The Downhill Descent on Canada's Coquihalla Highway | Air Brake Smart
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- Опубликовано: 30 окт 2016
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Whether you're driving an 18-wheeler, a bus, towing a trailer, or driving an Recreational Vehicle you'll need to know proper braking techniques to safely descent one of North America's most challenging hills. Going west to or east from Vancouver on the Trans-Canada with a big vehicle you need to know how to properly brake downhill. Drivers cannot rely solely on their service brakes to descend the hill or there is a great risk of brake fade.
You must understand the grade signs provide the crucial information to descend the hill safely. For those of you driving RV units and towing trailers, ensure that the towing vehicle is rated for the amount of weight that you are pulling. Most often those gross vehicle weight limits are in place to ensure that you can safely bring the vehicle to a stop - especially on a long, steep downgrade.
All braking systems have one weakness - brake fade. Brake fade occurs when drivers employ improper braking techniques causing the brakes to overheat. Simplistically speaking, when the brakes overheat, the drums expand away from the brake shoes and the shoes will no longer come into contact with the drums. When this happens the vehicle has neither service nor emergency brakes, and you are driving a runaway. In some cases the brakes will catch on fire.
In the case of a fortunate downhill runaway, you'll be able to bring the vehicle to a stop on the runaway lane.
Despite advances in engine brake technology, brake fade still occurs from time-to-time. Still, with proper braking techniques, full use of the engine brake and the proper gear, in most cases you will descend the hill safely. As I tell students, you can go down the hill a 1000 times too slow, but the one time that you go too fast, may be your last.
One of Canada's most notorious downhill descents is on the TransCanada at mile marker 217 in the province of British Columbia. The downhill is an 8% & 6% grade respectively for 18 kilometres (12 miles).
The elevation at the Zopkios Brake Check is 1230 metres (4,035ft). The first 3km (1.3m) is the most treacherous, thus there is a truck runaway lane 1/2 km from the top of the descent.
Before descending, ensure that you have your proverbial "ducks in a row."
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Inspect your chains before you need them
Hi andy431431 - thank you for your comment. And you are Oh so right my friend. Make sure these fit before you get into the snow and the rain and the dark to find out these don't fit. If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
Thank you, Jacob Marley.
HA! Put your chains on if you need them, so many truckers do not chain up when prompted/needed. I see it all winter long trucks spun out after a chain up area!
Truckers call Zopkios hill "The Smasher" .... the whole highway from Hope to Kamloops is called the Coquihalla.
Hi Supe063 - Thank you for your comment. All the best, Cheers Rick
good advice, I'm impressed. I've got a few years driving behind me mostly logging about 5 years ( 7 axle) from terrace to Valemont. a couple years highway super B's mostly and its not often I see a video where the advice is all around decent. good job.
This is highway 5. Trans Canada goes through Fraser canyon.
Hi Jeff H - Thank you for your clarification. All the best, Cheers Rick
That is fantastic information for new drivers
Hi Tim Lapierre - you are most welcome my friend. If we can help further, drop us a note. All the best, Cheers Rick
Hey 99 coming in towards Pemberton is far more scary.
The coq is easy!
Good info none the less
The Smasher!
Hi Lost Comma - Thank you for your comment. Indeed my friend! All the best, Cheers Rick
smash that.... ohh mama
Colin symonds here from Australia interesting how you present this video I like it
Here in Australia we have nothing like this. We have steep grades but short ones and we allowed to take rd trains down them. Good video thanks
Hi Colin Symonds - you are most welcome my friend. Drop us a note if we can help further my friend. All the best, Cheers Rick
Whew!!! Great video! Thanks!
Hi CT! - you are most welcome my friend. If we can help further, drop us a note. All the best, Cheers Rick
Don't have any tips, but THANKS FOR THE TIPS ON THE AUTOMATICS! Never driven one so really really didn't know that. Your information is AWESOME! I made a list on my RUclips channel for beginning truck drivers and you are allllllllll over it! Great info indeed!
Hi Ladonna - thanks for your comment and praise. I think you might win the award for my biggest fan!! All the best, Cheers Rick
Smart Drive Test good cause I truly am a fan! lol!
Hey Ladonna - if you're ever in the northwest, let me know. Perhaps we could do an interview - I'm sure that it would be inspirational to a lot of women getting into the industry. Thanks, Cheers Rick
Smart Drive Test sure will!!!
Awesome!
New driver here. I drive a tandem tractor with a tridem tanker trailer. When I’m fully loaded I believe it’s about 45000kg. I’ve had a few close calls recently and I’m wondering what gear I should be in while going down a hill fully loaded. Also tips for going uphill as well
I don't mean to suggest this, but the first time I went down it was in the summer in the middle of the night. My '72 VW Van, like all vintage VWs, has incredible steering and suspension, and she wanted to go faster than fourth would allow. So, I threw her into neutral and buried my speedo. It was so exhilarating that I almost went back up and did it again. Never saw another vehicle. The only vehicle I like more is my '73 Super Beetle. Wouldn't try it these days, though. That's a busy highway!
