Worst down hills

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by compass1, Aug 30, 2008.

  1. Sportster2000

    Sportster2000 Road Train Member

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    Jan 5, 2008
    Indiana
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    I went down that one just last week. The whole driving down a mountain with jake brakes is a new thing to me. I used them this time. The truck was a six speed automatic and I was at 75,000 pounds. It makes for a very interesting trip when it is the first time down a steep grade with that type of transmission. In 6th gear the truck would run 85+ mph, so I put it in 5th with the jake on and it would run 65-70 mph down the hill. The warning signs say 60 mph down that hill. So I stuck it in 4th and it was screaming at 55mph down that hill, but I didn't have to touch the brakes. Other trucks were flying around me. Don't matter to me, I'll make it to my destination in one piece.

    The first mountain grade I ever went down (march of this year) I had a full load and I did not have engine brakes on the truck. That was a very tense ride. I had a little to much speed for my own comfort. The next two I went down with that truck I took it slow.

    The one that got me was coming down snoqualmie pass, it wasn't the fact that it was difficult. It was the fact that you are doing 75+ down a mountain pass and people are passing you like it is nothing and I was bobtailing on that one.
     
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  3. LISTN'4JAKES

    LISTN'4JAKES Bobtail Member

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    Aug 29, 2008
    Rimrock, AZ
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    This is true...I-17 is very decieving...I live where I can see this highway as a matter of fact my neighbor got killled on this highway 7 miles from home back in May, he was a truck driver too.

    Please all you truckers out there be careful coming down this highway, it's decieving and can be dangerous as the other drivers are the ones going 75-80 down this road and have no consideration for others
     
  4. Stevens Sucker

    Stevens Sucker Light Load Member

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    Jan 7, 2008
    charlotte nc
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    I liked Union pass going into cali from nev I think 10 or 11 miles 6 or 7 % no flats all drop and a stop lite at the bottom. Or i-68 in Wv / Md has some good hills to along with Pa
     
  5. Stevens Sucker

    Stevens Sucker Light Load Member

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    Jan 7, 2008
    charlotte nc
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    You can go down a hill to slow a thousand times but only once to fast!
     
    rjones56 and HIDIVE Thank this.
  6. I only ran it once in an old company truck. A KW cabover w/a really too small Cat engine being pushed by 120,000 of oilfield equipment. Had to stop 1/2 way down the hill and let the brakes cool...Scary as hell. The guys behind me didn't like me coming into Nevada much either there...no turn off and I was clearing all of 8 mph coming up the hill...what a joke.
     
  7. 550hpW900L

    550hpW900L Road Train Member

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    Jan 29, 2008
    norcal
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    It sucks at night, with the sharp turns and the hills blocking your view. The guys running 75+mph are empty. I usually drop a couple gears and go down 45-50mph with 80k lbs..... I saw a bull hauler lose it there 3 years ago with a full load right in front of me, he hit the sand trap but it wasnt pretty. I get passed going down hill but then i give it hell and top the the long 6% grade at 70mph with a full load to pizz em all off, even the empty tankers :biggrin_25525: CAT POWER!!!!!!!!!
     
  8. Peanut Butter

    Peanut Butter Road Train Member

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    PO Dunk Idaho
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    I was going over the blues this last friday in Oregon, then down cabbage to pendelton oregon,, as i was going down i had 3 winco trucks pass me and im not kidding here they all 3 went down cabbage at 70 plus mph they all only tapped the brakes once on the 45 curve past the first sand trap, then they were all at the bottom by the time i was halfway down, i couldnt believe it,,even tho i was seeing it,, crazy.
     
  9. retiredhand

    retiredhand Bobtail Member

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    Aug 6, 2008
    sacramento, ca
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    Outstanding. You can't top the Man in Black. Johnny Cash that is. Not the one that rhymes with OSAMA c'mon.

    Outstanding. Can't top the man in black. Johnny Cash that is. Not the guy who's name rhymes with F-CKING OSAMA c'mon

    Yeah right. 70 mph up a 6% with 80g's. I got a triple date tonight with Pamela Anderson, Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson. Just say 45 to 50 mph next time. Maybe some one will buy that.

    I forgot about that one. It starts and Bridgeport doesn't it? I did it in a snow storm. Your 100% correct. One of the top 5 worst.

    If I'm not mistaken. That company was Valley Material Transportation out of Frenchcamp, CA.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2008
  10. truckermario

    truckermario Road Train Member

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    Going down Siskyou one time when I still was employed by CFI. I was the only one not touching my brakes. So priceless. The grade that scares me the most is the one just outside Chattanowhere.
     
  11. stardriver810

    stardriver810 Bobtail Member

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    Jul 15, 2007
    Bartonsville, PA
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    Fancy gap must have scared you because you forgot where it is. It's at mm 8 on I-77 in Va.

    The only reason that the gorge on I-40 is fun is because idiot supertruckers get impatient and have to go faster. Then, you watch the backs of their trailers cross lines.

    Pennsylvania sucks because their interstates arent designed correctly for grades. There's very few truck lanes where they should be and there's not enough proper signage.
     
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