Hills/mountain descending?

In 17 years I've broken traction one time when using the jake in inclement weather so yes it's possible but......it's a lot easier to get in an accident by stepping on that service brake in inclement weather, just my opinion. For mannnnnnnyyyyyyy years trucks had no engine or exhaust brake so it's possible to do it without one. That's why gear selection is crucial before going down the hill. Better too slow than too fast. Take it nice and slow my friend and you'll be fine.

 

See I knew we agreed

 

No your service brakes are NOT primary. Id like to see you go down a 5 mile 14% grade fully loaded in neutral. If your alive and have any brakes left when you get to the bottom I'll change my tune lol. Now, if my brakes fail and i was in the right gear with a working jake, i could probably survive. that being said, the runaway ramp would be the best option.

Yes service brake are designed to stop a truck on any grade. That doesn't mean you wont destroy them doing it. It also doesn't mean they can, continue to slow the truck the whole way down. in an emergency, (accident in front of you)use them and give it everything you got, but you would be amazed on how long it takes to stop a truck on a steep grade just using service brakes. I was on a 12% fully loaded in a safe gear cruising down with my jake on, barely touching the brakes. Around the bend was construction (on the hill) with no signes before it. I gave those brakes everything i could and still barely stopped the truck in time. It took about a football field to stop and my brake smoke filled the highway. I got on the CB and warned trucks behind me. I almost got hit by the truck behind me and he swerved into the shoulder.

long story short, engine and jake is your primary...service brakes are you "Oh shoot" or maintain speed brakes.

 

Exactly right.......

 

the book is a good starting point.

if its straight down no turns or curves or cars i let the truck go as fast as it wants 80 85 whatever no jakes no brakes. i have never seen a cop at the bottom of one but that's the chance i take.

now if there are curves or sharp turns i don't let the truck go over a certain speed
so i top the hill lets say i see or i know there are a few twists and turns i wont let the truck go over 70 depending on how the truck feels going through that first turn is how i judge how fast i can go if i don't feel comfortable i just turn on the jakes apply the brakes till i get 60 or whatever speed i feel comfortable with going around the curves.

if you have never driven this truck on this hill or its a new hill just slow down to 55 really steep down slopes try 45 and feel the truck out as its going down knowing what to do comes with time and experience

jakes are not going to be exactly like brakes if its a steep down slope you will not see or feel them do anything especially if you have 40-45k but when you get the right gear mixed with using the jakes you wont touch the brakes very much

lets say i feel comfortable at 60 let the truck get to 65 then i apply the brakes till 60 or 55 then release and repeat.

some passes have flashing lights and tell you to stop before going down before you go make sure you let some distance get in between you and that truck in front of you. and get to 40 or 45 maybe 50 pretty quick depending on weight cause you don't wanna be shifting when the truck starts to rapidly build momentum. you wanna be in that gear before gravity and physics do their thing

remember you can always go up a gear. at times it can be tough to go down a gear because of weight when you go to shift the truck is no longer being restricted by the drivetrain. be quick and time the shift and allow for when you shift the truck will go faster not slow down like climbing or being on flat ground

and in the winter weather NEVER drive faster than you feel comfortable up down or flat ground. if there is snow with a chance for slippage apply the brakes gently and when you feel them grab turn the jakes on when the truck slows down to the speed you want turn the jakes off then release the brakes if you turn the jakes on before applying the brakes or without. it could cause the tires to break traction. and keep plenty of distance between you and the truck in front you.

if you run up on the truck in front of you and its snowing an the hill is covered in snow you have two

slow down to their spend maintaining plenty of distance or pass him when its clear if i feel their pace is to slow for me i pass
if i don't know the hill i fall in line

do not run up on a truck and hesitate to pass if they screw up which it does happen you will wreck as well
do not start to pass but do not finish passing the truck nothing worse than riding alongside a truck and they take you out when they jackknife or loose traction

 

70k wont push to hard in first lol. how fast does your truck go foot to floor in first? Is that a safe speed to go down a mountain in if its icy? Remember the engine will provide resistance without the jake, jake just adds more resistance.

But yea, be ready to just give the throttle a tap to disable jake if you have to.

 

In my first reply I stated that the service brakes are primary over the jake/engine brake.....I have been in tractors that don't have jake/engine brakes so I know firsthand that transmission gearing and proper use of the service brakes are most important.

 

a truck with no jake still has an engine brake. transmission gearing is engine braking. being in the right gear slows the truck down. The engine and trans slow the truck down with or with out a jake. Even without a jake, being in the right gear for the hill and letting the engine hold you back is way more important then service brakes. Although you should never drive with bad service brakes. Transmission gearing and service brakes are 2 totally different things. being int he right gear, jake or not is the most important.

 

It should be
1-Transmission gearing (holding speed with engine)
2-Jake (if equipped)
3 service. (service should not be over used on down grades if at all.)

If ya smell the service your using um to much

 

Right again! Very well stated!