Question:
I was told by a driver that you should NEVER use your jakes on the snow and another driver chimed in and said he was full of sh$%. I am going to be driving in the snow soon and would like some feedback from some experienced drivers. thanks
franki

Answer:
where opinions can vary. Personally I highly reccomend against using them when the roads are snow covered or icy. The reason being is that when you turn on your Jakes it reduces your speed by releasing your compression early on one or more cylinders and causing a loss of "power" in the engine. This "power loss" is very sudden and can possibly result a breaking of traction with the road which could lead to a skid and/or a jackknife situation. In some ways it would be akin in a car to applying the clutch, reving the engine and then popping it.
The best way, in my opinion, when going down hill in the winter is to be geared down a min of one gear lower, if the roads appear clear, more if there is snow or if the roads appear wet, than you would traveling down the same hill with that load in the summer months without your jakes.
For example if in the summer your safe speed was 45 mph and you went down the hill in 8th gear in winter go down that hill in 7th at 35 mph, or slower if the roads appear slick in any way shape or form.
Remember you can go down a hill too slow a million times but you will only go down it once too fast.
Winter driving tips:
1. SLOW DOWN
2. Leave more following distance.
3. Don't push it. Pull over sooner than you might in the summer.
4. Dont use your trailer brakes to park. They can freeze shut on you.
5. Make sure to do real good pretrips and keep everything in good working order.
6. Try to keep at least 1/2 tank of fuel.
7. Snow and ice will add weight to your vehicle.
8. Listen to forcasts often. Stay updated ont the weather. It can and does change quickly.
9. NEVER park on a ramp in winter.
10. Make sure you know and understand your company's policies regarding use of fuel anti-gels, air line anti freeze etc. and how to use them if needed.
11. NO load is worth your life. If you feel the roads are too bad for you to drive on stop at the earliest oppurtunity.
Be safe out there. Be extra alert.
I have a name not a number. I am not cheap but I am resonable.
Answer:
NEVER use your Jake Brakes in snow or on ice! Use your Jakes on DRY PAVEMENT ONLY! (and NOT in town either ) The 'compression' will slow the engine speed faster than the vehicle, thus creating rear wheel lock-up.....throwing you into a skid or spin.
Tip for driving on snow and ice........SLOW and E ASY! Don't make sudden changes of direction or speed. The more gradual the change, the better.
Good Luck!p

Answer:
I Totally Agree with Hoss & Uturn.
As a matter of fact....
*There is usually a little sticker next to the jake switch that WARNS AGAINST using on Wet/Icy pavement. (I'm quite sure they put that WARNING Sticker there for a REASON.)
BE SAFE & HAPPY TRUCKING
SMYLE!

Answer:
i agree with what they said, not on ice or snow and be careful when your empty and driving in the rain as well.
If at first you don't suceed, get a bigger hammer

Answer:
Yeah what they said, but you can get away with using an engine retarder on wet pavement, just watch for freezing temps.
Learn the truck your driving and make mental notes on how it handles in different weather.
I just got out of a Peterbilt that would STICK to the road in even the worst snow storm when loaded, and the only time I got into trouble was following another T/T when he had a car go into a power slid in front of him.I got along side of the other T/T let go of the throttle,jake brake kicked in, started sliding, flipped the switch turning off the jake.and regained control. When the two of us got to a service plaza, we pulled in and then only realized that the rear door frames on the trls. swapped paint.
Take it slow,watch your mirror brackets for freeze up,hell reach out and grab them if in doubt, winter can be eaiser than you think as long as you use your head,just don't get scared.

Answer:
I've always had my jake on, especially in the Mountains on Snow. I keep the RPM'S low and the Jake on low and I'm fully loaded. Never had any problems even with a smooth bore food grade tanker with about 79,000lbs. I would not recommend to anyone using the Jake on slippery roads unless you know how to handle a rig. You don't want to mindlessly just throw the jake on, then you'll run into trouble.
There are drivers who cannot get their trucks out of the 1600 to 1800 rpm range running over snow. You don't want to ever be using the Jake running those RPM's.

