Mountain grades

I have, just recently, came across the Big Bald/Flag Pond into TN. with 38,000 in the trailer. I maintained 40-45 (sometimes higher) mph, rarely touching the brake pedal. The guys in the "big trucks" who were throwing expletive synonyms across the radio wound up sitting on the side with smoking brakes. I lost count of how many there were, but it was double digits, at least. The trick is to set yourself up so that you do not need the brakes to keep you under control. This way, when you DO need them, you'll have them. No point in riding to the limitations of your brakes/engine brake just to save two minutes. What if something/someone flops their car/rig over in the middle of the road? Would you be able to stop your rig in time? I know I will. I HAVE! If they're already hot, and your drums are expanded, you won't have them. And, you will never, ever hear me giving another driver grief about being in MY WAY whilst traversing a down-hill grade. That is completely unprofessional!! Maybe, that guy/gal is in a truck that isn't equipped with a jake-brake. Or, who knows? Is that person a "wussie"? What of it? Beats being a dead idiot!

 

Back to the original post, Wolf Creek Pass is 8 miles long, varies from 8% to 6% with switchbacks thrown in for fun, this is on the WB side. The EB side is not as bad, it's a consistent 6%, but it's about 10 miles to the town of South Fork, samething, it's really not bad, just patience as the 4 wheelers can be a ##### on it.

Monarch Pass varies from 6% to 8% on both sides, WB is a ##### with a lot of switchbacks, but they are wide. EB, if you don't start off in the right gear your screwed as it's actually steeper in the middle with a truck ramp to help.

 

You always want to select your gear prior to dropping off the edge.

 

Also if you stop to sleep, dont stop at a rest area or pull out on the bottom or while climbing the grade, either stop on top, or once you get down the other side, it is really hard on your truck trying to pick up the momentum to climb a grade from a dead stop, it punishes everything in your drive train and is really hard on your truck.

Also, if you sleep on top of a hill and you do something stupid like leave your lights on, if you are pointed down hill you can put the truck in first and let it roll then pop the clutch and start it. Sur beats paying 500.00 for a jump start in a remote area.

 

I was comin down that grade in tenn on I24-the one with the curve at the bottom where everyone asks if the bottom is clear..anyways, I was driving for werner at the
time so its kind of ironic another werner driver was the one to do it. Anywys, I was
prety light and he came up beside me and just passed me like I was sitting still, I
was like..oh hell. Now mind you i have seen some car haulers and tankers go down
some grades and smoke their brakes so bad it looked like someone was pourin oil on a fire.But this guy went down that grade and I didnt know it was possible to smoke your brakes that bad, looked like he had a fogger under his truck. Dont see how he
didnt run off the mountain or catch on fire, it was bad..lol

 

He's a trainer now !!!!!!!!!!!

 

I saw a pair of swift trucks do that down whitebird pass on highway 12 up in the idaho panhandle, I was just thankfull we had a passing lane so they didnt ### end me.

I will also mention that both of them were using the jhonson bar, and not thier proper brakes because it was only the trailer smoking.

 

I've noticed quite a few Swiftys don't have an engine brake....
I guess brake drums and brake shoes are much cheaper than buying an engine with an engine brake.....

 

I know I am STILL scared of mountains after a year. If there is a pulloff I take advantage and let my brakes cool before descending. This is also a great time to walk Cookie and relieve the bladder before I do something stupid and need fresh clothes on the bottom side.

Non interstate the worst grade I have seen is 12% in PA. I was empty and creating brown material in my seat by the time I got to the end of that winding SOB

 

Yeah, the never ending stupidity at that company never ceases to amaze me, I for the life of me can not understand how they are still in business.

I know that when I was yanking a van back in the day they came in and cut the rate on a couple of hauls we had in northern Wyoming and we were getting like 1.10 a mile in a really remote area.