Negotiating Curves

You can go too slow as many times at you like but you can only get away with the opposite once. I'd just keep driving within your ability and take time to get comfortable with how it moves around with different loads and weights.

 

It is too bad American trucks don’t have anti-sway bars like Euro trucks offer. Some of theirs have a huge bar in back. You don’t see their trucks rock, roll and lean like in this country, especially with the high rise sleepers.

Someone posted that Mack offers a front sway bar now. That would be a good start.

I had a loaded smooth-bore tanker down south one time. I set the cruise on 60, being cautious in the hills on the freeway.
Next thing I knew, I had a convoy behind me. I guess they all like the pace the tanker was running. Like back in the day.

 

Depends on exact starting to tip time... Sometime, outrun it straight...

 

Ever ride a motorcycle? Learn to let the machine talk to you, you’ll feel more comfortable in time. Until then don’t worry about going to slow, worry about kicking the windshield out because you’re laying on your side…..

 

Here’s a tip!
Keep your 5th wheel greased good. Having a dry trailer plate and 5th wheel can fight you in those curves.

Slow before the curve so you’re not getting on the brakes while in it. Coming out of a curve power up.

I used to drive a Volvo that made me uncomfortable in curves so I know what you’re talking about.

 

I've taken curves way to fast where I believe I was driving a 9 instead of a 18 wheeler. What an idiot I was. I got lucky and never crashed, but I could have. I like looking at the Risk - Reward of things.
Reward- It was fun, it kept my adrenaline pumping, saved some time.
Risk - I could of crashed, could of hurt someone, could of gotten a ticket, could of messed up my license, may have become unemployable.
The Risk far out weighed the Reward so I quit doing it years ago. Listen to the other guys that say to take it easy. In time you'll learn to feel what the truck wants to do, then just do that and only up to that.

 

Watch those downsloping exit ramps too, those are frequently the cause of rollover wrecks from drivers who enter them too fast.

 

Best capsule answer:
—Slow Before the curve and accelerate thru...this keeping your suspension tight
Acceleration thru curve does not mean speeding...just slowly and steadily pick up speed thru

 

And look out for non banked exit ramps. You won’t know it till you hit it, however if there are signs saying slow down and flashy lights then that area or ramp is known for roll overs.

 

Just wanted to add one more tip.

Always be mindful of the load in your trailer. Loaded heavy and high giving you a high center of gravity vs low center of gravity load. I’ve been through too many curves with posted speed limits that clearly didn’t take a loaded semi into account!

Okay, one more
Changing lanes in a curve, I don’t recommend it.