braking on big mountains...

That's it, thanks numbers. I thought I was going senile. Dam one letter.

 

Even with ABS, it's still possible to lock up the wheels; which is why schools still teach stab braking.

And yes, I agree that not all grades are the same. I can go down Donner's all day long without ever needing to touch the service brakes. I-70 eastbound into Denver, I'll need to use the 3/5 rule or snub braking as others call it.

Many truckers get problems when they don't pre-select the correct gear at the top of the hill. Instead of save a horse and ride a cowboy it's save the brakes and ride the transmission.

 

Depending on what hill I'm going over what I do is have a set speed and when I get 5 over hit the brakes and go 5 under.
Say I want to do 35, when its gets to 40 hit the brakes till I'm running 30. These new Cat brakes hold back better and it takes a while to get back to 40 giving the brakes time to cool.
Never smoked a brake doing it this way.

 

My method is using the snub or "controlled" braking with a small twist. On my 3rd braking in my chosen gear I brake down to the next lower gear. The pattern continues until I am close to the bottom. This helps compensate for different weights, different tractors, and other variables.

 

IDK its actual name but I26 there's a few of us that call it Mt Everest : biggrin_2557: it takes forever to get up and better take forever
And a day to get down. There's a sign on top the says Top of the World. Ill agree with ya on it. Blacky tho its a nice puff don't get me wrong but I'd call green river gorge in SC over it.

 

Its kinda outta the way but what about NC226A from Spruce Pine to US 221 in Marion? Idk the grade but 15 mph limit. I never measured it but heard its only 3 miles but its the longest 3 miles I ever drove.

 

Speaking of smoking brakes. Why don't the truck companies install a heat gauge sensor for brakes?

 

Actually they are the same....names are different due to regional "monikers".

 

Green river is the one on I-26 the other side of Asheville?

 

umm, well no.

stab and snub braking are completely different.

stab braking is used to try to maintain directional control on a slick surface while slowing down. Basicly what an ABS system should do. The main issue with stab braking is running the air pressure down.

snub braking is used to maintain a control speed on a downgrade.