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Driving the big-rigs in snow and ice

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by nwcountry, Sep 17, 2009.

Page 4 of 21
  1. Sep 19, 2009 #31
    nwcountry

    nwcountry hot-flash

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    It's true I rarely see a truck pulled over when it's snowing, even white out. I have driven all the passes from here to Denver in my passenger vehicle and sometimes got into the thick of it. I've they were pulled over they were chaining up. The chains they have for cars are wayyyy easier today then when I was a kid. I assume the truck chains have improved as well?

    It is different in our high country. I am sure there are those that haven't experienced the same treachery. I know I was totally new to the conditions in the South when I lived there. Like tornados, lightning/electricity totally surrounding you, not like the hit and miss kind we have up here. I'm sure I'll be learning to chain up and will probably do that(rather be safe then sorry)but also, I know I will pull over if my gut tells me it's best. The storms "don't" come and go here though, usually. If you pull over you can wake up buried in a snow-bank:biggrin_2551:



     
    nwcountry, Sep 19, 2009
    nwcountry, Sep 19, 2009
    #31
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  3. Sep 19, 2009 #32
    jtrnr1951

    jtrnr1951 Road Train Member

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    I never have chained up, never will. To each his own, I'll sleep till the roads improve. Then I'll usually end up passing everyone that did chain up. Whatever floats your boat I guess...
     
    jtrnr1951, Sep 19, 2009
    jtrnr1951, Sep 19, 2009
    #32
  4. Sep 19, 2009 #33
    notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    By the time you factor in all the chaining/ unchaining, driving 20 mph how much did you make while you was burning up your 11/14 & 70? The only chains I throw is on steel.
     
    notarps4me, Sep 19, 2009
    notarps4me, Sep 19, 2009
    #33
    Working Class Patriot Thanks this.
  5. Sep 19, 2009 #34
    nwcountry

    nwcountry hot-flash

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    Winchester Oregon
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    Do you do a lot of snow though? I think the other guys comments were valid about driving a lot where there is a lot of snow. I know there is a lot of snow in the mid-west as well, not just passes, but the Siskiyous(splg)for one, are the steepest between here and CA(highest)and lots of snow. I'm just saying that the routes that have a lot of snow may have different what to's and what not. I totally agree that if it's beyond our expertise or our gut says "too dangerous" though;)

    Denise
     
    nwcountry, Sep 19, 2009
    nwcountry, Sep 19, 2009
    #34
  7. Sep 19, 2009 #35
    eckz

    eckz <strong>"Radio Rambo"</strong>

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    Detroit, Michigan
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    I'm from Michigan, i learned to drive in snow.

    When i'm driving i spend most of my time out west if i can help it.. If the chain laws are in effect i'm hittin' the truck stop, it's not because i can't drive in snow it's because it's just not worth it.
     
    eckz, Sep 19, 2009
    eckz, Sep 19, 2009
    #35
    Working Class Patriot Thanks this.
  8. Sep 19, 2009 #36
    nwcountry

    nwcountry hot-flash

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    I'd definitely want to avoid "having" to stop in a bad place, gettin stuck basically, when I could have taken what preventative measures were available.

    Thanks Eckz, no shame in chaining up, lots of work but how worth it it could be:)


     
    nwcountry, Sep 19, 2009
    nwcountry, Sep 19, 2009
    #36
  9. Sep 19, 2009 #37
    AK20

    AK20 Bobtail Member

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    Well first off I'm working with 15/20 & 80...also unless your stopping for 8 hours or more your still burning your 70/80 really.

    Case in point - I pretty much drive the same strech of road, the Dalton Highway between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay, if you've seen this last season of Ice Road Truckers...same road. 1,000 miles round trip, about 12 hours each way. So if everything is going well I have 3 hours to play with before I HAVE to stop for 10, takes 15 minutes to throw a set on, 5 to take them off and lets say 20 minutes to get over and down the hill...grand total of 40 minutes to 1 hour per hill. If doing that 3 or 4 times on trip is the difference between me sleeping in my own bed and not falling 10 hours behind for my next load, versus sleeping another night in the truck...#### right I'm throwing iron and pressing on!

    Disclaimer: This is assuming weather is good to marginal and the hills are just slick, now in really crappy weather (white-outs, tons of snow on road) of course I'm parking and waiting for the road crews to whip it back into shape. I think we can all agree if your can't see past the end of your hood it's time to park.
     
    AK20, Sep 19, 2009
    AK20, Sep 19, 2009
    #37
  10. Sep 19, 2009 #38
    nwcountry

    nwcountry hot-flash

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    misunderstand me. I don't want to drive in snow and ice but I figure it goes with the job. If I think it's too much for me personally, to handle, I will pull over. If I run into a storm I didn't see comin(I know there are weather reports etc)but I'm feelin good to go on and say, find a better place to pull off, I will chain up. Now I feel this is what I'll do but with no experience in a big rig, I haven't a clue. If I am scared I will pull off because I am not going to kill myself or anyone else on purpose. I'm no hot-shot, I just want to learn what I am capable of doing, safely. I do believe there are people that can drive through snow safely, depending on the storm. Others choose not to and for their own good reasons. I am glad to get feedback from both breeds.

    Thanks all, denise

     
    nwcountry, Sep 19, 2009
    nwcountry, Sep 19, 2009
    #38
  11. Sep 19, 2009 #39
    eckz

    eckz <strong>"Radio Rambo"</strong>

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    Detroit, Michigan
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    Yup. Sometimes it's not just yourself that you gotta watch out for. I was out in Wyoming on 80 a few winters back and just ahead of me (about 2 truck lengths) there was a fuel tanker overtaking another big-truck in the left hand lane... The truck that was passing in the left lane got up to about the truck in the right hand lane's drive tires...

    At that point the truck in the right hand lane completely lost it, his tractor went sideways directly in front of the truck in the left lane and he smacked the driver side of his tractor dead on doing about 60-70MPH, ripped off the fuel tank, etc. deisle fuel went everywhere.. Even at 2 truck lengths stopping my rig with 49,000 on the wagon was no easy task, i had to use the shoulder.

    Both drivers were alright, a little shaken up i can imagine.. Needless to say i hit the next truck stop for the rest of the night. =P

    During the same trip, coming back across Elk mountain we're all taking our sweet time, rolling down with plenty of space about 30-35MPH talking on the CB, everyone is getting along great and having a good time... Here comes Swifty in the left lane, (Female driver, no offense) yelling "OH ####" on the CB, jammin' on the brakes making her trailer go sideways... Don't do that.. honestly you are better off letting it roll down the hill than you are trying to stop... But she shouldn't have been going that fast to warant being in the left lane in the first place.. Be ready for things -before- they happen, not after.. Don't be like the government, be proactive =P
     
    eckz, Sep 19, 2009
    eckz, Sep 19, 2009
    #39
    AK20 and Working Class Patriot Thank this.
  12. Sep 19, 2009 #40
    nwcountry

    nwcountry hot-flash

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    Winchester Oregon
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    Oh gads, I would be with the 35 mile an hour crew. Those guys were doin 60 mph in snow? Now that scares me worse than snow, to know someone that stupid is out there:( Course I see it in vehicles as well. No common sense:(


     
    nwcountry, Sep 19, 2009
    nwcountry, Sep 19, 2009
    #40
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