Answer:
I use them at low rpms on full in limited traction. On shiny ice never. Pretty much go on feel. If its marginal I might use them turned down. I've looked at snow and ice so much, I let the conditions dictate my driving and therefore jake use.
Don't see any reason to run at high rpms in limited traction period. Can't get traction back if accelerating and when slowing you have no margin of error.

Answer:
Yes and No. Remember that if your truck is equipped with ABS brakes, the Jake works in conjuction with the ABS. The ABS will allow the Jake to cut out by itself. When it does that, you are better off turning it off as you can do a better job of slowing down with the brake pedal.
At least it won't cut out on you.
I do use the Jake on ice and snow but the conditions vary every mile of the road. Certainly there are times when I turn it off. Maybe the fact that I drive in Northern Canada all winter has taught me when and when not to use it.
[Pipeman]
[I thought I had made a mistake when I realized it was an error.]KEEP YOUR DOLLY CRANK SECURED AND HAVE YOURSELVES A GOOD RIDE !!!!!

Answer:
Pipeman brings up a great point. Most co.s have ABS on tractors and few trailers so equiped. I am the other way, great ABS on trailer and none on tractor.
Watch that trailer while braking ABS or not. After a couple of trials in icy parking lots and near misses on the road I feel in love with my abs on my trailer. It will still push my truck out of the way if I lock the truck up. Most of jackknives go the other way. Tractor stopping fine but trailer loses traction and "passes" the tractor.
Both require the same cure, drive that truck back in front( under)by getting off the brakes and easing into the throttle. With the trailer in a skid it can be recovered with trailer at extreme angles PROVIDED you have enough traction to get the tractor pulling the trailer back in line. And of course the room to do it.!
When the trailer pushes the tractor out of the way there is little recovery time and angle. But the cure is the same off the brakes and ease into the throttle to get the tractor pulling on the trailer.
I am NOT a expert on this subject!! You newbies and sundogs don't take this post as the definative answer to jackknives and winter driving!!!!!!!!! Remember I've been out of my truck since May. I forget more each day and didnt know much ti begin with!!!Others out there driving in winter weather can and will be better at giving you more complete advise.
Especially the Canadian Drivers. They see far more winter conditions than the average States driver.

Answer:
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Answer:
The "rule" is always No Jakes On Slick Roads. Period.
But in the real world, there are a limited number of situations where experienced drivers will use them. At very low rpm, or in the 2 or 4 cylinder mode, they don't put enough drag on the regular drive wheels to increase the chance of breaking traction much in chunky (or new) snow at low speed. But as Skiffman said, on slick ice, absolutely never use your jake.
Same thing on wet pavement. If you're real heavy on your drives, and the road's been 'washed' and relatively free of greasy build-up, some jaking can be safely acceptable.
Just remember -- whatever drag you're getting off the jake is coming off just one axle. That makes that axel five times more likely to break traction than spreading the same drag over all five axels with your service brakes.
Yes, I know what your thinking....so no, never engage the axel lock to divide that drag on two axels. If you lose traction, you're better-off with at least one drive axel keeping traction, instead of losing both at once.
And lastly -- if your drives break traction for any reason, you always respond first by hitting the clutch and letting them spin free, so they have a chance to get their grip back.
.
[This message was edited by Shuffler on October 30, 2002 at 14:30.]

Answer:
Franki
Schools, companies, etc. will tell U not to jake on slick roads. ********, if U are not in tandem lock mode, this will allow one set of duals to brake on jake, and the other set to free roll, which will keep U from sliding side to side. Good thing about jaking in slippery conditions is that U stay off brakes on other wheels as much as possible, thus keeping truck stable.
Note: Do not use jake when drives are in lockup mode.
I have always practiced this, even on ice in Pa mountains. It can also give U a feel of how Ur tires are gripping, by the feel of if Ur rpms are holding per ground speed or visa versa.

Answer:
Thanks all!
franki