Engine brake

Depends on you the driver. Something like that shouldn't have hard fast rules.

 

Exactly. Some of the roads my dad used to haul off of in winter if you didn't use the jake you'd be 3 days trying to crawl down in low. Of course chains and lockers help prevent wheel lockup.

 

If you can apply full power/torque and not break traction, you're probably safe to utilize engine brakes. But I think in most icy situations, even with decent traction, stepping down to mid or low is prudent. However, there are many situations when using engine brakes should be avoided altogether. Experience and situational awareness is your best guide.

But you should use your service brakes when you can to work to keep them "dry" when on largely slushy roads. You may find you have poor initial braking capacity after running in slush a long time and first use your brakes to slow significantly or stop.

 

Jake brake + Johnny bar is pretty good on slick roads

 

Actually throttle & service brakes is my prefered method. But this is for off road steeper grades. Jakes can be useful but use with caution on lower settings.

 

This is bad information. Jacknife just ahead.

 

snow is irrelevant.

slippery is what matters....

basically what he said.
if i can go down the hill empty with my jakes on, i can get back up it loaded without chains.

in slippery conditions i turn the jakes low, sometimes off.

 

How so? Using the jakes by themselves you will jacknife

 

^^ Last place you want to put any braking on in the slick is the drive axles right in the middle of your truck.

A driver should be able to drive with a jake.