Going downhills advice needed.

Braking technique also has to do with load weight our California loads run between 55500 and 56000 lbs thats grossing 79500 to 80,000. In Nevada 92,000 gross in my truck. A Jake will not hold these heavy loads without assistance of the brakes.

As far as out of adjustment on brakes sounds like someone does not know how to pretrip. I keep my brakes adjusted to 1/4 turn all the way around. Don't forget to check your drums for cracks.

 

What do you mean a jake won't hold these loads with out assistance ???
We run loads up to 139700 and lots of companies have a 10 percent brake use rule... Try a lower gear

 

okay, i'll use donner pass as an example since a LOT of drivers out there make a big deal about it. the trucks i've been in have been ones with either a 10 or 8-speed transmission. when i'm grossed somewhere between 65,000lbs - 80,000lbs, i drive through donner in the 9th/7th gear. when i'm approaching one of the many 6% grades, i drop down to 8th/6th, and let the jakes rip at their maximum capability. when done right, i don't EVER have to touch the service brakes.

on a 7% grade, i drop down to the 7th/5th gear, and even lower for each grade that is higher. i have yet to ever smoke my brakes. i don't plan on it happening. i don't want it to happen. it's never fun seeing somebody hauling butt down a hill with their brakes smoking, quickly approaching you, and nearly colliding because they can't figure out how to keep their rig under control, because they were never taught how to handle mountains, or they're trying to be a bbr.

as for grades with snow and ice present, i highly suggest talking to the canadian drivers. they live in it. it's a way of life for them. i found their knowledge to be invaluable. it kept my butt out of serious trouble 2yrs ago while i was in alberta and british columbia. there's plenty of canadians running around here in the united states. they aren't difficult to spot.

 

In regards to the Bible and truth.....
"If it's true it ain't new and if it's new it ain't true." Dont know where I heard it but I have always liked it!

 

I would not suggest using a Jake on icy roads....I've seen them send trucks into a skid even on wet roads....Jakes can be dangerous with no experience..

 

I've hauled heavy loads out to Salt Lake City without a engine brake and grossed anywhere from 110,000lbs to 119,000lbs. Going west into the city the state would require me to take I-84 to go around I-80 because of the weight. It's a long pass but I've never smoked the brakes there or anywhere else. I was also taught by the old hands to use the apply and release method and so far I've never had any problems.

I'm with Rick, I go down slow and I believe that anybody that is loaded going the same speed as the cars (50 to 70mph) are just an accident waiting to happen. They sure don't have safety in mind or are just so inexperience they don't realize they may have to stop on the downgrade.

I don't know if any of you guys have ever gone down into Laughlin NV on 163 but it's a pretty good grade. I've seen more trucks fly by me and get pi**ed off and then they end up sitting off the road with the smoke pouring off their brakes. I just cruise by and honk the horn and smile. We come down that grade in super tankers. They're loaded up to 12,450 gallons of gasoline and weight around 105,000lbs to 110,000lbs. I cruise down around 25mph with the engine brake on and I maybe tap the brakes once or twice. If I'm in our AZ truck and going into Bullhead AZ with the load weighing just up to 80,000lbs I go 35mph and never touch the brakes. So if the engine brake is working like it should it will hold the truck back.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has issued warnings about adjusting Automatic Slack Adjustors) They say if they need adjusting you need to replace them. I'm like most and take these warnings with caution and think maybe they just went overboard with safety. But I believe they are right on this one. You can adjust the ASA but they will not stay adjusted. I had that problem with one of our trucks. In a week you'd need to readjust the brakes on this truck. Finally they just replaced all the ASA on that unit and of course the problem went away. I prefer the old system because I can run the brakes in no time. When I was hauling triples I'd do the whole set because I didn't trust anybody with my brakes. I even carried the special tool that lets you get into the 9/16 nut and was flat on one end so you could tap with a hammer.

To the new drivers, if you're having problems going down the hills the solution is simple- SLOW DOWN.

 

Adhere to the old drivers saying: You can go down a hill slow as many times as you want; You will only go off a hill fast once! I followed this advice when I was going off a hill I was not familiar with: 1. 1 gear lower than the gear I climbed the hill in. 2. Steady pressure on the brake, not to exceed 10#. 3. Jake break on if the truck was equipped. Went off Donner, Mount Eagle, Black Mountain, the hill on I84 down into Pendleton OR,Techapee and some I never heard of. Didn't smoke the brakes and stayed in control. It worked for me. O I got cussed at,called names,etc but I didn't have to use the truck escape ramps and I didn't burn up any brakes. I followed the recommended truck speeds for the weight I had on and selected a gear that would keep me under that speed.

 

What now?

 

Gear down, jake on and light steady pressure on the breaks. Ohh yeah also pray..hehe

 

there's one in So. Dakota that's 15% for 4 miles, try that at 79,000 lbs.