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.
Worst down hills
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by compass1, Aug 30, 2008.
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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
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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
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You can go down a hill to slow a thousand times but only once to fast!
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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.
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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.
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
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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.
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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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