Proper Down Hill Breaking 9% Grade 79,000 GVW. Using 5, 3, Breaking Technique

[MrBlitz126]

Sir:Which is the best gear for downgrades? would snub breaking be the best procedure?In school I was told to never use the retarders. What would you suggest? Thank you.

[dwayn7]

please dont believe this guy people if you hold a lite pressure on your brakes going downhill loaded you are gonna smoke your brakes if its a long grade about 2 gears lower if you dont have jakes and that 5 mph rule you will be fine goin down now hold it in the road driver

[skips1965]

it's sad that these so-called professional drivers don't know the difference between "BREAK" and "BRAKE"

20 plus years of driving and never smoked the brakes.

Down hills with 45,000 in the box with no Jake.

Light even pressure on the brakes, in the proper gear to hold about 1800 RPMs and I never had any problems.

"STAB BRAKING" ??????? Where'd you learn that? Dumbass University?

[Oshawapilot]

@skips1965 Stab braking is the CORRECT way to do it - the old-school "light and even pressure" has been proven long ago to be the fastest way to smoke/glaze/fade air brakes.

WHAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING IS UNSAFE. DO NOT TEACH IT TO OTHERS.

If you've managed with that braking technique for 20 years and "never smoked the brakes", you either don't haul the weight you claim, or don't go into serious mountain terrain.

I suggest you brush up on things - a lot has changed in 20 years.

[gale881000]

i have a cdl and haul equipment and dirt around home but i have made 3 trips over the road from south dakota to oklahoma and texas and im no truck driver by any means, but my dad drove for twenty years and my grandfather drove for about 40 years and they always taught me to use that damn jake brake and if i have to keep it in a low enough gear so i dont have to touch the brakes but if i do have to to run em at about 3 pounds of pressure and dont fan em or they will glaze over..

[brazilnut8898]

You should do a video on "Braking" also

[BeantownJim]

no jake?

[kenfo0]

that road was wide open!  you should've been in 99th gear with the pedal to the metal. put down the camera, 5-eyes.

[SeamusCallan1]

Whats the name of that drunk driving school, Mav?

[timcat100]

yup stupid trucker going down a steap hill holding a handy cam...dumb ass...I knew it was you

[oliverheidelberg]

Next time use the jake brake it's to the right of your speedometer on that Volvo three buttons over from the traction control. And what's up with the Stab braking comment while you're applying pressure to the service brake? Volvos have ABS! Did you go to SWIFT driving school?

[Trooper1090]

Real 'professional' driver.

I have a suggestion.

Why don't you put down the camera and DRIVE THE TRUCK!?

[emerson5478]

What about with an automatic transmission? What should I do

[truckertwotimes]

@emerson5478 lock down the gear you will start off in and hold the rpm at 2000 if you need to drop another gear just mash the next lower locked number after you slow the rpm's to where the gear will go in at

[JoeLil1993]

It also helps to shift to a lower gear to use the transmission as a brake too.

[chfireball]

hmm the best way is to let the jake brakes do all the work

[inilledra]

I have never heard the term "stab" braking. I don't use any brakes at all going down any grade, Just the Jake and a lower gear usually no faster than 30 mph, just incase something goes wrong and I can shut it down before it gets dangerous. No reason to be in any hurry going down the hill. I agree with other guys who use their 4-ways. Me too. Safety first.. its not a cleshe, it is a way of life.

[nd318865]

@inilledra #1) Good Grief. If you all use your four-ways on every grade, what do you use to warn the rest of us if you actually come across or have a problem??? Emergency flashers are meant to signify an emergency, not your newbie/ terrified status. think about it.

#2) Jam braking is the method used to keep brakes adjusted as when the hot drums expand, brake adjustment loosens allowing slack adjusters to ratchet when brakes are jammed at the end of each cycle of breaking on a long down grade.

[inilledra]

@nd318865 Been driving 33+ years, no accidents, many mountains and still here. In Wisconsin, it is a law to use your 4=way Flashers when driving on an interstate Freeway system under the minimum speed of 45 mph. Sorry if that is not up to your standards. I have never lost the brakes on a truck going down a grade because I was taught how to drive by a guy who was driving trucks before Jakes were invented. He never burned up a set of brakes either. Your idea of a slack adjuster is incorrect.

