Mountain Driving


Scuba78

Scuba78

Member
Just info from on rookie to the other rookies. If your training and you are running all 48 or going to run areas with mountain passes/steep grades, make sure you what your rig is capable of.

After my little experience last week coming out of California, I have healthy respect for steep grades. I was always told to go down the hill two gears lower than what I went up the hill in. Problem is, I went up the hill with a very light load and was really heavy coming down.

I was schedule through that area again next week, but some things came up and I will be taking an over size to IL on Monday. I found out that there are some grades on I-44 in MO. I'm not really excited about that, but if I want to drive, I need to suck it up and deal.

So if your going east bound through that area and you see an over size crawling down in 2nd gear, that's probably me.
 

Sort by date Sort by votes
Scuba78 said:
Do you any of you know much about I-17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix ? Looks like I will be routed that way this time.
Click to expand...

Its been a long time since I was on that hiway. I hope I remember this right. Going south from Flag there is a long downgrade about 20 - 25 south of I 40. It was marked 6% for 13 miles. Its is not all dowhill that 13 miles, some of it is even uphill. After you go by the rest area it isn't as steep the rest of the way down. Further south there is another hill at Black Canyon City. I think it was 6% for 5 miles, roughly near the 250 mile marker. Coming north from Phoenix, again near Black Canyon City near mile marker 280 is one marked 6% for 7 miles. Hope this helps you.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Johnny99 said:
Its been a long time since I was on that hiway. I hope I remember this right. Going south from Flag there is a long downgrade about 20 - 25 south of I 40. It was marked 6% for 13 miles. Its is not all dowhill that 13 miles, some of it is even uphill. After you go by the rest area it isn't as steep the rest of the way down. Further south there is another hill at Black Canyon City. I think it was 6% for 5 miles, roughly near the 250 mile marker. Coming north from Phoenix, again near Black Canyon City near mile marker 280 is one marked 6% for 7 miles. Hope this helps you.
Click to expand...

I can't thank you enough ! From what I understand this load will be heavy, so I plan on 1st maybe 2nd gear (2-5mph). I'm not even playing lol
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I hate driving thru canyons.
Johnny99 said:
Its been a long time since I was on that hiway. I hope I remember this right. Going south from Flag there is a long downgrade about 20 - 25 south of I 40. It was marked 6% for 13 miles. Its is not all dowhill that 13 miles, some of it is even uphill. After you go by the rest area it isn't as steep the rest of the way down. Further south there is another hill at Black Canyon City. I think it was 6% for 5 miles, roughly near the 250 mile marker. Coming north from Phoenix, again near Black Canyon City near mile marker 280 is one marked 6% for 7 miles. Hope this helps you.
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Of course the biggest challenge for the mountain passes is mostly when their covered with snow: the hardest part about driving them really boils down to patience....everybody is at a different driving level. I can do 45mph most of the time but where do they get these guys that can do 55 and 60? that's unreal to me: Oh, but then there's those guys, gals too that creep along at 35 or 25: I've tried it seems for hours just to slow it down and stay behind them, I'm sure you know just what I'm talkin about... for the life of me I just can't do it; sad part about it: it is for the life of me, lol, whoops, sorry, that's probably not funny....
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
JoBernard said:
Of course the biggest challenge for the mountain passes is mostly when their covered with snow: the hardest part about driving them really boils down to patience....everybody is at a different driving level. I can do 45mph most of the time but where do they get these guys that can do 55 and 60? that's unreal to me: Oh, but then there's those guys, gals too that creep along at 35 or 25: I've tried it seems for hours just to slow it down and stay behind them, I'm sure you know just what I'm talkin about... for the life of me I just can't do it; sad part about it: it is for the life of me, lol, whoops, sorry, that's probably not funny....
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought I could hang with the big boys, but that got me into trouble last time.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I have the pleasure of going up, and, down Fancy Gap on VA I-77 quite a bit. It's 7 miles of 5% with some curves included to keep it interesting. The speed limit is 65mph and there is no speed differential for trucks. There's a couple of runaway truck ramps (Sand Boxes) along the way that I have never seen disturbed.

It is safe to let the truck roll off this hill, although VA has huge warning signs telling truck to slow down and use a lower gear. The hill can be foggy, and, it is subject to high winds that should always be considered, but, there is no reason to creep down this hill. However, almost every time I go down the thing I encounter some box jockey doing 25mph, and, the brakes stinkin' up the place. Being cautious is good. Getting your panties in a wad, and, abusing the equipment is not.

Flat Top in WV is the same. Speed limit is 70mph and there is a curve at the bottom a truck should be down to 60mph for. But, don't start at the top of the hill slowing down for a curve that's 5 miles away. Save your brakes for when you need them.

