9% Grade

Truckers in your "own" opinion and experience how would you approach a 9% grade fully loaded?

Slooowwwlllllyyyyyy

Truckers in your "own" opinion and experience how would you approach a 9% grade fully loaded?

You going up it or down

Both. Up and down

Ever hear of Depends???

Throw your 4way flashers on and select the correct gear to hold u at a safe speed with full jake for the way down only using your foot valve if your rpm's get too high or additional speed control is needed (u shouldn't need your foot valve if correct gear is selected), and 4 ways with the correct gear selected for the climb up. If you're rocking an auto transmission then speed control can be a little more difficult so make sure you pre select it to manual shifting if that option is available to avoid overheating your brakes.

Ever hear of Depends???

Well, I have often had the same question and wanted to know if there are even some general guidelines for matching gear with rpm, speed, etc. One real fear I have is of being in too high a gear and being unable to downshift.

Attack it just like any other grade, with respect and common sense. tHe climb is going to be very slow (make note of the gear I'm in). when I get to the top (I'm assuming by fully loaded you mean heavy) put tran in manual and select two gears below what it took to climb, go full jake, pucker up and roll.

The manual says one gear lower than what was used to climb but I think 2 gears lower is even a better idea.

Yeah the manual says one gear lower but this is exactly I like to hear it out of the horses mouth! Two gears lower sounds just right.