Winter Driving ?

no switch to turn it off? that is a bummer

 

Pull the fuse for the ATC. It will give you a warning light indiacating that the ATC is not working. I have to do that often enough at work.

 

it has two modes, always on but in the background and it accuated by wheelspin or I can hit a switch and it's constant on

can't it's tied in to my ABS, if I pull the fuse for that it will put the truck in limp mode and also turn off my ABS and derate the power. and actually I don't mind it under some situations, I just wish there was a way to fully turn it off when I don't need it and then turn it back on. Same with my jakes, they are always on low and never fully off, but I don't actually notice them in that mode.

 

So, its just best to ride the brakes on a hill as steep as that one?

 

Gear waaayyy down and be very gentle with the brakes... at least that's how I've been doing it. Mind you that's with a heavy load - seems to be 95% of what we pull. With an empty trailer, I'd be waiting for the usual Wyoming snow removal plan to start working... wait for it to blow to Colorado.

Using the brakes to control your speed, you're working to slow all of the tires down, not just the tractor and hoping that the trailer doesn't break loose. The jake can put your trailer tandems into a skid... followed by the worst case result, having it jack-knife on you. The only way out is to get the trailer tires rolling again - which means going faster.

Another thing about jake brakes this time of year. If you're using thiem in reasonably good conditions, that doesn't necessarily bode well. The exit ramps can be pure ice even when the highway is good. Forget to switch them off coming off of the highway a little hot, and you can get in trouble there real quick.

 

there are a lot of rules that sometimes one should throw out as sometimes the jakes are a good option it is all about managing wheel lockup you want to keep them all rolling at a controlled pace is the goal so what it is ever lets you do that learn to understand the machine

 

I spose it really comes down to the actual situation at hand. If its pure ice, I think id rather ride the brakes. If its a powdery coating like was the case at the time, maybe its better suited.

 

it all depends on the traction available I haul tankers and they are very light in the rear when empty and prone to lock up the trailer where as a jake will just let me crawl down a mountain with everything rolling at a controlled pace the thing about ice is to just be smooth in all you do it is when you change what ever one is doing to quickly that upsets the apple cart

 

I was taught in school, and still use either of these options, either lite steady pressure (max 10 psi applied) or on/off to keep speed down. IN the winter, if I can't use my jakes, I stay with lite steady pressure and "feel" for the trailer to want to slide and then let off so it can grab and then do it again.

 

and if that works it works a lot depends on ones equipment anti-lock brakes have made a lot of this stuff better