What is more nerve wrecking: Tight, congested streets or Steep Mountains?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Xzay, Nov 3, 2016.

  1. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    White County, Arkansas
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    The street.,

    I live and breathe mountain work, no matter how crappy a truck is. (Or how old even...)

    I think you have a bigger problem, find a company with newer rigs with brakes you can trust (To a certain degree...)

    Some streets and intersectiins in certain cities I don't bother with that traffic light or control signs. People get up on that catwalk in the old days to try and strand you for a thousand ways to be killed for your load.

    Even today on any street Ive been very alert, eyeballing and evaluating everyone in view for blocks.

    Mountains are a refuge to me.
     
    CaptainDaveG Thanks this.
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  3. MidWest_MacDaddy

    MidWest_MacDaddy Road Train Member

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    Let's add yet another vote for Tight Streets!!!
    I love mountain driving... up and down.

    Ditto just about everything listed above too.
     
  4. Wooly Rhino

    Wooly Rhino Road Train Member

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    Liberty, Missouri
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    Experience will make all your nerves go away.

    Me, I panic when I am parked at a truck stop and a Swifty is backing next to me.
     
  5. Snow Walker

    Snow Walker Light Load Member

    It depends on the time of year and my trailer set up. I used to get hauls through the Rockies in British Columbia and some of those passes used to be a 8 - 9% grade (before they fixed some of them). Two that come to mind is the Kootenay Pass and Anarchy summit pass. Both are very high and prone to extreme snowfalls. A grade betwwen a city named Rossland BC and Trail, six miles below, will put you on grades between 11% & 12 %. Navigating those decents can be a nightmare if a driver gets too brave.

    If I had an auto tranny I could handle city traffic, but only if I get to pick the route. If I had a choice, it would be open road, mountains or not.
     
    DustMyBroom and MidWest_MacDaddy Thank this.
  6. rabbiporkchop

    rabbiporkchop Road Train Member

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    I'll take steep mountains over this.
     
  7. johnwayne187

    johnwayne187 Medium Load Member

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    steep grades the most fun, the adrenaline going 80mph on a steep grade is lovely. i love it
     
    bottomdumpin and Xzay Thank this.
  8. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Percentage does not matter. In some areas here in the USA we get close to 30% which is the theoratical maximum a vehicle can remain physically on the pavement. It does matter when you consider whatever the weight you are versus what you have to use to balance that weight against the hill.

    IF you jumped out of the plane and fell. Then quit speeding up while falling you are stable now. It's the stop that's a mess.
     
  9. m16ty

    m16ty Road Train Member

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    I vote for tight congested mountain roads.

    All joking aside, I prefer the mountains. It's less stressful to me because it doesn't have the stupid people element to it. People doing stupid things and not respecting trucks can make my blood boil. Mountains are what they are and remain silent. Mountains don't flip you off, constantly blow horns at you, or yell at you in cussing fits.
     
    Boattlebot and x1Heavy Thank this.
  10. unloader

    unloader Road Train Member

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    Seems like lots of OTR guys in here lol.

    I'm perfectly comfortable on congested streets. I have never been comfortable on a steep mountain, especially when I delivered soda in the Colorado mountains in the winter time. I'd take congested tight streets over Coal Bank and Molas in a 53 footer any day.

    unloader
     
    x1Heavy and Xzay Thank this.
  11. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    We should introduce you properly. Mountains are awesome.
     
    texasbbqbest Thanks this.
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