|
09-08-2015, 03:57 PM
|
#1
|
Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Iowa
Posts: 26
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Amtran
Chassis: International
Rated Cap: 71
|
Mountains
Has anyone taken their bus up in the mountains? I don't know how they do going up and coming down steep grades.
|
|
|
09-08-2015, 04:00 PM
|
#2
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
|
Forgive my crappy video, but this is my 1992 Senator coming down the southbound side of Monteagle. Best to mute my video and play the audio of the Cash tune!
Its a fairly scary stretch of road in a used 23 year old school bus! I wanted a retarder and more HP.
I forgot to downshift going up it and it nearly overheated. Thank goodness for the rest area at the top. For serious grades I highly recommend a mountain bus.
|
|
|
09-08-2015, 04:07 PM
|
#3
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Salt Lake City Utah
Posts: 1,635
Year: 2000
Chassis: Blue Bird
Engine: ISC 8.3
|
The mountain experience varies.. A LOT.. based on what equipment the bus has. There's a large and small engine option in every platform it seems, and frequently more than one axle gear ratio available. There are several transmission options available too. For controlling speed going down the hill (apart from the service brake) there are more options (engine brake, exhaust brake, transmission retarder, something else I'm forgetting). Many of us have been through or live in mountainous areas, but the answer is "it depends."
|
|
|
09-08-2015, 04:12 PM
|
#4
|
Bus Crazy
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Colorado
Posts: 2,356
Year: 1993
Coachwork: bluebird
Engine: 5.9 Cummins, Allison AT1545
Rated Cap: 2
|
thats what mine is for... getting me to the mountains.
i have a cummins 5.9 and the AT 545.....'
its slow, it can be scary, it gets hot, but it makes it
going down is harder than going up
gotta learn to go slow with out ruining the tranny or setting your brakes on fire....its a delicate balance.
|
|
|
09-08-2015, 04:33 PM
|
#5
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
|
I should have included that my bus has a DT466 195hp with a 643 transmission. 4.44 rear.
|
|
|
09-08-2015, 04:39 PM
|
#6
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 546
|
AS I crest the top, I select 3 and pick my target speed..Usually 50. Brake hard to 40...Speed builds up to 50, brake hard to 40 and repeat.
Lots of trucks and buses have an AT545 like I have (I used to drive some of them) and you must use your head.
Off ramps, I select 1 let the trans down shift as the speed bleeds off.
|
|
|
09-08-2015, 07:11 PM
|
#7
|
Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NUNYA
Posts: 4,236
Year: 1995
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: 3800
Engine: DT408, AT545
Rated Cap: 23 500 gvw
|
I go up slow and down even slower.
|
|
|
09-09-2015, 06:07 AM
|
#8
|
Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
|
I do mountains any time I leave the driveway, here we have 6 and 8 mile long 8% grades with 523 turns, my target speed is 30 mph
the few roads that have 12%+ (421 into/Boone) about 1 mile long, is 20 mph 1st gear while keeping rpms at 2200
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
|
|
|
09-09-2015, 06:37 AM
|
#9
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 252
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dond
AS I crest the top, I select 3 and pick my target speed..Usually 50. Brake hard to 40...Speed builds up to 50, brake hard to 40 and repeat.
Lots of trucks and buses have an AT545 like I have (I used to drive some of them) and you must use your head.
Off ramps, I select 1 let the trans down shift as the speed bleeds off.
|
Please don't read this as critical, just want to elaborate.
That is the correct technique for downhill but when you read 'brake hard' please only brake firmly enough to bring your speed back down to the target and then let off the brakes and let those brakes cool as you gather speed again. I wouldn't want anyone losing control as they descend with braking too aggressively.
|
|
|
09-09-2015, 09:51 AM
|
#10
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 546
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jake_blue
Please don't read this as critical, just want to elaborate.
That is the correct technique for downhill but when you read 'brake hard' please only brake firmly enough to bring your speed back down to the target and then let off the brakes and let those brakes cool as you gather speed again. I wouldn't want anyone losing control as they descend with braking too aggressively.
|
Thanks Jake.
My brake hard just may be your brake firmly. If you don't brake "firm" enough, you will overheat by too long brake time vs. cooling time. This is they way I teach it in my CDL prep classes.
I am a long time CDL guy, since 1967.
|
|
|
09-09-2015, 11:54 AM
|
#11
|
Skoolie
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Monrovia California
Posts: 151
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Engine: 3208 turbo Cat
Rated Cap: 78
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dond
Thanks Jake.
My brake hard just may be your brake firmly. If you don't brake "firm" enough, you will overheat by too long brake time vs. cooling time. This is they way I teach it in my CDL prep classes.
I am a long time CDL guy, since 1967.
|
Thank you Dond, I too did not understand until your explanation, it makes a lot of sense, we are very fortunate to have professionals on this forum.
J
|
|
|
09-09-2015, 12:14 PM
|
#12
|
Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 252
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dond
Thanks Jake.
My brake hard just may be your brake firmly. If you don't brake "firm" enough, you will overheat by too long brake time vs. cooling time. This is they way I teach it in my CDL prep classes.
I am a long time CDL guy, since 1967.
|
Exactly, too long on the brakes is as bad as too hard. Just didn't want anyone to misinterpret for stab braking. By no means have your depth of experience!
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|