Yesterday I had a Columbus-Norfolk run, and had to cross Sand Stone Mountain on I64 in West Virginia. I have crossed it several time when I was OTR and it's no problem with a Jake Brake. But last night I came across Sand Stone and was probably 75k gross, we don't have Jake Brakes on all of our trucks and it was a hand full. It was dark but I could see the smoke rolling from the brake lights and could really smell the brakes.

Now on Sand Stone speed limit is 45mph with some pretty good curves and there is no way you could make the curves rolling out of control. So that made me think. If you lost your brakes, would you try to get around the curves to get to the truck ramp? but risking gaining all the speed to lose it on a curve or do you try to get in the ditch before you get out of control?

Has anyone here had to use the truck ramps or lost your brakes on a hill?

 

I glazed my brakes on a California Mt. back road and doing only 25-30mph. My heart just about came out my mouth, by the time I made it to the bottom.
I kept rolling for my brakes to cool, but I wanted to stop and get out of the truck soooo bad. I didn't want my brakes to lock...so I fought off my urge to vomit...and quit shaking. I finally got out of the truck, and felt like I had a sharp piece of glass in my gut.

I smoked my brakes another time...and it happened so quickly, it surprised me, and was another frightening experience I don't want to see again.

I learned after that to take the Brake Adjustment areas more seriously. I now get out and adjust my brakes with heavy loads...and I have a strong jake brake.

What is that old saying?? I can't quote it, but I think it goes something like...you can go down a steep grade fast many times, but you can only go down it too fast once.

Anyway...I have always been cautious, and even at that have had some close calls. You sometimes just have to be even more cautious than you think is enough. If I suspect I might have a tough pass...I go slow...and allow myself more speed when I'm sure it's fine.

If I had a 75k load with no jake...hehehe....Ben...my flashers would be faster than my truck. :lol:

Oh as far as out of control...I can't say. I'd react to the circumstances.

 

The saying is:

You can go down a hill too slow a thousand times, but you will only go down it too fast once.

 

I "think" it is: You can go down a hill too slow a thousand times, but you can only go down it too fast once.

Yep, feeling your brakes start to fade does leave a sick feeling in your stomach.

 

One of my running buddys joked to me one night; " Damn Ridge, if you get any slower, your gona have to put out your triangles". :lol:

 

 

You can say that again. When I started driving 2 1/2 years ago I started with a Volvo with a ( strong ) 3 stage jake. When I came to the company I am with now, we have no jakes, but we do have some runs that take us thru some steep North Ga. Mountains. Sure was nice to have an experenced driver to run with the first time to talk me thru it. There ain't nothing like gaining the skill to do it the RIGHT way.

 

Also what if your j-brake fails while you're on a grade....it only runs on a 14 amp fuse. Jake or no jake, you had better be in the right gear to go down a grade.

Was talking to a driver the other day who said he ran 80-90 down eagle mountain. I do believe it cus I see them do that. I thoguht what an f-in idiot. He had no respect for a mountain. My trainer drilled it into me tough. The first time we went down a grade, he was driving. I didn't see the sign, and he looked at me and asked me what percent it was. I told him I didn't know. His chlling reply, with cold eyes, was "YOU'RE DEAD!" So after that, I always respected mountains greatly. Amazes me those that don't care or think they are a super trucker.

 

Those IDIOTS that run Eagle at 80-90 need to have their CDL's PERMENTLY REVOKED. That is one BAD BITCH you do not screw with. I lost track of how many times I saw trucks coming down it at the right speeds all of a sudden say clear the road runaway need the ramp. I know one day I counted 2 trucks in the ramp at the same time. I would hate to see some of those SUPER TRUCKING BBR's try that on Cajon, Grapevine, Ike, Vail, Parlay, and Cabbage they would be dead. Let alone Fourth of July or Lookout up on 90 the new kids need to pull their heads out of their ASSES before they kill someone. You hit your brakes at 90mph coming down a mountian they are junk and smoked before tehy can do anything.