[nd318865]

@inilledra In California it is against the law to use emergency flashers except, in an emergency. I started doing Donner in 1969. Still doing it couple times each and every week. As an aside, I'd like a dollar for every time I've come across a slow mover in heavy snow with chains but no emergency, with those damn flashers making it difficult to determine it's speed or lane or "emergency". Just think about it. Apart from being jack-knifed, how is one to know there is no emergency?

[sleepytrucker252]

steady even application is proven to be best both on older standard breaks as well as new ABS systems, both hydro and air. read a little.

[thesoulsekr]

Stab braking is the best method. Never smoked my brakes using the stab method (at least I don't think I have). I believe the key is to have a good jake brake. The best one I've used is on the Cummins ISX. They've slowed me down on really steep grades even with heavy loads. Many times I didn't even have to use my service brakes. Detroits are junk. They help out a little, but nowhere near as good as the Cummins. Cat's are ok.

[jdchmc]

too bad you mcant spell braking.

[MrBoy219]

It looks like a Volva to me.... also i see the warning light on for low windshield washer fluid

[inilledra]

The real answer here is that you never go down any mountain, faster, than you can climb that same grade. The second answer is that if your Tractor has a "Jake Brake" you put it on 2 stage, meaning you only use 2 cylinders of the engine to hold the revs back and the truck will down the mountain without the use of any brakes. The third answer is, if you choose to apply your brakes and then simultaniously release them and then apply them again, all the way down the mountain, you will burn them up.

[nd318865]

@inilledra  Actually stage 2 is 2/3rds of the engine brake or 4 cylinders...

In the old days the rule of thumb was "same gear down as used going up". That was ions ago. Using the jake at the engines highest torque rating/ rpm and jam brake is the way for todays trucks.

[ptrhip]

no jake?

[haynes1776]

I always cut my speed and shift down several gears when going down a steep grade. Places like Fancy gap,Va(I-77 sb) and Mounteagle,Tn(I-24) i keep my speed at around 40-45 mph with flashers on. while other zoom right by me, im taking my sweet-ass time getting down the grade. its nerve-wacking at times, but the reward is getting down the grade in one piece.

[theartonthewall]

cant you just use the j brake?

[lonewolf1264]

Hate to see this guy pullin'trains!

[72klinger]

better fill ya washer bottle bro.lol

[hardtrucks1]

is truckertwotimes just a nick name on youtube ore is it you trucking handel?

[CCConcours]

9% grade @ 45mph and fanning the brakes = diasaster not a good training method. how heavy? or where you empty?

[fsmoots69]

When I started drivin' there wasn't many Jakes around,maybe 1in 100 trucks and narrow brake pads &drums.Was alot diffirent and dangerous in 1972,love your videos...

[theguyfromavonlake]

good place for the marb lights hahaha

[TheDavidpayne]

that truck never has any diesel in it ! keep on trucken . have u ever ran out of diesel ???

[truckertwotimes]

Yes I have, ran out when I drove a Cement Truck about 40 miles from the Shop, had to get em to bring me some, pretty embarrassing

[TheDavidpayne]

hahaha keep trucken and happy new year

[shifter3479]

According to the speed, you are doing 45 MPH down a 9% grade. A little fast if you ask me. Drop it down to a speed to which the engine brake does most of the work, with a few minor speed corrections with the brake peddle.

[inilledra]

@shifter3479 I agree with you 45 is way too fast. Try shutting down a Runaway at 45 mph. You will be puckering up quickly!!

[richardtheone]

right gear is the one you use so you don't have to touch that peddle ... if you can't hold her back with the jake alone you'll never hold her with the service brakes if you loose your jake and she starts to run away. and as for the old time method you think you are using right, you didn't tell your students that if they are using more than 5 pounds of application air pressure there is to much strain ,wearing things out and being dangerous..they aren't going to stop if things go bad. ....period

[HaulingHillbilly]

Hey Twotimes, kick her out of gear..........Hillbilly

[zieketuute]

...refilled the screenwashertank yet?