It is NOT on the Trans Canada Highway. The TC1 goes through the Fraser Canyon!
I still think the Beaton Hill northeast of Ft. St. John is scarier than this it’s a river valley crossing but like a mountain pass. 14% grade for 3km tons of fun on ice!
Hi Dale Bettenson - Thank you for your comment. Any hill my friend, with that length and grade is going to be a ton of fun in the winter. Do you have to chain up for that hill in the winter? If there is anything further we can do, drop us a note. Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
@@smartdrivetest yes sir chains are used and last several winters the area has seen lots of snowfall but the temp stayed well under freezing so that always helps.
anything under 55,000lbs, even if you get that truck outa control on the 1st 3kms (before th shed), just throw your jakes on high and steer, occasionally tapping your brakes. It gets much more controllable just past the shed. It's not to say you won't be going fast, but your truck won't keep accelerating past the 115-120km/h. So just steer and don't panic. The runaway lane is only useful for guys over 80,000lbs pulling super B's or super heavy loads.
now I got a tip for you guys.....how about you put some sort of sign or indication at the top when you exit Zop, that tells us what the road condition is, LIKE for example "ICY UNSANDED" I figured that out all by myself one night. I came off the highway and conditions were good all the way in from Merrit, nothing to indicate anything to really worry about, just a bit of snow and cold. Checked in at Zop, took a pee, and away we go...now when you come out of there the road rises, usually we hit about 5 or 6, I was in 5 (it was dark) I crested the smasher, "HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!!!!!!!" the hill was all shiny, nice, like a freaking black skating rink.....There was a B-Train half way down towards the shed, nothing else...just me...going WAY TOO FAST.....BUT! there was simply no reason to suspect an icy hill.....That was not a fun ride, going down that bastard sideways looking at my trailer slide along the guard rail in the middle of the road. BTW, any of you who think you could have done better, yeah, no it wasn't like that.....I managed to safe life, limb, and the truck, and fortunately straightened it out before disaster struck the rear of the B-Train who BTW was also askew....BUT the point here is not my story, if there was a sign, or something in Zop, that said "Hey the freaking hill is ICY tonight" I would have entered that road differently....
Hi TonyB08 - Thank you for your comment and valuable information - especially now that we're heading into winter. And we're glad to hear that you're here to tell the story. Yes, the top of the Coqhihalla summit may not be salted or sanded, but rather a sheet of ice. Do you think that chains may have helped had you know the road had not be sanded? Always happy to help. All the best, Cheers Rick
TonyB08 i agree, weather changes in an instant! Roads bc or Drive bc app or website is a good help and indication of what conditions are like. Always check it before you hit the coq
Good work 😅
Hi GITARI Diaspora Tv 📺 - you are most welcome my friend. Drop us a note if we can help further my friend. All the best, Cheers Rick
Nice info I don’t find this hill bad but the one that snuck up on me was the Duffy Lake road down into Lillooet and mount Currie ,, I wasn’t on the ball there got a bit nervous and Almost pooped my pants . Lol
Thanks for your note. Happy to hear that you made it down the hill safely. Yes, every now & again we’re caught off guard. All the best, Cheers Rick
Keep it in a gear you don’t need to use the brakes in. Jake on high 1900-2000 rpm. If u have a manual fan, turn it on. Don’t start up shifting until your past the snowshed. Going up.. don’t lug the shit out of the motor. Drop a gear lower then u have to. It’s a long pull and the air gets thinner as u go up. Make sure your rad cap doesn’t leak. Boiling point drops as u go higher. Pressure keeps it up.
18kms!?
Loaded super b I'm out of there in the big hole baby
Terminal velocity tops out at 155-160 kph
That sounds like a bit of free-rolling my friend. ;0) Cheers Rick
@@smartdrivetest Thanks for not deleting that, hopefully anyone who sees this knows we're joking !
Indeed my friend!! All the very best, Cheers Rick
i thought the Transcanada was highway#1 the fraser canyon
Hi greg s - Thank you for your comment. And you are correct. The Fraser Canyon is Hwy #1. And I just looked it up, and the Fraser Canyon is indeed the TransCanada Hwy. Thank you for helping to amend my incorrect information. All the best, Cheers Rick
I DROVE THE STATES MY LAST 10 YEARS AFTER ALASKA THE WORST WAS SHASTA AND CABBAGE
I'm trying to get my cdl in florida and stuff like mountains and hills freaks me out
Understand the grade signs, gear down, and use the auxiliary braking system and you'll be just fine my friend. Have a look at these videos: ruclips.net/video/tKCyg2ln_1E/видео.html And this one too: ruclips.net/video/0xNKlP1VmOs/видео.html Drop us a note if we can help further. All the best, Cheers Rick
We are in us we are safe
If mountains freak you out, stay away until you gat some experience. Then find a seasoned vet and get him to walk you through the mountains. Most of all don’t be afraid to ask for help when you are in over your head.
