Going down the grades HEAVY

Thanks for the relpies. I'm just concerned because I can smell that it's getting hot. I'm probably going to pull the thermostat all together considering how blistering hot it gets out here. This little truck is no new comer. It's a 92, and even though the miles are pretty fair on it, I don't think warranty is an issue. I think the 373 gears in the rear end, with that rotten 545 tranny is the problem.

I make sure to move over into the slow or turn out lane for all you guys making a "real" living on the road, but man it gets real tiresome barely doing 20 to 25 MPH up that pass. And that was with only 9540 lbs on it.... extremely sad. Luckily I'm a pretty good mechanic for a girl... This time next year,, I'll be doing 45MPH LOL, and pulling with some better gears and a few more mules under the hood.

What can I say,, I bought a nearly pristine little mid duty with a 16 ft diamond plate bed, straight as an arrow, got that Cat with only 225K,, new rubber all the way around for $5500.00. Guess I should be complaining too loudly. God might take the dog gone thing back! ANd I really need it, My little hay hauling business is going crazy! Those West side horse people are off their rockers!

I will check out Pittsburg Power and see what I can find. I will ahve to do something.

 

what about when you dont climb, but you have to descend.are you just gonna drop it one gear.I hope not.

 

Gashauler: I just wanted to let you know that your method is also spot on with what the DOT manual has for controlling speed on a downhill grade.

It's good to see that the guy writing the manual does know a thing or two. lol.

 

I do it the same way as Gashauler, but I let the speed increase by 5mph before giving it light, steady pressure to bring it back down 5mph.
In SW Penn on Mt.Summit where I think it was a 9% grade, I had 34K in the wagon and with the proper gear(5th or 6th-cant remember exactally) and jake on high, I touched the brakes 2 or 3 times.

 

When I first started I was actually taught how to use both methods but it was kind of funny since the closest hill for the school to train us on was only about 3/4 - 1 mile long and less than 6% but it was better than just being told about the techniques... After schooling I got my first experience on the grapevine and definatly like the meth Gashauler uses of braking till 5 below safe speed then letting it drift back up again and repeat as necessary...

I do know with experience you can never understate how important it is to be in the RIGHT GEAR before going down a grade.. I was on a run from CA to Denver and going down the grade on the east side of the Eisenhower tunnel (think that is what it is called I know there is a weigh station at the bottom)... Anyways I was in the right gear to begin with but about 1/4 down the traffic backed up to the point where my rpms were to slow for the Jakes to have any effect and only my second time actually on a grade so still terrified about shifting on a downgrade so just went back and forth between the two braking methods and made it to the bottom with no obvious problems but when pulled into the weigh station and stepped on the brakes to stop on the scale it used the last bit of air so the E-brakes set ... needless to say DOT told me to park and bring in my logs etc .....

Point being.... be in the RIGHT GEAR before heading down the hill and keep an eye on your air pressure !!!!

 

If you use the brakes you are doing it all wrong

 

Just a suggestion to a newbie: Never fail to get on your CB and ask for advice on how to take a grade. As a newbie, you should never attempt to shift on a grade, and for that reason it is of utmost importance that you select the right gear prior to descending a steep grade. Too high a gear and your jake will be of no use and your speed will get away from you; too low and your engine will over-rev. As a newbie with marginal shifting skills, attempting to shift on a steep downgrade is dangerous because you could very easily miss your shift and fail to re-engage your transmission. As a driver previously advised, 5th gear is generally your best bet when in doubt. Just remember, drivers will be more than happy to offer guidance because a runaway truck is a danger to everybody. Good luck!

 

Great topic for a thread. No driver, in my opinion, can fail to learn a thing or two, through the shared experiences of other drivers in open discussion on subjects such as this; from the newbie to the experienced.

 

I went down that hill a few times. That sucker is steep!