What if?

It's been along time since I drove (and then only once!) but I thought shifting while going downhill was the last thing a driver would want to do...?! Even more so with a flat tire of any sort.. Am I trippin' again? Straighten me out por favor.

 

A lot of schools teach that - downhill, never shift.

It's not realistic.

Sure, it's not something you do as unthinkingly as you would downshifting at the next stop light, but it's a fact of life.

The rule is "use the same gear (or one or two lower) going down as you did going up". That always assumes that both sides of the hill are the same - and they rarely are.

States that simply say "steep grade ahead" aren't much help, either. I'm really happy with the way Colorado works the road down from the Eisenhower tunnel - they tell you the grade, the length of the grade, and the speed limit for your weight (I think Oregon does this as well, just east of Pendleton).

So, what do you do when you hit a 4% downgrade in 7-high, and come around a curve and find it's increased to 5% for the next 4 miles? And you are at 80K pounds gross?

Yup, downshift. It's an easy technique, and I really think it should be taught in schools. Done judiciously, it's safer than stabbing the brakes all the way down.

 

Yeah, but wouldn't you have to brake in order to down shift? Bringing this discussion full-cirle... Please don't get me wrong, I'm just trying to learn.

 

might have to brake once.. would depend on things like current gear and speed, not to mention the grade and load. Yesterday eastbound on I-80 near Tahoe.. used no brakes at all, just dropped a gear. Was still gaining on the Canadian in front of me, so dropped another.

On the other hand, two days ago, coming into CA via I-5, even empty, I hit the brakes.. skipped two full gears, as I'd hit the slope way too fast.

Trainer didn't mash the imaginary brake, either. Didn't even white knuckle it.

Did stop eating my grapes, though.

 

I think he is referring to the braking of the truck when you have lost a steer tire. Touching the brake is not really advisable until the truck has slowed way down.

 

It was sometimes challenging for me to down shift on the straight and level. It just for me to imagine downshifting on a downgrade while trying to hold the truck on the road with a flat steer. But I'm sure you're doing fine Lurch, I have a tuff time understanding sometime. I had a hard time in school, One instructor said he thought I was a plant!

 

ah! yeah. I was reading it as simply on a downgrade.. totally left off the flat. Definitely stay off the brake until you have complete control of the truck - which usually means when you are slowed way the heck down.

I'm losing track fast. I think I need more sleep (slept like a rock in the truck - first night back, only managed about 3 hours)

 

Transition between the two is sometimes quite a challenge.

 

He should get one of those bed vibrators. Then he'd think he was in an idling truck..

 

What a thought. Maybe a lot lizzard knock on the door? Wife would really understand that.