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Thread: Driving In Mountains

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    thomasville,nc
    Posts
    1,209

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    I have come down Black Mountain on I 40 in North Carolina with a 30 foot stacker behind the bus(71,000 total) with a retarder and never touched the brakes and the transmission temps never went over 225.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    LaBelle
    Posts
    474

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    A rule of thumb is "you go down the hill in the same gear that you climbed it in". The retarder and/or Jake brake will help control the speed. Watch for the posted safe speed limit signs and stay 5 mph below that speed. It is a conservative method but a safe one.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Wilsonville, OR 97070
    Posts
    852

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    Terry anticipate the hills and down shift to keep the RPM's in the optimal range, don't wait for the transmission to do the shifting. But then I only have an old 8v92.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Ft. Myers, FL
    Posts
    56

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    Thank you for the input. I feel more confident and ready to take on the mountains. We are thinking about heading to Alaska next summer so I'd better get comfortable in the mountains.

    Thanks again.
    Terry

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    anytown
    Posts
    8,908

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    The key to all of this is you as the driver have to participate. You can't sit there and expect the retarder to do the work for you. You have to actively manage the retarder and the gears to maintain your target speed. It is when you allow things to go beyond your target speeds or temperatures that you go from being a driver to a passenger. Like Jack points out the retarder is more than capable and Denny's post is right on target. Don't let anyone try to intimidate you into going faster than a safe speed.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Ft. Myers, FL
    Posts
    56

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    I drove a dump truck during college so i am ok with actively participating in driving. I have also subscribed to Jon's school of thought when it comes to speed. I set the cruise at 67 or 68 and don't worry much about what is happening behind me. I imagine going down the first longer steep grade will be a bit slower until I get the feel for the transmission and retarder.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Peabody, MA
    Posts
    112

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    There's an old truckers saying - you can go down a hill too slow a thousand times....but only once too fast...

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