U learn something new everyday, better at someone else's expense, here's 1 at mine 4U

Cascadia???

 

You made no reference or mention of what gear you were in, in planning your safe speed, prior to descending the downgrade. Keywords are *prior to*. I just wanna make sure any new drivers reading this article realize that being in the proper gear is just as (or even more) essential on steep grades as a functioning jake and properly adjusted brakes with adequate lining thickness. Gearing is essential and cannot be understated or overlooked. Depending on the grade % and length of downgrade, jakes can range from "optional equipment" to "necessary equipment". Many trucks taking on moderate downgrades aren't even equipped with jakes.

Maybe I over-ranted, but just trying to emphasize that being in a "correct" gear is the #1 vital, in any downgrade situ.
Not saying you weren't, either. I wasn't there, so I dunno.

 

I was thinking you might have some wheels lock up too, when the buttons popped. But I made a mistake one time starting out with a full load on a straight truck, and I started out in super low.....the nose of the truck would dive down every time I shifted.....and then in about 4th gear I saw the red brake light on the dash was lit up.....not a very bright red, but red nonetheless. I had not released the brakes!!!! What a rookie mistake, but I learned like you, that when the emergency/parking brakes go on, it does not necessarily lock up the tires......as long as they are fairly well balanced in the braking force.

Thanks for sharing your story.....there is always something happening that is new!!!!

 

I am about 95% sure that when your going down that hill and you get through the brake check area that there is a sign saying 70k-80k recommended speed 25mph ect. ect. I also know you have heard when going down a hill or around curbs or off ramps you should pretty much always go slower then the recommended speed. This is where I think you made your mistake. Jake or no jake if you take that hill with 44k going the recommended 25 mph or less you should have been fine. I am a noob myself but I just wanted to put my 2 cents out there.

 

I still don't go racing down a hill with the suggested speed or speed limit for a truck is 25 mph. Safety and my record are not worth it.


You can go down a hill too slow 1000 times. You can only go down a hill too fast once.

 

Freightliner had that floor applicator back around the turn of the century.....(been waiting to say that, "turn of the century"....OH THAT'S RICH!!!)...anyway, yeah, Freightliner had those...personally I hated em!

 

If the brakes were adjusted properly they probably would have locked up. I bet next time you switch trucks you will check to make sure the Jakes work before relying on them.

 

I suggest you teach yourself how to go down a hill without the jakes. I never let my students use the jake until they show me they can handle a hill without it.

 

There's a couple mistakes I see. Like MNdriver good post says trucks grossing 75K+ the speed limit is 25mph. You were going too fast to begin with. You can easily speed up if you feel you are going too slow. Slowing down is a warm female dog in heat! (the long way around the word filter, lol)

Being in a strange truck you were almost 3 hours into a trip before you even attempted to use the jakes. Next time I would check the trucks full driving functions asap and not wait until you really need them.

We're glad you are okay and able to post. Things could've gone sour real quick.

It never hurts a driver to practice for strange events. Try coming down a hill without jakes at a slower speed and gear so you know how to do it without smoking. Then when you see how it might work flip the jake on and grab a gear.

Chock it up for experience and hopefully you changed your underwear by now.


Edit: lol, you all were typing the same thing as I was typing. I guess I'm slow.

 

I'm going to scould you for your own good. So you didn't check the Jakes on a truck you just got into before diving off a hill. Bet you go through the next strange truck you drive a little more throughly. Foot Jakes have been around for years. Drove a Pete logger in '92 that had one. The reason the truck did not skid tires when it dynamited the maxis is because the brakes were to HOT to lock up. It's called brake fade. You were real close to a crash and burn. Ok now get back on that Horse and remember what you've learned.