Originally Posted by Native Dancer

The most dangerous conditions are from 30* to 0*. Traction improves in sub-zero tempretures and at -30* and colder driving on snow and ice is like driving on pavement. The danger at warmer tempretures is that when pressure is applied to snow or ice it melts (non-believers attach a weight to each end of a wire and drape it over an ice cube and the wire will cut through the ice cube). When driven over in warmer tempretures snow and ice instantly melts and refreezes. That is why blowing snow turns to ice on the road when driven over.

I grew up where we had 10 months of winter and 2 months of poor dog-sledding and chaining up came naturally. Some places I go require hundreds of miles of chained up driving, sometimes including the steer axle. The big difference is in these areas I only have me and the truck to worry about, no worries about getting caught up in someone elses mistake. If everybody believed in not chaining up half this continent would shut down 9 months a year.

As others have said, if you don't feel comfortable doing it, don't do it. You'll have long forgotten the time you sat waiting for conditions to improve while still remembering the time you bent a truck. It's all only temporary.

Originally Posted by LooneyTune

I use chains to get to a safe haven, I do not use them to just move freight. I have driven in snow and ice many times. Snow doesn't bother me that much but ice is another story.... that is far worse than snow. I have a simple philosophy.... if I cannot maintain 40mph in adverse driving conditions such as snow and ice? Time to stop for a while and let conditions improve. There is NO load worth your safety or the other drivers out there with you.

Originally Posted by Working Class Patriot

In fact here's Al right now.......

Originally Posted by Texas-Nana

It was over a hundred here today.

Originally Posted by eckz

Yep, and no jerky erratic movements, try not to use the brakes if you don't have to, and even slow down so that you won't have to if something happens ahead of you..

Ummm what else.. oh yeah, you have weight behind you, so if you lose traction just let off, straighten the wheel and let that trailer weight push you across the slick part until you get traction again.. don't use your engine brake it can cause your wheels to lock up as well especially when you are empty or light on the drives.

Load slightly heavy on the drives, if you don't have to pass a scale you can also move your fifth wheel all the way forward and get more weight on your steers, just watch out because most tires arent rated for much higher than 12k or something like that.

Keep a safe distance from everything in front of you, if that trailer starts coming sideways about the only thing that will help is speeding up slightly if you can.. which you cant if there is something blocking your path.. you can mess with the trailer brake as well but i wouldnt advise it starting out you will likely make it worse.

Originally Posted by oregongrown

Yeah, for me, like my first ride on the "Scrambler" at the fair

Originally Posted by phroziac

last time i rode one of those, i was yelling at the carnie, FASTER FASTER FASTER FASTER! and the best part was ....he cranked it UP after that.

Originally Posted by lowbudget

dude, if you throw a yellow snowball at me....be prepared to receive a brown one.............