handling a downgrade

So true I was in some back woods narrow as heck road with probably a 12-15% grade the other day 79700# and since it had a bend I stopped put it in 1st jakes on and let it go oh so slow it was but heck made it to the bottom never getting on my breaks had to stop the jake a few times for a short bit to keep the motor running

 

I Wouldn't take advice on Steep Grades from a Kansas boy anyway LOL.

 

I remember feeling the exact way you do, how can they be going so fast when I just don't feel like I can do that safely, are they being unsafe? Am I being a wimp?...Am I the only one with any weight in my trailer?(I think that more when getting passed going up hills LOL)...You go as fast as you feel safe going, never let others pressure you beyond that. And at some point, a sadly ironic situation will take place and you will come to the bottom of a hill and see one of those that whipped past you off the road from loss of control...And also at some point as your 'feel' for the truck grows tighter and you understand how it reacts and what it can do, your speeds will pick up to your next safe level and so on until you're where you feel efficient as possible AND STILL SAFE...

 

The correct answer is that there is no correct answer. Every time going down a grade is different. It depends on weight, road conditions, time of day, weather, and traffic; not to mention engine condition, horsepower, Jake power, etc.

Take an educated guess when you start and err to safety. Shift if you have to. Learn to shift both up and down safely, both uphill and downhill.

 

The morons flying by you are idiots, the answer is simple, what speed can you safely come to a complete stop in an emergency without losing your brakes. Normally I run 12-14 on grades.

 

If I am empty or light-loaded, I might go down a grade at the speed limit, like say 55 mph. If someone else is hauling 45,000 lbs and is going 25 mph because he has to due to a very heavy load, that doesn't make me an idiot just because I am hauling 8,000 lbs of insulation and can go down the hill at 55mph. Yeah, IT SEEMS like I am racing past someone who is going 25 mph when I am going 55 mph. If there are no blind curves, if I can see way off in the distance that the road is open, it is no prob to go 55. That does not make anyone an idiot.

But going down a hill with blind curves and a heavy load at high speeds IS idiotic.

 

That posted speed limit is just that the upper limit, now want me to show you some pictures of what has happened to like minded drivers who were doing the speed limit, but did not make it some of the pictures are very graphic.

 

Probably not the best advice. 30 mph difference passing a truck going downhill is not really safe. Mostly because your in a uncontrolled environment. Truck could change lanes on you then what? Also going downhill takes longer to stop than flat ground at any speed or weight. It's a Physics thing. Running multi-axle extended weight trucks you learn to slow down and ease off the grades. 5-10 miles of 6% is typical and at 105+ GVW you don't get a second chance. Millions of miles have a way of changing your outlook on driving if your lucky enough to get that many.

 

Amen. I dislike passing with a large mph differential in any circumstances. Better to slow it down and make a pass at a speed where you have the ability to react and save yourself if the vehicle you are passing does something unexpectedly expected, like move into your lane.

This is why I listed "traffic conditions" as one of the variables for what gear and jake setting I'll choose when doing a descent. Sure, I might be light and could fly on down the mountain at 55 mph no problem if there wasn't anybody else out there. But throw in a few heavy trucks controlling their descent at 25-35 mph and then throw in a few 4 wheelers and that changes the entire equation.