The #5 (Coquihalla) is not the TransCanada Hwy. The TranCanada is the #1 which goes from Victoria across the country and snakes through the Fraser Canyon in relatively the same area of the province as the #5.
That said, the #1 and the Fraser Canyon is a highway to be reckoned with also. It's debatable which is more dangerous to drive, especially in the winter. I drive the Fraser Canyon daily (I live in the Canyon) and if you're not 100% alert and driving with a fully safe vehicle of any kind, you're ending up in the Fraser River or worse. Highway Thru Hell shows how dangerous it is on a frequent basis.
Hi Maxxis - Thank you for your comment and information. You are correct my friend. All the best, Cheers Rick
Too little too late for Aguilera-Mederos. 😔
All the hill stories are about 13/18 speeds. Give me a gear for an icy Wyoming 6% with a 10speed. Been driving less than 4 years, and still asking questions
Hi Dan Brownell Fuzzy - it's awesome that you're still asking questions my friend. That means that you are truly a smarter, safer driver. How long is the grade my friend? In other words, is it one mile or 5 miles? All the best, Cheers Rick
@@smartdrivetest it's called South Pass. It's split into about 3 sections over 10 miles. I remember taking it out of gear and going for a lower one. Looked out and saw my tandems spinning backwards. Ended up using brakes ...my trailer kept trying to come around.
Hearing kilometers makes it sound alot longer than it is. If you only speak American...😁 but 11 miles is still a long way for those grades.
Highway Through Hell ain't a movie...
You are very right my friend! My bad! All the best, Cheers Rick
Concrete snow shed. Not cement.
Thanks for your comment. "You say potato, I say Pootato." Have an awesome day my friend. Cheers Rick
How about just picking the right gear, throw on the engine brake and not touching the brake pedal at all. Provided there's no snow or the ice on the ground
Hi old trucker - Thank you for your comment. And you are correct: with most modern engines, 5th low with the engine brake on full works just fine - no service brakes required. If you're running heavier you need to go to fourth. And as you stated - provided the road isn't slippery - in that case you may need chains. All the best, Cheers Rick
Thank you sir, oh FYI I run an 07 Pete 379 with the original Brakes in it yet, and they still have 40% left and I just did the brakes on my 08 trains with original brakes , so I'm not running the hand valve either, gotta love the Cummins ISX engine brake
Hi old trucker - Thank you for your reply. I'm happy to hear that you're not running the hand valve with a set of "B" double trains. And you are correct, modern engine brake technology is brilliant. I was talking to a truck driver from Spain a while back and he was telling me that the hydraulic driveline retarders are amazing too, and will hold his 40-tonne truck at 80km on a 12% grade. I'm going to offer you an alternative driving technique--not for hills, but everyday driving. Have a look at this video: ruclips.net/video/Ec34hbWaRgE/видео.html&index=7&list=PL0x-bChcUvwE4covDy04Sre8cPPb-q4HL All the best, Cheers Rick
Hopes not great, but I wouldn’t call it hell.
COOL VIDEO RIGHT ON I WOULD TAKE CANYON 90 PERCENT OFF MY TRIPS EXCEPT FOR TRUCKS IN LEFT HAND CORNERS BEEN RUN INTO NO POSTS OR TUNNEL WALL MORE THAN ONCE YALE IS BAD AFTER 10 YEARS SUPER TRAINS LUMBER FROM PRINCE I WAS GETTING SCARED TO DRIVE I STARTED IN 76 IT WAS COOL WE GOT 2000 DOLLARS PER LOAD 3 OR4 TRIPS PER WEEK YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 90S WENT TO 850 DOLLARS PER TRIP IT WAS 650 FOR FUEL 1 FLAT IN THE RED DRIVE TRUCK 3 MONTHS GIVE IT BACK TO THE BANK AND THE GOVERNMENT LET IT HAPPEN DESTROYED LIVES AND FAMILYS
I'm sorry, but the little cocquiholla hwy 5 thing is 100% a lil joke. It's NOTHING, compared to, say, hwy 3 creston to castlegar. It's nothing compared to, say, castlegar to Vancouver. I'm not too sure why so many ppl are so scared of that lil hill. Try going up the Othello road hill, heading to Nestle Waters. Now, thaaaaat's a true hill! Not that lil cocquihalla crap!
blueberry Paulson, salmo creston, and nice hills.
This is annoying me.. The Coquihalla is NOT the Trans Canada... It's the YellowHead..
Hi DeathZephlyn - you are correct my friend. Yes, one of those errors that transplant BCers make. I hadn't heard though that it was part of the YellowHead. I'll have a look at that. All the best, Cheers Rick
@@smartdrivetest i travel the coq alot, mostly from spring to fall. But yeah, from Hope to Tete June Cashe (valemount) its the yellowhead
Its not the Yellowhead. That runs from Winnipeg to Prince Rupert. From Tete Jeaune to Hope its #5
@@paulnicholls8683 it also runs from Hope to Tete Jaune Cashe (North of Valemount) which then connects to transcanada/yellowhead 16