Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/44411
least one lower gear going down the hill than what was required going up. You want to be in your transmission's sweet spot in the proper rpm range so you're not using too much fuel. When I drop below 1,100 rpm, that's where I want to up- shift to a higher gear. Grote: The bigger the hill, the lower the gear. When going downhill, as on Donner Pass or Cajon Pass into Los Angeles, with a 45-mph speed zone, shift it down to ninth, apply the engine brake and take it down nice and slow. You're not going to heat up your brakes. The steep- ness of the hill is going to determine what gear you're in. Tobin: Generally speaking, if you go up in fourth gear, you'll come down in third gear, or a difference in one gear between going up and coming down. SPEEDS Grote: I use cruise control whenever possible and never set it against speed limits. If the limit is 72, I'll set my cruise control at 66 or 68 and put my foot on the ac- celerator a bit. If you're just using cruise control, you're losing momentum. By putting your foot into it, you're loading your motor to use your horsepower and torque all the way through the hill. At the top of the hill, let your cruise control take over and throw in the engine brake instead of letting it free-roll down the hill. Tobin: My normal highway speed is 55 mph, so I tend to take things slower. The slower you go, the more weight you have on the ground. If you're light and driv- ing in wind, you don't want to go too fast. In the winter, FREE CATALOG! GET YOUR • Go online to www.iowa80.com and request your FREE CATALOG of the finest selection in Chrome and Professional Trucking Accessories! • Or Call Toll Free – 866-4-IOWA80 • Shop online today! www.iowa80.com (866-446-9280) Fred Jones recommends not to set your trailer brakes overnight in cold weather because they could freeze. do everything slower. Speed of 35 mph is as fast as you want to go on packed powder no matter what weight you've got. I generally go up a hill at 25 mph. Jones: You want to gear down enough to limit your speed on a downhill. If you're coming around a corner on a downhill and you've been using your brakes, you may not be able to stop for a hazard. McCarty: Select a safe speed. I don't think every state always posts a safe speed for trucks, so you should be fa- miliar with what's safe for your load, your vehicle, road conditions, the grade and the weather conditions. BRAKING McCarty: The most effective technique is stab brak- ing. You choose the proper gear at the top of the grade — you don't want to have to downshift on the way down — and apply the brakes to feel a definite slowdown. When you reach the speed limit, you apply the brakes again and release when you're 5 mph below the limit. Make sure your brakes are well- adjusted and have plenty of pad. Tobin: If you're going downhill and need to use your brakes, use them only once at the top and no more pres- sure than 5 pounds. If you need more than 5 pounds, you're going too fast. If you use an engine brake, you can go a little faster using 5 pounds of air pressure, but the engine brake won't hold unless you slow way down. The most pressure you want to put on your brakes is your big toe. Truck Accessories For The Professional Driver Like us on Facebook. Circle 351 on Reader Service Card or visit truckersnews.hotims.com 32 TRUCKERS NEWS NOVEMBER 2011 TN 2011 Jones: If you're going too fast where you have to rely on your engine brake as well as your truck brakes, they will get too hot. The hotter they get, the less braking power you have. My 2005 truck has 661,000 miles on it, and I've never had to replace the brakes. Grote: In the winter, you want to rein back speed downhill and not use the engine brake. On snowpack on continued on page 70 MAX KVIDERA