I drive a Mack that doesn't have an engine brake. A couple months ago, I loaded some copper out of Hayden, AZ and went through Salt River Canyon to get to I-40. I was grossing about 79,000, and without an engine brake, I was having to drive in granny gears topping out at about 10mph. It's very rare for me to have my CB on, but I did that day and this big KW comes screaming up behind me saying that I could kill people by going so slowly because they'll run up behind me and smash into me! :roll: I explained that I don't have a Jake brake and that if I went any faster I would likely kill myself and others. He kept cussing at me until he passed me. Funny thing is, we were at the consignee at the same time the next day.

 

ive always wondered that myself.
i run that road alot. it beats the hell out of you and your truck.
but i wouldnt call it terribly dangerous

 

how about route 33 from 79 in West Virginia all the way in Virginia to 81. Not as bad as some of the other roads, but went through there at night yrs ago with a light load and all you see was guardrail and sky. 2 lanes and swithbacks all the way, need to use both lanes. Am sure people will disagree, but is a road that youi don't here alot about

 

The map pic that I posted is of US-33 at the wv/va border. Lovely road, isn't it.

Another fun route (and we run it all the time) is out of Parsons on US-219 north. The first mountain you climb, you're lucky to get 20-25mph uphill out of it. I need a webcam to record the mountain on wv93 coming out of there. It's a joy. One of those downhill runs with 20mph turns (and 20 is fast) and a 10% grade. You definitely want to be in the correct gear on that one.

 

US 40 from outside Uniontown,PA to Grantsville,MD. Not a bad road, nice scenery but when the sign says "TRUCK SPEED 10MPH" down the hills, they mean it.

 

eplurubus,you must have delivered that copper to Amarillo.Traveled that route several times.I was in an automatic truck with jake brakes and it still isn't fun. One road I hate to drive is I-35 around Laredo and then through the Austin area,to much traffic in a small area.

 

I hate to drive is I-35 around Laredo and then through the Austin area,




I agree. I would rather go down the passes in the west several times a day than to drive that stretch of 35 that is full of nonenglish speaking idiots. :lol: Nobody mentioned hwy. 83 from Laredo to Mcallen,Tx.

 

Beautiful scenery! I've come home from Grantsville (Nice little town) many times this way. Watch out for the bears (Not animals..well maybe them too) on them hills.

 

You mean the ones that like to sit at the bottom of the hill by the Hopwell exit and wait for speeding trucks with the brakes smoking :wink: .

 

Google DEALS GAP also know as the DRAGON, they have a great website.

Your not supposed to use it as a shortcut but sometimes you just have to deliver there.



http://www.tailofthedragon.com/dragon_trucks.html