Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite - View Single Post - How far has anyone travelled in their Deuce?

cranetruck · 11-08-2009, 05:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarCloud

Really? I'm amazed. Well, it seems the engine / drivetrain is hefty enough to take it, although 50 mph on the 75 mph Interstate 40 would make me a big fat green target for some half asleep long haul trucker. 7 to 8 MPG..my Avalanche with the 6500 engine package only gets 10, considering the 15,000 lb truck the M35A2 is that's not terrible. I'm assuming this is all running commercial pump diesel?

My other question, and getting out of Colorado this one is important...how do your BRAKES hold up in the mountains? The stretch of Highway I-25 starting at just south of Walsenburg Co.all the way to Santa Fe, New Mexico has a couple of very hairy 6% grade downhills..this is a big truck with old school shoe brakes..who's got some good brake stories for me?

Figure a mpg reduction of about 10% with bio/veggi fuels, but the engine seems to love it and runs quieter.
About long downhill runs, like from Reno to Sacramento, I used the exhaust brake and only needed to tap the service brakes from time to time to maintain speed. Emits an intense hissing sound when the exhaust is partly closed off.

If you don't have the exhaust brake and don't mind driving slowly, get more out of engine braking by placing transmission in a lower gear. Shouldn't be a problem going down those mountains at about 35 mph with engine braking alone (what little there is).
The exhaust brake adds perhaps 30 or more hp of braking power.