Speed On Donners Pass?

I'm still a little inexperienced with steep grades. I've run donners out of California but never in until later tonight :) I was wondering what speed you normally try to maintain going down? Gross is 75k. I still have a hard time getting some grades right when heavy seems like I end up either going so slow it almost doesn't feel safe or using the brakes more than I want or the rpms get awfully high. Any advice much appreciated

I've never been on Donner's in a semi. We don't go past I-35.

You didn't mention the grade. Assuming it's 6%. 75K gross in this truck I'd say 30 to 35 mph max. Maybe slower depending on traffic. The key is knowing your jake brake. A strong brake allows you more leeway in tiny errors. You do not want to be on the air brake much. If you're having to use the regular brakes to keep your speed down you need to slow down to the next gear and even slower so you can downshift into it. Use 4 way when going slow (40 mph or slower).

Here's a link to Jopa's description of Donner. Scan down the page to Jopa's entry:

Donner's Pass

The best trucker's description.

There really isn't a such thing as too slow for a grade. Maybe 15mph and under when I rolled with my trainer, the rule was 25-35 max no matter what grade I was on. Full jake on in 6th/5th worked for me. Sometimes if have to mess with the jake and go down to medium then back to max but never touched my brakes.

There really isn't a such thing as to slow a grade. Maybe 15mph and under when I rolled with my trainer, the rule was 25-35 max no matter what grade I was on. Full jake on in 6th/5th worked for me. Sometimes if have too mess with the jake and go down to medium heat hen back to Mac but never touched my brakes.

Should be 7/8th. Don't think I've ever been in 6th down a grade.

You can go down a hill too slow a million times, but you can only go down a hill too fast once. The faster you go, the sooner you get to the accident scene.

You can go down a hill too slow a million times, but you can only go down a hill too fast once. The faster you go, the sooner you get to the accident scene.

I like that my first trainer would get mad for me not wanting to go over 65 on some downhills on the 68 , thus one doesn't downshift much and uses the brakes more than I like ( granted I'm new and don't know much) and when I go down at 40 it seems like every other truck is hauling ass. Made it down donners just fine wasn't nearly as bad a s I thought it was gonna be I rather run it than the ca-226 around the Tejon or however you spell it. Granted it's summertime. I haven't driven a truck in winter other than a light dusting of snow around elk mountain a couple months back and that was a light dust