Engine braking vs foot braking in snow/Ice.

Ah, it looked like it was at me because it was posted under mine, lol.
No biggie, I have thick skin.

They also have a lot of drivers who go careening down a cliff...

 

I'm sorry but if you can not downshift while going up a hill then you need some more training.

I can guarantee you if you were to run up on the "crowd" traveling like you are saying you'd be ticketed.

 

I never said it couldn't be done, just that it shouldn't. Every time you change gears you run the risk of losing grip. You should know this. I have a pretty good idea of what gear I need to climb a hill before I get there, I just choose to make sure I'm in it before I get there when there's ice and snow... I'm sorry if my idea of safe doesn't jive with your reactionary tactics.

I was traveling at about 37mph, they were traveling at about 17 when I came up to them... How else would you describe it? I was quite clear in what I said. If I had been doing 60mph then maybe I could have gotten a ticket, because THAT would have been unsafe. We cannot control what people in front of us do, and I think you are assuming that I just flew up and hit the brakes at the last second... I did not. I saw what was coming, and slowed accordingly, but the fact that they were going THAT slow means they were panicked and should have simply gotten off the road.

 

I got news for you cynical driver, you have to drop gears on some hills. There are some 18% grades I climb and there is no way I am slowing down enough to be in 4th at the bottom. Especially seeing as there is a big down grade approaching the upgrade.

You don't run the risk of losing traction shifting gears if you know what you are doing. That is bad advice. You need momentum to carry you up a hill without spinning out.

 

If there's an 18% grade in my path, and the roads are icy and snow covered enough to warrant my concern... I chose the wrong way to go!

 

Really? I have to face that on well over half of my trips, with a loaded super B (5 axel combination trailer) of propane grossing in at just a smidge under 140,000 pounds.

It can be done quite easily, but not by everybody I suppose.

 

Have fun with that, you couldn't pay me enough to constantly deal with it. Once in a while is one thing, but 50% is ridiculous, especially on crappy roads. You can have it.

It's not a capability thing, it's a comfort thing. Try to avoid personal judgments, and disparaging comments, you only know me from what you get on this site... That's not a basis for determining a person's individual skill level with anything. You don't have to like what I say, but at least I never implied you were a bad driver, because I do not know you personally.

 

No but you implied that dropping gears climbing a hill should not be done. That is not good advice nor practical. Driving on ice and snow is quite possible and even unavoidable in some areas at some times of year. You can't shut down trucking for it.

You aren't comfortable running like that, I can respect, but don't go doling out winter driving advice that is not true.

 

Did you read my post entirely?

 

When the road is really slippery "ICE" you drive as if you had 200 HP and less than a 1,000 ft lbs of torque. You have run a every hill, slow at the crest, drive smooth and gentle. If you try going up long hills with no speed at the bottom you will be in the ditch, or even worse blocking the road.
Chains work best on compact snow, Ice is different can of worms, especially thin ice on a solid surface, excessive lateral force and you are on ice skates.
I live in the mountains and see people all the time that do not have a clue how to drive steep grades in the summer let alone the winter.