[peterbilt266]

wheres the jake brake

[SaGiTaUrlaN]

no need to fear the grades, but I did when I first started also. Mountain grades are not all that bad, you just have to be in the correct gear depending on grade and weight hauled. I do the 2-3 sec firm brake like in video, drop about 5-10 mph and ease on down. You have a good camera by the way, Thanks of the post.

[northernchicken]

i get alot of flack about this from other drivers but personally i prefer taking grades a gear or two lower than necessary and letting the engine brake hold me the entire way. most steep mountains I only touch the brake gently for very short bursts 3 or 4 times. on lesser grades i wouldn't brake at all. brake use equals brake wear and brake components are expensive.

[djoef69]

volvo enginebreak is the best you can get.

keep on trucking T2T

[salvadoreannika]

how much u hauling? wow i think your goin to fast? u should lower it one gear.

[ndfootballch]

anyway we could get a tour of your new volvo one of these days? :)

take care 2times

[NoiseMostBeautiful]

Thanks twotimes. Mountain passes, downhill shifting and slowing make this rookie (me) really nervous...I wanted to reach up there and grab one of your smokes on the dash just thinking about it. I guess it's like the harley, if I'm not a little scared I need to get off it right? Thanks for helping us out twotimes, I always enjoy it buddy. I don't think our group ever learned it "right" exactly, but Ga. hills are not like TN mtns! :-)

-M

[truckertwotimes]

You are welcome, for about 15 of my 27 years of driving I had always had the idea of light steady pressure until I came across the offer of a video from Rockwell showing this technique, I went another year or so before I actually had the nerve to try it out on a truck with no jake brake, I learned that this is the best way to do it, even application to all brakes at once keeps the heat from building up on any certain one that would always smoke when using the old fashion light steady pressure

[runre46]

well i dont know i haverun the west and the northwest and i did it my way and i never had any problems so far so i guess i will keep on doing it,22yrs cant be all wrong

[runre46]

well i dont ,maybe i am wrong but doesnt heat and oxgen make fire? thats what stabing breaks will get you, the right gear and steady 7 to 10 pounds presure on the breaks will get you down any hill.

[funkrider]

It's proven fact for some time now is that light steady air brake pressure can cause more brake application on some wheels more than others making them work much harder which will overheat them. Using more pressure in short bursts will make all the brakes work the way they were designed and be allowed to cool between applications. If you can not control your speed by using the short stab method you went down in the wrong gear going too fast.

[truckertwotimes]

That's right

[nd318865]

@funkrider It's called jam breaking, Just ask an old freight hauler. They never seemed to figure out that jam braking not only slowed the truck but allowed the slack adjusters to do their job as well without scaring the tourists or making them sick from brake smoke.

[inilledra]

@nd318865 What do slack adjusters have to do with "jam braking" in the first place? Slack adjusters have nothing to do with getting down a grade. Their job is just to automatically adjust the amount of space betwen the brake shoe and the brake drum (when the time calls for it). D.O.T. in Wisconsin says 3/16 of an inch between the gap.

[truckertwotimes]

it can if all the slack adjusters are perfectly adjusted and each brake is making the exact same contact pressure, but, for sure the stab technique applying even application to all brakes at once works every time, as long as you are still descending in the proper gear and speed

[nodnarbdoowron]

@truckertwotimes only thing is stab braking is technically locking up the brakes and letting go. the on your thinking about starts with a c. cant remember

[OIFveteren]

@truckertwotimes I found in the Kenworth T660 I drive that going down the hills in one gear lower then the one I went up in and riding the jakes on full I never have to touch my break pedal but maybe once. I don't know how well that would work in an older truck but these new KWs it works pretty good.

[MrLostkause]

@OIFveteren Same for me got a 07 t600 jackes work very good rarely have to break even with a full load

[nd318865]

@runre46 That's the way I was taught 42+ years ago. Times and trucks, brakes and speed limits or lack of down grade limits have all changed. Learn to jam brake and you'll never go back.

[nosupecualponerme]

no shit arcticdvx400 retarders have been around since the creation of the human kind..lol

[inilledra]

@nosupecualponerme Retarders may have been around, but installation on trucks has been limited to a few, back in the old days. I ran for C.F. for most of my career. We did not have Jakes and we also did not have "Johnny Bars". We had to go down the hills in a low gear and pray.

