Proper way to brake on a steep city hill/downgrade with traffic

The brakes will get HOT and fade, but that would be more for say a LONG MOUNTAIN down grade.

You may warm them up a bit going down a city street hill, but I am not so sure enough to lose them.

 

They will fail when riding the brakes while you are going down a hill, not when already stopped. You have to remember that every axle has working service brakes (supposedly) but not all axles have spring/parking brakes. In this case service brakes will be better.

 

I rolled around Pittsburgh as a local driver, so I understand precisely the situation the OP is asking about.

OP, you service brakes (foot pedal), when properly adjusted, will be more than enough to hold a fully loaded truck at a dead stop on a down or up grade. Wht you will need to.learn is how to get the truck moving again on a steep upgrade from a dead stop without dumping the clutch or stalling the engine. THAT can be the rwal challenge at times.

 

And don't forget, OP, there's more than one way to skin a cat.

Use lower gears, use engine brakes in non-restricted areas. The engine can and will help you hold a safe speed going downhill. The service brakes will surely hold you while you are waiting at a light. Use lower gears to keep yourself from going too fast to stop, and keep a nice cushion of following distance in front of you. Easy does it while maintaining the flow of traffic. Ya?

 

Ooooooohhhh that's what you meant to say! Ok, well when I was in school we were taught never to be out of gear even while waiting at a stop light. Having said that occasionally you will come across some darn long lights in America & your leg might get tired of holding the clutch in at first & you'll want to use the parking break. Try to resist that temptation & strengthen your muscles, This way you're ready to move instantly when the light turns in your favor, that's important cuz there are also some very short lights out there & if you're trailer is not through the intersection some cops will give you a ticket for going through a red light. It shouldn't matter if you're on a hill or not.