Anyone had to use a runaway truck ramp?

THATs exactly what I would think too. You write it better than I did.

 

It sounds like you're driving a truck programmed for minimal driver input. If I can't tell that truck exactly what I want it to do, I want no part of it. I'm not anti-tech, I'm very much pro-tech, but I have no desire to deal with a truck that limits my control.

As far as Jake failure, what's the big deal? Jake quits, I have completely cool brakes, slow it down and come off the old way. In the meantime, I'm saving money by significantly increasing brake lining life by minimizing brake usage.

I think a lot of the difference of opinion about this stuff is related to overall philosophy on driving. To my mind, far too many otherwise experienced drivers are terrified by the thought of a wheel or two sliding a bit. And that shouldn't be so... there's a vast difference between throwing the whole truck into a skid, and losing bite for second or two on a wheel or two. That Jake isn't going to kill you on snow, or on ice wearing chains, because unless you're up near redline, it puts much less torque to the tires than the engine. It's really all about control, and you can still be completely in control and have some slippage going on.

 

It's about setting yourself or another driver up for trouble. Using the engine brake is a really bad idea in snow and ice. Their is no reason for it. Your not saving money on the brakes. What are you saving $0.5 or $0.10 or $0.75 ?

If you like tech then you should like the new auto shift transmissions. It can do some really nice things. It has crazy strong engine brake. You can go downhill without touching the brakes, probably faster then your going now. The computers and transmission is programed for 1750-2200 RPMs on stage 3 engine brake.

They also have special downhill mode you can setup, and the truck will go the speed you set it for. That's nice option to have I pick my speed say 45MPH set it up and let the transmission and computers go to work.

If your going downhill you want to use all the brakes you have available. Especially in the snow and ice. That's not the time to be worried about saving $0.50. If someone want to use the engine brake also then go ahead and go FASTER with engine brake and regular brakes going. Why limit yourself to just the engine brake ? It sound like your limiting yourself because you do know the roads are slick and you could jacknife going downhill hill or not stop if need.

You should use everything your truck has to get down a hill. That what I would tell someone.

 

Some of the best reading on air-drum brakes I have ever read. Glad your taking the time to post it.

 

That's exactly my concern. A lot of drivers like to tailgate. If they're a few feet from your trailer going down hill at 60mph with your brake lights on, they won't know when you really have to hit the brakes and slam into your trailer. First chance I get, I'm going to get that changed.

 

This is exactly why the current fascination with four-ways needs to go away. A car next to you doesn't know you've just switched to a left turn signal, because you've had them flashing for the last 10 minutes!

 

Who told you using the jake in adverse conditions is unsafe? An improperly functioning Jake brake, ie one that will stall the engine is extremely rare. I have never driven a truck that the jake did not shut off at around 1,000 rpm. I did look at one that did, but it was a 24 year old truck.

If you understand the physics of jackknifing, you would understand that using the Jake can be safe in almost all conditions. And as another poster said, if the conditions are so bad that a Jake would cause wheel slide, you're probably chained anyway.

 

Using the Jake brake is bad because your more likely to lose traction.

Your going downhill the road is snow packed. You could use all 10 brakes giving yourself and truck the most traction possible. You could use just the Jake brake. Now remember the Jake brake is going to put the most braking power to the tires with the least traction. So your more likely to lose traction, once you lose traction you have a problem you have to fix. You might keep going straight or you could start sliding sideways. You don't have much time to fix your problem.

How is that better then using all 10 brakes ?