Winter Mountain Driving Advice Needed

Which company did you go with? I can't read the name on the truck in your avatar.

 

Welcome and you came to the right place. Everybody will have a different view, but some things are universal. Patience is the key. Many times in the mountains, you are REQUIRED to install chains, so someday when you're sitting around, might want to practice that.I've never "hung iron" but can imagine it's a bitxx when the winds a blowin'. I wouldn't engage the inter-axle unless stuck and never use the jake brake or speed control when slippery. You shouldn't be going fast enough to need it anyway. Driving forward is one thing, stopping is quite another. If it's that slippery you can't get traction, or see, then shut it down asap. No load is worth your or anyones life. If you absolutely must, snow covered with a load, maybe 30mph tops on a flat, maybe 20 down a hill, empty or bobtail,, I wouldn't even chance it. Believe me, the boss would much rather deal with a delay, than a wreck. Also, wouldn't hurt to keep a gallon of your favorite fuel additive in the side box, gets mighty cold in these here parts. Glad you asked,

 

That's great news; you're off to a good start in the new career.
I love the reefers coast-to-coast; did it for 18 years and no regrets.
Take care!

 

Use the search function. It's been covered several times. Use caution though, there's lots of bad advice in those threads, and some good too.

 

“Mixed reviews”? From where…YouTube? You are giving idiots an audience.

People will talk about company policies and why they don’t do or do whatever. I will say this: it is more important to know how than whether or not you do or do not.

Interaxle lock: The only way to damage this is by engaging while you have a tire spinning. If you’re running 50mph down the road and see an incline, let off the throttle for a sec, engage the interaxle, back on the throttle. No need to stop. If you stop, you are an idiot. Be glad you have tire chains. If you call a wrecker, your company will treat this as an accident. Call at your own peril.

 

Well, 666s posts usually spot on, but this is a bit misleading. A"wheel spinning" is misleading as the wheels spin evary time I driva da' truck, ( Father Sarducci) what they mean is, if you aren't stuck and just rolling down the boulevard with no power, then yes, coming to a grade it's very advisable to lock the axles, but caution there too, as if you do break traction with all drive wheels under power, it can come out sideways on you, not unlike a positraction car. If not all locked, the single drive will just spin. Power dividers are ruined when you are stuck with a single drive wheel spinning and you foolishly engage the power divider, not really sure how it works. It's gears spinning and if there's a difference between the 2 axles, it's scrambled eggs.

 

Keep in mind that there are different types of road conditions in bad weather. When the road is snow packed then usually the warmer the temperature the worse traction you’ll have. Below 10 degrees it’s almost like driving on concrete but if it’s 30 degrees it’s going to be pretty slippery. When it’s like that then you’ll want to drive like you have no brakes and don’t make any sudden moves. Keep enough stopping distance and only tap the brakes if you need to. Learn how to use the manual transmission so you can stay in the gear you want.