How much braking is too much

That's what I was talking about. Sometimes in Montana those passes can be treacherous. Just like Oregon. Can't use the jake, just back off the hammer and go down slower. Ain't no shame in my game. I Do 90% of my driving in the west, from Idaho to Cali on 95 and 395 and up the 5 to Seattle or Portland and back to the boise area. Slow and steady in bad weather and chains are my best friend out here.

 

you can go down a hill as many times as you want as long as your going slow.......but......

it only takes 1 time going to fast......

 

Shh don't tell everybody the secret! Not too many people agree with that though. You got those that are like by gawd I'll just throw iron and caution to the wind and go down as fast as I want cus i are old skool.

 

Yeah, these are like the guys from years back that talked on the radio like they're always out of breath, and said stuff like "Kaamon," "Tehn!" and "Dasrite." And when you'd see them in the truckstop, it's usually some kid who's barely older than the rattletrap he's driving. But he's "been there, and done that." Usually making 75% of normal wages, but getting to drive that dreamed of "Beeg truk!" "Royer?" *BEEP*

 

Well we all know those private parking spaces are there for a reason when going down a hill. I believe the reason is the same for traveling around a truckstop or into the fuel island at 50 mph. See that private parking space will only hold 1 truck at a time, and if someone else gets in there before they do then they wont have a place to park. So the only way to get that spot is to go as fast as one can to be the first to get it...

and if one goes fast enough one can get far enough into the space to allow a second truck to park behind them only problem is backing out when one is ready to leave.

 

No engine brake on your truck? Or, you don't use your engine brake? If your truck doesn't have a working engine brake, go immediately to a shop and get it working. If you don't believe in using it, you should immediately start using it.

 

Are you saying "old school" means driving like an idiot? I think you can find an idiot in any timeframe. Just look at our government, for example.

 

I am saying I use my engine brake in all conditions. I will pull my whammy bar and just use the tandem brakes to straighten out when the trailer is getting frisky. I will turn down the engine brake, use a lower setting if it's really snotty. But by then I'm looking for a safe place to shut down. But these strategies are only for extreme conditions. Most of the time, and I mean that "most of the time," it's just normal conditions. I don't want to use my service brakes except to give occasional support to my gear selection and engine brakes. You're using your service brakes too much, then you need a lower gear. There are times when a hill will sneak up on you, and you'll have to whoa down and go down 2 gears on one shift. Watch the rpm's, and do not miss that shift!

 

It's winter time... ignore all that ^^^^


"How much braking is too much"

It's hard to answer that with all the variables involved. However...

I'm quite comfortable jake-ing down a long icy hill with 5-10 psi application, I never get any hot. Keep in mind your brakes should be all working equally...

I run a Super B 8 axle unit in the foothills at 140,000 lbs (63,500 kg) Canadian eh. I live at mile 49 Alaska Highway and see a lot of winter driving, chained yesterday and today, I just chain to climb the steep hills.

Here's the problem kids...

Too many drivers have been taught/told not to use their brakes when it's icy...this is wrong.

Trucks jackknife when the drive axles lock when jaking and the trailer gives the tractor a push, especially in a downhill curve.

Your interaxle/power divider should be engaged, without it it only takes one corner (two tires) to slip and you are sliding (jake shuts off)... interaxle engaged, two corners (4 tires) need to lose traction before that happens.

Back to brakes, brakes are a good thing to use when it's icy, think about why trucks jackknife, it's the trailer push, a nice light brake holding the trailer back with the jake will keep us all safe.

It's ok to use the jake with the brakes.