The Jake brake

I dunno what a mentor or trainer would say but personally I use it almost all the time when I have the cruise set so I don't get all crazy goin down a hill. I try to stay off it otherwise tho. We used to make fun of guys jammin the hell out of their jake and I guess that carries over...

Now that I think about it some more I never use it when it's slippery out. Course I don't have the cruise on then either.

 

Not in town, by houses in the country, empty on gravel, or when it's slick out. Other than that, it stays on.

 

I use it all the time,even in slippery conditions,I use the lower setting,and increase when needed.
But I understand vehicle dynamics.
Smoothness is what counts.
Some jakes are super strong,others are weaker.
Companies tell you not to use the jake in slippery conditions,to save themselves,from bad drivers.

 

A lot of people will say not to use the jake when the roads are icy. I disagree and use it all the time coming down mountains with or without chains. You just have to feel the tractor and watch the trailor. Don't let people scare you from using your jake. Use all 3 settings and save your brakes. Also be aware that if your trailor starts to fish tail don't panic it's not as bad as losing traction on your tractor.

 

The jake brake,is only really only controlling the drive wheels,so using it smartly,and smoothly,slows the truck,while the other wheels continue on their own happy course.

 

Always use it when entering truck stops, on high setting, ESPECIALLY in the middle of the night. Your fellow truckers will all thank you for it! Just tune to channel 19 and sit back and bask in all the praise they heap upon you!!!

[/sarcasm]

 

Mostly guys in long nose petes,with 12 inch stacks,and lots of chicken lights!
Seriously,as I come off the highway,the jake goes off.
Most newer trucks have mufflers,keeping the roar,to a minimum.

 

It is not as effective if you have a quiet muffler, like the ones on the fleet trucks. They may not even notice!

 

I agree with Steel Dragon, some Jakes really slow you down, while others, not so much. I knew a guy years ago with a F model Mack with a V-8, and that Jake would lock the rear wheels when slick ( providing some interesting rides), while the ones on my BC Cummins, didn't have near that kind of braking. More and more communities are posting noise laws about jakes ( thanks to the cowboys with straight stacks) and LEO's have no sense of humor about that. Side note, never get a motel near an exit ramp on the highway.