9% Grade

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

But that does not make it right. Always go two below. That way you have an extra gear to adjust. If you want to shift to a higher gear then you have that option. Only one gear below leaves you with no options and only hopes that you will make its safely down.

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

But that does not make it right. Always go two below. That way you have an extra gear to adjust. If you want to shift to a higher gear then you have that option. Only one gear below leaves you with no options and only hopes that you will make its safely down.

True!!!

Assuming the roads are dry, your goal should be to go down the hill in a gear that will allow the Jake Brakes to hold you back without having to use the brake pedal hardly at all. The key is to find the proper gear early and don't let your brakes get hot in the first place. Drivers get themselves in trouble by going down a hill a gear or two higher than they should and then 3/4 of the way down they realize the brakes are getting really hot. Slowing down enough to downshift at that point might be too much on the brakes but riding it out the rest of the way might be also! It's a terrible situation to get yourself into.

So when you first start down the hill, find the gear you want to be in. Your brakes are cool at that point so if you need to slow down to downshift it isn't a problem. Find that gear where the Jakes will hold you back without hardly touching the brake pedal and enjoy the descent.

Assuming the roads are dry, your goal should be to go down the hill in a gear that will allow the Jake Brakes to hold you back without having to use the brake pedal hardly at all. The key is to find the proper gear early and don't let your brakes get hot in the first place. Drivers get themselves in trouble by going down a hill a gear or two higher than they should and then 3/4 of the way down they realize the brakes are getting really hot. Slowing down enough to downshift at that point might be too much on the brakes but riding it out the rest of the way might be also! It's a terrible situation to get yourself into.

So when you first start down the hill, find the gear you want to be in. Your brakes are cool at that point so if you need to slow down to downshift it isn't a problem. Find that gear where the Jakes will hold you back without hardly touching the brake pedal and enjoy the descent.

Great answer Brett!!

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.

Some states, it's illegal to run your 4 way unless your on the side of the road (like CA), now a CHP probably won't pull you over for it, but they could..

From experience, I'd take the hill up in whatever gear pulls but doesn't bog the end, (probably around 7h gear if it's a 10 speed maybe 6th). Going down, depending on the engine (Cummins, Detroit, maxforce or maxfail as I call em) and the Jake, I'd take it in 5th or 6th.

I've actually delt with a 9% loaded at 78k lbs pretty heavy, I was in a 2013 Volvo with a D13 volvo engine, pulled great, Jake worked great to, took the hill down in 7 around 25mph. Rpms stayed around 13-1400. Never touched brakes.

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.

Some states, it's illegal to run your 4 way unless your on the side of the road (like CA), now a CHP probably won't pull you over for it, but they could..

From experience, I'd take the hill up in whatever gear pulls but doesn't bog the end, (probably around 7h gear if it's a 10 speed maybe 6th). Going down, depending on the engine (Cummins, Detroit, maxforce or maxfail as I call em) and the Jake, I'd take it in 5th or 6th.

I've actually delt with a 9% loaded at 78k lbs pretty heavy, I was in a 2013 Volvo with a D13 volvo engine, pulled great, Jake worked great to, took the hill down in 7 around 25mph. Rpms stayed around 13-1400. Never touched brakes.

That's how were taught do it North of the border ;) It's illegal to warn other drivers that you're doing 1/4 their speed? I would expect more from California!

J-Fresh. When you enter California in a big rig there is a chp officer standing by the side of the road giving you the finger. I think it's part of the training for them.

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.

Running into the back of a semi in Ca has not been proven to cause cancer, no warning needed

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.

Running into the back of a semi in Ca has not been proven to cause cancer, no warning needed

... Or hurt the environment.

Yes California is a weird place. Trucks have been given tickets for driving to slow at 55 mph cause they got in the way and a car rear-ended the driver even though the speed limit is 55. Go figure.