Safest way to drive downhill?

Just last night load around 78k 8% grade speed limit 55 I was doing 25mph. I try to take no chances on them hills and want my breaks available to me should I need them.

 

Slipping above my station in life.

 

.....and just keep that in mind--until the PROPER answers offered in this thread(and after careful review of said answers)I realize just how lucky I have been these last 40 years or so--to have actually managed to stay alive--w/my obvious lack of knowledge and proper training!

 

A road that has been dry, for a period of time, and getting oil and other fluids on it when it gets water on it, you might notice it gets a soapy look is very slippery, another thing is when you get brand new tires they are very slippery for a long way, especially in cold snowy situations, because they have an oil impregnated in them, a release agent so they come out of the mold.
I never profess to being perfect, if you are then that is great and we will all listen to you wisdom. I live in B.C. and when I was driving went all over North America, I learned a few things, living in BC you learn quickly what situations are dangerous and were you can let her roll. Learning a road you remember where you made mistakes, sections that scared you, an Interstate has very few scarey sections, come to BC and go down a hill for 1/2 an hour then put a 30 MPH corner that you will remember especially if you have been using your brakes a lot so you could go faster. When your butt is looking to grasp the seat you will remember that!
Just a thought!

 

There's no downgrade that's "safe". You want to get to the bottom as fast as possible.

 

Here is an article that can shed some light on a serious question that has been raised by the original poster:http://www.overdriveonline.com/smart-driving-2/
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.Since I have no experience on a 13 speed transmission, I have two questions.
.Number 1 - For the posted speed limit on the descend, what is the correct gear to be in?
.Number 2- At that gear and speed are you low on the tachometer or high on the tachometer? If low on the tachometer, I would suggest you drop another gear because the Jake brake is more effective at higher rpm's.

 

My comfort level and yours may be very different. I may not know the difference in comfort and stupidity if you know what I mean. If you are uncomfortable you are unsafe due to nerves. Don't worry about what anybody else is doing drive your truck driver, never be pushed past your comfort zone. With experience your comfort zone will expand I'm sure. If I'm the one behind you when your poking down a hill take a breath of relief cause I will just give you a little room and enjoy the ride.

 

Yep, the only way I go down is hanging on the Jake. I always tell them that I, too, could go that fast. The difference being is I won't kill somebody who does something stupid in front of me because I wasn't able to stop.

But the Billy Bigrigger is strong in them, it is.

 

I think it really depends on a multitude of things. Experience is the number one thing. I do not like going downhill on curves at night over new territory.

As for gears, one of the nice things about 13 or 18 speeds is the ease of downshifting the split gears. You don't really have to come to neutral.

Keep the truck going slow enough that you do not have to be on the brakes all the time. You will know you are going to fast if the RPMs seem to be running out of control. 4% grade five miles under speed limit. 5% 15 miles under 6% 25 under 7% 35 under. 8% 40 under. Above 8% punt.