Winter driving tips

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by ThomasTrucker21, Nov 21, 2020.

  1. nredfor88

    nredfor88 Road Train Member

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    For you guys making a list, don't forget to have some rain pants. It gets wet on the ground throwing those chains. Also make sure to have a reflective jacket. Chaining is often in dangerous places, you want to be seen. A standard vest over your jacket will do in a pinch, but a proper jacket is better. I also have a reflective head cover hat with the fur inside that goes over the ears.
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2020
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  3. FLHT

    FLHT Heavy Load Member

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    Head LED lamp is very handy for light.
     
    okiedokie Thanks this.
  4. okiedokie

    okiedokie Road Train Member

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    We used a head mounted light chaining and park the truck at a angle. So a corn dog will run into your trailer before hitting you.
     
    Accidental Trucker Thanks this.
  5. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    Kittty litter is usually made from clay. Be quick before it turns into the slimy goo you left behind for the next person...
     
  6. AKDoug

    AKDoug Medium Load Member

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    Standard garb in the winter for me and my guys. One of the very reasons my new truck has a 40" sleeper rather than a day cab, even though we're home at night. Gives us a place to throw the winter gear duffle.

    Every driver should have a couple in their truck, always :D
     
  7. AKDoug

    AKDoug Medium Load Member

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    AModelCat, Cat sdp and okiedokie Thank this.
  8. seagreg

    seagreg Light Load Member

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    A thin hardwood tire thumper and a ball peen, rubber mallet, or a dead blow hammer through one of the tire holes into the inside rim (in a hole without the stem) and to the drum will typically free these.

    There is a commercial product that does a similar thing but I have never tried it so I can't recommend it but the video here will show how it works.

    People with sledge hammers hitting the inside rim without scotch blocks is more risk than I am willing to take but if you have the wheels chocked and the trailer brakes released it almost always works and typically as the bottom shoe is the one that sticks you only have to hit that side. Note that it is "tapping" the drum not hammering it. If it is going to work it doesn't require huge swings or heavy hammers that will crack linings and dent drums/rims.

    The "due unto others" fix for this is to drag your brakes a bit near your destination and then don't pop the trailers brakes for a while after you back in if you are dropping it. Same thing on the tractor...if you can chock your wheels and let it sit for half an hour to let the drum and the linings cool.

    The real fix without that is to move to disc brakes :)
     
    Redtwin Thanks this.
  9. MTN Boomer

    MTN Boomer Road Train Member

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    2 bottles.
     
  10. Redtwin

    Redtwin Road Train Member

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    At once?. Seems like a lot, I guess isopropyl is cheap enough.
     
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