Do people still buy trucks without engine brakes?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
That be me,Grandma Mosses going down them mountains.I usually keep it at a nice slow speed and let my jakes take over and above all I STAY CALM AND RELAXED.
JoBernard said:
Of course the biggest challenge for the mountain passes is mostly when their covered with snow: the hardest part about driving them really boils down to patience....everybody is at a different driving level. I can do 45mph most of the time but where do they get these guys that can do 55 and 60? that's unreal to me: Oh, but then there's those guys, gals too that creep along at 35 or 25: I've tried it seems for hours just to slow it down and stay behind them, I'm sure you know just what I'm talkin about... for the life of me I just can't do it; sad part about it: it is for the life of me, lol, whoops, sorry, that's probably not funny....
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Tn. Truckers Wife said:
HAHAHA..I can't say I blame you...lol...I feel that way just driving to work here in Nashville....The folks will just run you over even if your going 5 miles over the speed limit...I guess they want to get to work BAD!!!!!!!!..LOL...
Click to expand...
LOL Alot of the trk drivers do the same thing,believe me I know.Many pass me like i'm sitting still.LOL I'll admit i'm slow going down the mountains.You get in Colorado just past Denver on 70,wholly buckets those fedex guys go up and down them mountains like nothing no matter if it's snowing or not.They would scare the heck out of me if I had to ride with one of em.They're excellent drivers they know the mountains but gees I could never do that.Last time on them mountains I was bobtailing to take the trk to grand junction then fly home and I was nervous just bobtailing.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
patriciajnsn said:
LOL Alot of the trk drivers do the same thing,believe me I know.Many pass me like i'm sitting still.LOL I'll admit i'm slow going down the mountains.You get in Colorado just past Denver on 70,wholly buckets those fedex guys go up and down them mountains like nothing no matter if it's snowing or not.They would scare the heck out of me if I had to ride with one of em.They're excellent drivers they know the mountains but gees I could never do that.Last time on them mountains I was bobtailing to take the trk to grand junction then fly home and I was nervous just bobtailing.
Click to expand...
I'm sure those driver's have driven that route so many times they could do it with their eye's closed, so to speak but still anything can happen....Just don't you go trying it Patty..lol.....You be safe..
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Like I said in another thread, I go down a hill in a gear that will keep me going at a constant speed using the engine brake and NOT using the service brakes. Use the engine brake to keep the rig at a safe and manageable speed, and under control. I was taught to save the service brakes for emergencies on grades. You want them cool enough to work properly and stop the vehicle quickly and safely.

It seems like everytime I am descending a grade I get passed by some dimwit riding his brakes all the way down the hill, trailing smoke and giving off the smell of overheated brake linings. I have on occasion been treated to the sight of one of these "very good" drivers on the shoulder with smoke and fire rolling out from under the trailer and/or the drivers, and sometimes I see someone part way up an escape ramp (although I have never had the pleasure of witnessing the actual entrance into said ramp, darn!).

I am proud to say I have not had the opportunity to use the downhill parking pits.

Ever.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
i seen a great coastal rig on 64 eastbound start down sandstone grade about ten years ago. he was doing about 60 when he started down and immediately got on the brakes and never let off and never slowed down. they must have been out of adjustment really bad. by the time he got to the excape ramp he was doing over 70. i was empty so i kept up. he hit the ramp and stood gravels in the air for 20 feet. he finally came to a stop at the end of the ramp just as it ends and starts down hill. i didnt think he was gonna stop and if he didnt he would have just went straight down the grassy hill which is just a drop off. i slowed down to see if he was ok and he had jumped out of his truck and was pukeing his guts out. ill bet he had some brown underwear too. i blowed my horn and he waved me on so i thought he was ok and i went on. scared the shit outta me just watching it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote

Random media

Rest
23319518_1447566552005781_6828737728687039407_n.jpg
20180724_204232.jpg
20180724_204239.jpg
Mike's truck
1 38 sketch model logo.jpg
GO Express 2015 Volvo 730 near Pahrump, NV
Greyhound Stop
20180724_204300.jpg
Andersen Eco-Flap
20190628_223045.jpg
20180904_231513.jpg

Similar threads

Mike
Double Coin tires? Who would actually risk running these?
Replies
12
Views
47
Electric Chicken
Electric Chicken
Mike
Caught a “Unicorn Load” Scam: How I Spotted a Fake Broker in Minutes
Replies
5
Views
31
Mike
Mike
Mike
Lease Purchase Nightmares & Successes: Share Your Real-World Experiences
Replies
2
Views
20
mndriver
mndriver
R
Driver-Facing Cameras — Would You Quit Over One?
2
Replies
31
Views
147
Duck
Duck
Mike
FreightRelocators: Where to Find Us Across the Web & Social Media
Replies
0
Views
6
Mike
Mike

Back
Top