Full load, grades, no engine brake

i was coming into morgantown from i68 the other day, after the mandatory brake check in WV.

i tried that light brake pedal the whole 10miles downhill, without using the jake

it actually worked, i was surprised

using about 10lbs, i went down at about 25mph or so

i kept expecting the brakes to smoke, but they didnt

 

EZX,how fast you would have gone if you had been in 1 or 2 gears lower?
My argument in this thread is that people in general use their brakes too much going down.
That it is better to be in a lower gear and only use your brakes when you really need them.
Cool brakes stop you in an emergency............................ hot brakes don't.

Might be something you want to try next time?

 

daf

normally, i take that same hill, jake on, full load, at about 55mph, rarely hitting the brakes

i just wanted to test that theory out, and surprisingly, it worked

i am not advocating anything, going slower or faster, just that i wanted to test the idea of light braking down the hill

 

and to be honest, i dont feel gears slow the truck down on a heavy load going down hill

that may have worked with older engines, but other than building up air pressure faster, i dont see the advantage, other than it bringing your revs way over 2000rpm, i dont think it slows the truck down

 

True take the airbrk test but to really learn about the airbrks is pick up a CDL manual at the DMV center and study.Ther's so much more to learn and know in the manual that you're not going to find from an online test.

 

Riding with my dad in the 70's it was, use 2 or 3 gears lower going down than going up, Light, steady, pessure on the brakes, and that is only to supplement the slowing effect of the engine.

If your gaining too much speed than your in too high of a gear. Since I started again two years ago I have not had jake and routinely go down Eagle at 78,000 with this method. The only time I had a problum was on I77 in Virginia north of I40 and that was not because of how steep the hills were but because there were so many in a row, combined with actully trying to slow the truck down more than I needed too. I68, I77, Black on I40, Eagle, no problums now. That said, with my trainor, he used stab braking, made my do it too, and it worked just fine.
So, in conclusion, just because a method of doing a job is not what you are taught, or what you use, doues not mean it is a wrong method. I traveled this country with my da and grand da, in the 60s and 70s no jakes, power steering, tractors that would in fact terrify most of todays drivers and they did just fine. So, the point I am trying to make is that instead of automatically dismissing ideas and methods that are new to you, try closeing your mouth and opening your ears and maybe you will learn another way to do something, then, instead of knowing one way to do it, you will now know two. If I ruffle a few feathers I apoligize, because thats not my intention, I just thought a little common sense was needed here.
Happy trails.
B

 

I run that hill once a week, or every other week, at 75K+...I find I take it best in 8th gear with jake on and since I need to constantly brake, as it just wants to GO I find it easier to brake at the lower speed that running in 9th and braking at the higher speed...I hate that route and if I'm paying attention I'll continue on 64 to 81N instead as I'm heading to Jessup, MD...

 

Yep, that's what I was taught and what is in every CDL manual. Have no clue where the driver who said the trolley brake is there to be used got this erroneous information. It's a VERY dangerous practice and I don't care how much someone has used it on a regular basis in real-life applications ... the rules say DON'T DO IT!.

 

You don't -test- the trailer brakes while driving.

[h=3]6.2.1 - Trailer Hand Valve[/h] The trailer hand valve (also called the trolley valve or Johnson bar) works the trailer brakes. The trailer hand valve should be used only to test the trailer brakes. Do not use it in driving because of the danger of making the trailer skid. The foot brake sends air to all of the brakes on the vehicle (including the trailer(s)). There is much less danger of causing a skid or jackknife when using just the foot brake

 

If both ways are equal then riddle me this ... why are both ways no longer taught?