Down hill shifting

wd40 · Jan 7, 2014

gpsman said: ↑

There's nothing "safe" about any motor vehicle in motion, at any velocity, and they're often rendered unsafe when they are stopped.

I have to ask, since you're a student, what have your instructors told you...?
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They said I have be going slower than the gear I want it to go in... Remember guys our CDL school requires double clutching...

wd40 · Jan 7, 2014

DriveItUSA said: ↑

in my CDL school our instructors trained us that when we are climbing a hill, to KNOW which gear we should/need to be in when going down a grade and to stay there. So when you come to the crest of the hill, you should be in the gear you want to be to go down it, and you should stay in that gear. don't ride the brakes. don't stab brake, and don't mash them and hold them there. apply firm pressure momentarily until you reduce speed, and then let off the brakes.

Just rembember....Always K.I.S.S.! (Keep it Simple, Stupid.)
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Interesting, my instructor said that with the increased aerodynamics of trucks now days that you may need to drop a gear before downside.

wd40 · Jan 7, 2014

Moosetek13 said: ↑

Sometimes it's difficult to know what gear you need when you come over the mountain because the grade on either side is often different.
There might be a 5% on one side and a 7% on the other.
My rule of thumb is to 'look' at the grade as I am cresting the top. If it looks steeper that what I climbed I'll slow down to the next lower gear to begin with.
If my engine brake is reducing my speed too much I'll upshift until I find the gear that balances the grade with the jakes for the speed I want to maintain.
Same if I'm gaining speed too fast with full engine brakes. If I have to apply the service brakes more than every 20-30 seconds I'll slow down to the lower speed range of the next lower gear and make the downshift.
And I do it BEFORE I've let the brakes heat up too much.

The trick for the rookie is to try to shift at exactly the same rate that you normally do.
Try to shift faster and you'll likely miss the shift.
So get the speed down to the lower speed range for the gear you want, which gives the leeway for the truck to gain some speed on the hill as you are shifting.
Just blip the throttle to hit 1500 RPM, apply light pressure to the stick, and let the gears sync into place as the RPM's drop.
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This is basically what I'm trying to do; however....I'm grinding gears and more than not, full stop and start over.

Moosetek13 · Jan 7, 2014

Well, a full stop to start over is better than full forward to a sudden stop.
At least with your way, you will live to see another day.

It never comes on the first try, it takes some experience through those mistakes.
Take it slow and easy, always.

No matter what any driver manager or planner or boss tells you, it is not about getting there in a certain time frame.
It is about getting there safely and intact.
The alternative is bad for everyone.

Mtn. Dew · Jan 8, 2014

Thanks Everyone

S M D · Jan 8, 2014

Grind it till u find it lol

ziggity · Jan 8, 2014

You are showing promise so keep trying! No one can do this by written word only by practice.

wd40 · Jan 9, 2014

Update-The Instructor (at school) told me today that I am shifting too slow for the situation, RPMs up and make the shift quick.

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