[4638JL]

Good information TTT, enjoyed the ride.

[NIEU0875]

these day's most trucks here in europe got a in- or re-tarder. select a speed you think its right, hit the button and done. no braking at al.l even in a 9% down hill grade. it works great. i am driving now for 19 years and the last 3 with the retarder. i wish i had it all the time. and the irritating of this al is that we use to drive with drum brake's who can not stand the heat. and now we got disk brake's and they can stand the heat with no problem.... :-(

[arcticdvx400]

no shit buddy retarders have been around since the 70s

[NIEU0875]

i now you have it over there for a long time. here in europe we get all the joy of that kind after paccar buyed daf and volvo toke withe. the first real engine brake came from volvo i think early '90. here we are always way behind the US of A.

[mercuryfalcon]

it is important to know this, though from the look of road and terain I would have f...cken launched it!!!!!

[mibars]

But you have to go slower... Or make lots of noise when reeving engine to high RPMs...

[fraser5001]

thats the idea..(the go slow part, the noise is the good part.lol). and the cops in Aussie will fine you for using the brakes down steep grades especially down toowoomba pass which is a 10% grade.

[lordtaw]

They fine you for using the jakes on Toowoomba pass? What an awful law.

[fraser5001]

no they fine you for using your brakes not for using the Jake... you have to select a low gear and use the Jake .. of course it's slower but a lot safer .. you go down the hill at about 20 KPH ..

[wwwtruckergeorgecom]

And now I know how to do it. ? were do I find a 9 % grade hill in Nebraska to test these and many more skills I have seen on YouTube

[fraser5001]

the other way to go down the hill is to select a gear that with the jake brake on will hold the truck at a safe speed without using any brakes at all..... thats the way we do it in Australia.

[inilledra]

@fraser5001 You would be correct, regardless of what country you are driving in or what grade you are decending.

[mibars]

Is it dangerous to let it accelerate a bit over the limit at the end of the hill and then coast?

[jetcoexpress]

just let here run lol dont wore about the brack. just grab hold and hang on

[andrew5184]

I've read about this in the CDL manual. It is helpful to see the technique in action.

[drivepro]

also watch out for that Stevens transport truck traveling around 7 mph.

[CACressida]

LOL Sooooo true haha!!

[inilledra]

@drivepro That is because the Stevens Transport company is too busy turning drivers over to worry about what education they get when they turn them loose. Same as Schneider National and J.B. Hunt. 6 months behind the wheel and now we make YOU a trainer. What an absolute JOKE

[drivepro]

@inilledra I got my education from Stevens. But your right, want to mass produce drivers. I think they make more money off the school loans and almost free drivers, than they do the actual freight. BUT. the point i was making is that they teach the driver to rely on the transmission and brake system to slow the truck, instead of using the Jake. You can Hot dog all you want. I can drive like a mutherfker, now that i been thru the worst there is.

[CCConcours]

@inilledra ' that's because Stevens teaches, and wants his drivers to know how to come down a mountain in case your jake brake fails, or doesn't come on at all.

[CCConcours]

@drivepro You know they are actually going about 18- 20mph without a jake at all it is a part of their training program.Some times a jake fails you know.It is a good training method.All companys should be doing this.Just for trainning only.

[drivepro]

@CCConcours Yes.

[CCConcours]

Respond to this video...  That is with no jake at all, and actually about 20mph. not much room for error.

[Rbnqss]

I am not so familiar with amercian truck's brakesystems yet, sois there possibility to brake also trailer, or is it like in here europe that when you press brake pedal, it applies the tractor and trailer brakes at same time

[4061917]

yes, the brake pedal applies tractor and trailer brakes at the same time... as long as you remember to hook up the line :)

[inilledra]

@Rbnqss American trucks have a "Johnny Bar" on the steering column or the dash board. That handle applies your brakes on the trailer only. If you apply the brakes with the peddle on the floor, that will apply the brakes evenly though the whole system on the truck and trailer.

[BowTyeProductions]

Triple T! It's been a long time since i saw a good braking vid! Take care Big Buddy!!

