Trailer Brake Gain

Headed West wrote:
The tow haul was working well but it was in second gear and still accelerating. I saw other truck and trailers pulling over but my thinking was to keep air moving across the brakes to keep them cool. Was I thinking correctly? Or should I pull over every so often to allow them to cool down in situations like this?

When you say the truck was still accelerating, I assume you mean it was continuing to gains speed in tow haul. Normal on a 6% or greater grade. That is precisely where an exhaust brake or engine brake would be of assistance. The vast majority of drivers who pull over are not prepared for mountain driving, either skill-wise or equipment-wise. But better safe than sorry, so if you feel things are heating up, pulling over will make you feel better if nothing else. Of course, it would require more braking to come to a stop! Every now and then flat landers descending the Pikes Peak Highway overheat their brakes with differing results. One Kansas pair of ladies lost their lives a while back when they lost their car's brakes and compounded the problem by switching off the ignition. Now, no brakes, no steering. Don't fear the mountains, just prepare for them.