Like others have posted, you dont just use your brakes to get down a hill you use your tranny also, how small your motor is really has no bearing on it

 

Read http://www.e-z.net/~ts/ts/downhill.htm on downhill braking.

kc0iv

 

Does it really matter what way you do it if you get down the hill safely without smoking?? Some will use steady pressure, others will use stabbing, whatever works best for you is what you should stick with as long as your not burning the brakes up.

I prefer to use my tranny and stab here and there since I have no jake. I have never had a problem and will continue to do it that way. I HAVE had a problem when I have put steady pressure on, could feel the pedal start to go away along with smelling the burnt brakes. Maybe I had too much pressure applied, but I wasn't slowing down with less applied pessure.

 

Your right Mr Ford it really does not matter which way works for you (anyone) and I also have used both methods but......as Ben mentioned, "I would get down to 30mph, let off the brake and right back to 45-50mph." and ....."I have even had the brakes smoking on 30 West of I65 going into Illinois and the ground is flat there.". Also stated something about good smoke rolling and the age of equipment so something is not right here. (Not picking on ya Ben just trying to make a point).

If your equipment is maintained properly it dosent matter what age it is. You also stated "It's not an old timer or newbie thing, it's a going to fast thing along with common sense." so......brake whichever way works for you but if they are smoking at the bottom of a hill that means they will work less effectivley if you have to stop, and if they are really smoking you wont be able to stop, so what happens if there is a pile up at the bottom and you need to stop and there is no place to go? Do you just tell the relatives of the families you killed that the load was just too heavy or my motor was too small? It dont have to be like that.

To answer your original question no I have never had to use a ramp and yes I have lost my brakes way before the bottom of a hill and its a pretty crappy feeling so try to be safe out there.

 

I used a runoff ramp once about 7 years ago. 87 Freightliner cabover with a faulty jake. US 60 near I81 in Virginia. I was unfamiliar with the truck, especially one that old. I had to ask myself when the brakes started smoking " Should I take the escape ramp and be embarassed explaining it to the boss, or run a very real risk of a monster wreck that I couldnt explain ? ". I chose the former. Explained it to the boss. He was quiet for a second, then started laughing. Last I heard of it. Being a thinking man I guess he figured the $500 bill to drag the truck out was the least painless option.

 

There is always a gear that can be used in conjunction with very little brake pressure on steep hills. When I was going over Cabbage every 2 weeks, I decided I would try something different. Previously I had kept it near the speed limit for my gross weight (18-22 mph, IIRC) with either stabbing or light constant pressure. Instead I slowed down at the top of the hill and down shifted 2 gears. I only used the brakes a few times the entire way down. Right at 80k gross. I was probably going about 12 mph. Jake and the gearing held the truck at speed.

Sadly, lots of drivers were not staying under the speed limit so I was a bit of a hazard at that speed, but I was going less than 10 mph below the required speed. They appeared to be going over 20 mph over the max speed. My 4 ways were on, although I hate using them while rolling.

It can be done. Just start low (gear) and test it out.

 

Maybe you should have used the next gear lower, then the light pressure would have helped you!

 

 

Ole Ben, you would have been DEAD if you had to haul most of the oversize and heavy loads I have all over the country....lol What ever you do, STAY AWAY from any weight over 80k or you will for sure kill yourself and others....lol :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Sure you have, and running the grape vine every day? Is there any thing you haven't done?

You should tell the story about running the ice up in Canada and what it was like down in Panama hauling Cement and how heavy the stones you hauled in China to build a wall.

I will keep doing what I'm doing, I have been pretty successful so far.