Mountain Snow Driving

no better explanation than that buddy!

 

Trying to simpify. Higher RPM uphill keeps torque offf your drives. Too much torque you'll spin out.

Lower RPM, and much slower downhill. Jakes on and pick the gear where you can not hit your brakes (not always possible) and try to keep RPM's 14-1500. That'll keep the Jake from putting torque on your drives.

Hope that's not hard to understand.

 

Jakes can make you lose your #### if you use them wrong on snow/ice. Also some trucks have higher torque ratings down low rpms if they are downspeed. Learn how your truck runs and use that information to drive in snow. No one on here is gonna be able to teach you unless they are driving the same truck with same specs. Good information if you understand your truck.

 

Yeah, rollin down a 7% grade in snow or ice at 1900 RPM's at any speed, and flipping jakes on high could be catastrophic. That's why i said low RPM Jakes on.

And yes, while different engines reach peak torque at different RPM's, the advice is pretty universal.

1450 RPM's at full throttle climbing, is not the same torque as 1450 RPM's no throttle.

 

Gives you some room to back out of it if it does start breaking loose as well.

 

I run Donner and north up 5 all winter. Was doing ID WY as well. As I sit here and try to explain how to winter drive, I really can't put it to words. Solid advice so far and like @Cattleman84 said I don't drive in the tracks I made my own tracks in the snow so much more traction there. Best advice take it slow and if you don't feel comfortable get off the road. Because if you are tense you will make herky jerky moves and that will get you in trouble. Plenty of following room and don't let anyone push you.

 

Iced roads I am easy on throttle, easy on brakes, easy on turns. If I slide I don’t over fight it. I resist slightly and regain control gradually. Rumble strips going up hill. Set forward axel and full lockers can help. That and I run Michelins, I like their grip. Big following distance from others. I keep cb on and tablet shows traffic volume. Experience helps but even then after hundreds of miles on snow covered roads it feels nice when you get on dry roads again. I’d rather run up north in the winter than in in states that don’t prepare for the occasional ice storm. I have shut down for the weather more in southern states than up north or in the west. And yes, I am one of those that will use some Jake. Many will not, but I do and it works for me. Just got to use it tactfully, gently, and ahead of when you would use it on dry roads.

 

Downspeed on Volvo D13TC max torque is 900 to 1200 depending on spec. Again know your truck is all I was pointing out.

 

Send it!