[CenterLane1977]

What happen to Knight refridgerated???

[inilledra]

@CenterLane1977 Belly UP!!???

[CenterLane1977]

@inilledra ummmm No....

[hillbilly482]

Great video TTT.

[filtertime]

well you have to have the marlboro lights

[drivepro]

very important when driving downhill.

[jcsawwood]

Hey TRUCKERTWOTIME how you doing hey where you at in your video i no that was not your favorite state southern MI LOL.

[truckertwotimes]

over by the house crossing Powell Mountain VA betwinxt Dot and Duffield VA on Highway 58 we have two 9 % mountains back to back

[trakedaddy]

I have yet to go down a 9% grade; highest was 7%, been down Cabbage Patch Hill in Oregon three times, seen an R&L Carriers double fly down Donner Pass (westbound) with smoke coming out of the first trailer tandem as if the next Pope was elected. Nice and easy down those hills people. And I don't care if your jake brakes are broken for two weeks, shut down immediately and get them fixed.

[TRUCKERMcD]

I've seen many trucks coming down hills here in British Columbia with all brakes on fire. It's scary to think about what can happen when you're not in the proper gear descending a steep grade and have to rely on your brakes going all the way down. Great post there TTT.

[Whitelinefilms]

I have to say those legs are looking mighty sexy son. Looks like yous been seeing some sun up there in them hills. Keep up the edumicated videos man more people need to learn so they don't come flying off a hill.

[truckertwotimes]

Hello Trucker! Thanks for the flowers

[debstef]

10-4 rubber duckie. You got a big ol' smokie stickin' out yer back door. I've had to stop, have the guys find chalks and rocks and wait for my brakes to cool

[truckertwotimes]

Hello Debstef

[eyesofawulf]

Great Vid there Neighbor Keep'em rolling

[TimberWolf212]

You must have been out in the Virginia, WV, NC area of the country! Alot of very steep grades out that way! Good job TTT!

The kids sitting next to me watching this are very impressed! PS; Now I'm sitting here explaining the reasons why you are doing this! LOL! Whew! I don't mind! They're having fun learning!

[drumPRO]

Good video Triple T!

You shoulda just thrown er' out of gear and let er' go! lol

Thanks for sharing

-Brandon

Oh, what kind of tranny is in this?

[truckertwotimes]

10 speed

[drumPRO]

Sweet

That's what I'm learning on!

[cadendadd]

Hey 2timer hehe. Have you ever stopped at the love's on I-40 exit 87. I will be driving truck some time in Sept-oct time frame after I get my CDL. I am retiring from present job and want to try this for 2-5 yrs and get on SS. I HOPE

[truckertwotimes]

yes sir

[amfan12]

no jake?

[truckertwotimes]

yea, quiet eh

[amfan12]

just about the quietest i've ever heard

[truckertwotimes]

This is a cracker box truck, even the jake don't sound good

[jonnytruckfest]

Awesome vid TTT!!! lol i wonder if anyones ever hit the accelerator by accident going down a hill fully loaded LOL!! Abit of a situation if someone has lol ! Awesome vid anyway TtT 5/5 !!!

[deke441]

I'm back on the road next week..If I see you out there gonna P on your tire and you can Video it and make us both famous.. wooo hoo

[truckertwotimes]

10-4

[seansuth]

Truck it UP DooOOOOooooSSSs

[langhus1]

Don't forget your podcasting deeevices

[Buckshot3715]

Nice job TTT, doesn't your truck have a jake brake?

[CCConcours]

@Buckshot3715 he is on flatland 9% grade 45mph bull shit, or maybe it was for only a mile

[truckertwotimes]

@CCConcours that is a 2 and a 1/4 mile downgrade

[ZoeToots]

Good Stuff, TTT!!!

[truckertwotimes]

I'd like ta thank ya nice lady

[umrebel]

Great driving there Triple T, I hate downhill grades but I always seemed to do well at it. I would never attempt it with a video camera in one hand but then again im not half the driver you are :)

[truckertwotimes]

Well thank ya thare, it did take me a hundred years to be able to multi task this way

[truckmetal13]

thanks

[newlife218]

very informative

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