I have a question regarding having to stop at full speed, loaded, in a short distance. Let's say I come around a bend on an interstate and the traffic around the corner is completely stopped and heavy in all lanes. What if the service brake and clutch wont be enough to stop? Would pulling the trailer emergency brake and leaving the tractor break disengaged while applying the service brake help stop the truck better then slowing it down and causing a huge accident?
Emergency stopping (question)
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Acdeep, Jul 9, 2019.
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Im asking because earlier I nearly avoided a terrible accident. I was in 10th. No time to downshift and had to firmly apply the brakes and hold my clutch in. I barely stopped in time. What if I would've had a heavy load n such. My load was only about 26k. I'm just trying to think what to do if I had been heavier or less stopping distance?
Lepton1, CousinVinny and D.Tibbitt Thank this. -
The park brakes and service break are the same shoe.
Pulling the trailer brakes will stop the trailer service brake from getting air, which means they rely on spring pressure only very bad ideaHammer166, Pedigreed Bulldog, Lepton1 and 7 others Thank this. -
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Just the same as not overdriving your headlights you want to be careful around blind corners. The heavier you are the better your traction typically so that's not a huge concern.
Lumper Humper, SuperRookie, FlaSwampRat and 1 other person Thank this. -
You get the most traction when the tires are at the verge of locking up. If you pull trailer park brakes on, you risk locking up all the trailer tires. Bad because of several reasons:
•You have much less traction when tires are skidding, which increases stopping distance.
•Your ABS system, which prevents wheel lockup, works on the service brakes. It will have ZERO effectiveness if you set the trailer park brakes.
• If the trailer tires lock, you risk major loss of control.
Reader's Digest version: Very bad idea.Lepton1, flood, MartinFromBC and 6 others Thank this. -
You know what, you probably weren't anticipating what was around a turn from the sounds of it and I'm glad nothing bad happened. Good on ya for coming on here and describing your problem and wanting to learn how to get better....not many people do that unfortunately.
flood, MartinFromBC, Lumper Humper and 3 others Thank this. -
1) Expect the unexpected.
2) Avoid the collision.
3) Aim high in steering.
1 & 3 - Just like these guys that fly down hills. I've often wondered where they get those guarantees nothing is blocking the road around the next bend.Lepton1, brian991219, D.Tibbitt and 5 others Thank this. -
Everyone pretty well summed up what I would say. Bad idea. Use the brake pedal. Abs and all that helps ya control now days.
I will say this, if u dont have a CB get one. If u have one and u keep it off, stop. Lol I cant tell a how many times I have been coming up to a slow down or stopped traffic and been warned on the cb. While every time I have seen it before they hollar on the radio, it's still been nice to know. Its annoying sometimes, but still pretty useful tool deom time to time. Just my $0.02 be safe out there. -
I know of someone who did this in a bad snow/ice storm... didn't end well a few years ago. It started a big pile up, like 30 vehicles.
Terrible idea because unlike using the brakes once you pull the parking brakes you won't be able to release them.
So if it starts to jackknife after setting the brakes you're screwed. If you just use the service brakes and start to skid you release the brakes a bit, and your able to gain control to avoid the traffic by stopping in time, or using the shoulder or ditch if needed.Lepton1, brian991219, SuperRookie and 3 others Thank this.
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