The Ice Road

I agree, a driver with 30+ years experience should know how to shift a super 10. I wondered about the engine brake on the ice too. Then I kind of put two and two together and came up with a logical reason. If you go too slow the engine brake will cause you to loose traction and if you go too fast then you have other problems. It seems that the truck has to be right at the correct speed to keep the wheels sticking to the road. And to the new drivers that think you can adjust the engine brake just take a note here and know not all engine brakes have stages and are either on or off.

It's not a job for anyone that's just driven on ice. You need to know how to drive the road and there's no comparison with any other road or conditions. How many drivers have taken a truck down the roller coaster? I give them credit for what they are doing but there's some that just won't make it. I think Huge drives too fast and he's going to pay for that ####iness. He does admit that the hills and turns are new to him and the only place he can show his experience is on the ice itself but there's not that many loads going over the ice. If you want a job driving on the ice you should apply now for the next year or beyond.

 

Yes, but you're talking about when its actually raining enough for the road to be WET. In the case i was talking about, the road was not wet. I could barely even call what was happening "rain".

 

this is very true out here in the west after it has been dry for a long time. im really sick of the fake drama on this show! i use to really like the show but they are running out of things to keep it interesting.

 

Pretty sure all the KW T800s and W900s have 3 stage jakes though don't they? Not sure, since I've never driven either of them, but every t600 and t2000 I've seen had 3 stagers on em. Would suck not to have them, especially given the conditions they drive in up there.

And ya, guessing the speed does play a big part in how much they use their jakes. All part of knowing your truck and the road I suppose. Either way, I'm betting they know more then me about when to use it and when not to.

Not sure why Alex had such a rough time with the super 10 either. Seems like he got used to it though. What really got me was his escort leaving him because he couldn't chain up fast enough. I mean, they can't use chains on the ice itself. So why be such a prick about it? You're there to show him the ropes then get pissed when ya gotta do so? I've yet to have to chain up, but mostly because the companies I drive for say only chain up if you have to do so to get off the road and stop so it's not too much of a stretch to think someone with as much driving experience as Alex or Hugh wouldn't be too good at chaining. Ah well, live and learn they say.

 

ive driven a lightning 10 before, and it's been such a long time that i bet i'd have the same problems alex had if i did it again. you're seriously telling us that you can just jump into a super 10 truck and drive it perfectly, even though youre used to a straight 10?

 

That show is about as ridiculous as it gets,what little of the truth thats told/shown is severely diluted and over sensationalized to heroic proportions.

Something to fill a students gray matter outside of redundant product commercials

 

Nope, where did I say that? All I said was I wasn't sure why Alex had so much trouble with it. Are they that different from straight 10's?

When I went to work for Melton it was the first time I drove a 13-speed. Took a little bit to get used to using it (few hours with trainer) then a few weeks till I was really comfortable and smooth with it. So I can understand how using a new trans can #### ya up, especially on hill.

BTW, I absolutely loved the 13 speed once I got used to it... I'm half tempted to work for someone with 18s just to see if they are that much better as well.

 

We didn't, ours were on and off. They worked very well but I guess it's how the company spec's the truck. Up there it would make sense to have a 3 stage.

You're 100% right about the guy leaving. If the company is going to put him there to show Alex the ropes then he should do his job. Getting pi** off only shows his unprofessionalism.

 

Ah 10-4, then ya I prolly would be ok with one myself. Makes me wonder what Alex used before then... So basically you have 5 gears that you split is what I'm assuming? With no range selector, just the little splitter knob?