant on the Jake's in the dry.

There doesn't seem to be any clarity on this issue.

 

If it's slick and you aren't using jake's on that kind of grade you are going to have to gear down way lower than that. Maybe down to 5th or lower depending on weight. Really though wet roads not a problem with jake's, icy or snowy either run super slow and stab or park it. Or chain up and let the jake's wail.

 

Went down that one many years ago grossing 80,000 and no Jake brake.
Had haz mat load that if even a drop of water got on it, it would explode.
Needless to say I sucked that seat right up between my arse cheeks that day.
Never did go back that route again without a Jake brake.

 

side booms are a cake walk once you figure where to put them. I have seen to many idiots load a side boom and cant hardly pick one side of trailer up. and try to run like that!

 

It doesn't take a genius to see there's a counter weight on one side. We side load them when possible.

 

I am going down the hills at pretty much the same speed that i am going up, i do get lot's of attention on the CB from fellow compadres who go down like freight train....

But so far after 20+ that recipe has work well for me!