handling a downgrade

It's good to hear there are still professionals coming up through the ranks.

 

30 mph is a very important number because if someone is going downhill at 5 mph and I pass at 35 mph I am going way too fast...
just kidding, be safe!

 

The whole point is to come down the grade slow enough where you can stop in a emergency never over heating the brakes plus keeping the engine at a safe RPM and not up against the peg. I've found most grades the speed was 30 to 35 mph. Without an engine brake it's much slower.

 

My truck doesn't have a jake/engine brake....would being in a lower gear help me down a 6% grade for almost 7miles at 75,000lbs??

 

It would help. Get to about 25 mph before the downgrade and pop it in a lower gear, once your speed reaches 30 use your brakes to slow down to 25, once your truck reaches 30 again, use your brakes to slow down to 25 again. At least that's what I would do

edit: Then again, I've always used the engine brake so maybe someone else can chime in

 

This sounds like sound and reasonable advice. The posted maximum speeds you see lots of places were established before engine brakes and today's vastly improved braking systems.

Today's advanced improvements in brake shoe technology has helped a lot but once they become crystallized with lots of abuse and neglect, they are an invitation to major incidents on some of the major grades if the driver is not aware and does not make necessary adjustments (speed reductions)

Search "auto slack adjusters" and see what comes up regarding their expectations and usage tips

 

I have less then a year exp but my advice it's better to be too slow then too fast. If you enter the hill at a slower speed it's going to be much easier to keep things under control. In my dump truck that has an 8 speed with deep reduction I'm likely going to be in 6th gear down grade if the goal is to maintain 40 mph.

 

Adjust speed accordingly if your loaded

 

"Accordingly" is what this thread is attempting to define. What is "accordingly" in the world of an inexperienced driver?

 

walking speed