Steep Downhill and you need to downshift

You wouldn't mind sharing that would you? I am guessing it would be not applicable across the board but it may give me a good starting point.

 

I was the lead truck going down a steep hill in Idaho or Montana, (can't remember the name of the pass) anyway this hill is 25 miles per hour recommended. About 7 trucks behind me but not one of them wanted to go around and pass me. I was in 5thLo full jakes and had to touch the gas every now and again because it kept wanted to lose speed below 25. Once we go out onto the flat all these trucks flew on by but the valley smelled like a brake barbeque. My guess was these guys were used to running down the hill a certain speed and I fouled them up or they simply were just overconfident with their trucks in the too high a gear for the hill.

I've seen trucks on the side of the road full on fire from the brakes getting so hot they ignited the tires, then the wood flooring of the trailer. I've also seen a truck with smoking brakes on I5 southbound from Oregon going into California Agriculture check station, they shut that guy down til his brakes cooled off.

If you see a brake check pull over area, make sure you pull over and at least flag the stop or show some few minutes on the elogs that you are checking the brakes because if they pull you in at the bottom of the hill they will want to know you checked. Going down hills is serious business, never let your guard down. Downshifting on the downhill is advanced technique, sorta like 'please don't try this at home' deal.

 

I'm not looking at it right now but I think this is what I wrote down:

5% - 7L
6% - 6H
7% - 6L
8% - 5H
9% - 5L

This is with a prostar on jake setting 3.

From what I know, if the RPM is high the jakes work best (1500).

Might be conservative but will get you down the hill with no drama.

 

Turn off the CB, and run the grade like YOU want. You can drop off a mountain 1000 times to slow, But just Once to fast.

 

Great advice!!

 

I dont think that is Donner.. looks more like the gorge in NC.. especially with BIG FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS and tight turns.. Its been a long time since I've been over Donner but I do not remember their being really sharp turns and no flashing warning signs..

 

that IS Donner..its between exit 139 and 136...midway between those two before you get to colfax

 

I wasn't sure really.. looked like the gorge.. I had a driver do the same exact thing right in front of me on day on the gorge.. he just refused to slow down.. local rock hauler.. sad really. I went 5 years driving north on I-5 up and down the Siskiyous with no jakes.. i was scared to death the first time I came down Donner... when I got down it I was like... "That was Donner?!?!"

 

I've always done the two foot technique. Left foot on the brake keeping speed steady, right foot on the accelerator. That way your shift is faster and you don't gain speed.