Winter Mountain Driving Advice Needed

Not saying I never have or don't know what chains do. Even two railers on the outside drives makes a big difference. My point was, it usually isn't that crucial to get out there in a mountain pass snow storm and do that. Sometimes it might make sense, but more often than not you can finagle your way around purposely putting yourself in that situation. Alternate routes, wait it out a bit, whatever...it's not the Dalton haul road in Alaska during winter where the truck needs to be chained up half the time or the job ain't ever getting done. Most interstate highways are pretty well maintained by state DOTs to keep travel delays to minimum. Maybe there's a small delay on a load or you shut it down early and pick it back up early or shut it down late if it looks like you can outrun it then you're good. The other problem is the other drivers on the road, putting you and your equipment at risk if it's really that bad. Somebody might loose control of their truck or car and suddenly you're in a situation you *really* didn't want to be in.

 

There are drivers that chain, and drivers that don't.
The drivers that don't have a better chance of making it back home alive.

 

Lol. Ok. Guys that run the interstate, I get it. Wait it out. But I have a hard time buying into your thought that chaining up somehow increases your chance of death. If I had your mentality when I lived in Montana I probably would’ve worked about 2 days a week during the winter. I’m sure my boss would’ve loved that.

The actual reality most times is that you can wait it out and lose a significant amount of time and pay or (provided that some no driving fool doesn’t have the road blocked) take 10 minutes to throw a set of 3 railers, drive up and over the pass, take 5 minutes to hang them back up, and be on your way down the road. I know what I chose 100% of the time.

Also, I’m talking about getting up and over a hill when chains are needed, not throwing chains just to try and keep going when a normal flat road is bad.

 

People don’t like it when I say don’t use engine brake in snow or ice. That’s first thing you turn off in snow and ice . You don’t need it. You have regular brakes and the engine brake and the differentials work against you in snow and ice. Because the differentials are designed to let wheels spin at different speeds to go around corners. If you ever see truck stuck in parking spot in winter you will see the differentials apply all the power to the set of tires with the least amount of traction. The tires will spin and tires with traction won’t spin.

You want to use all the tires for best traction to slow down. Lots of drive use engine brake and get away with it. You not trying to save your brakes in snow and ice. Your trying to avoid a jackknife


On dry roads the engine brake and differentials with apply all the braking power to all the drive tire evenly. In snow and ice the differentials will Apply all the power to drive tire with the least amount of traction.

 

I'm gonna have to agree with the don't chain crowd. Near certain chance of extra work, wet socks, and possible death.

Wait it out, please.

I prefer a lonely road

 

@Oxbow and @Long FLD, forgive my ignorance, but you guys have lost me on the three railers. Haven't heard that before. Care to explain?

 

Some people call them dual chains, one set of them cover all 4 tires on the axle. You can basically chew down until you find traction.

If you only chain the outside 4 on a heavy snowpack there’s a chance you could break traction if your chained tires aren’t getting traction and your unchained tires are riding on the snowpack.

 

Up here in BC also called “triples”….

A set of Trygg 8mm studded chains are pretty unstoppable on bush roads!

 

Montana would probably be the one glaring exception, and I was going to make a joke about it in my last post. That state is #1: huge. #2: has a notoriously lazy state DOT as far as keeping the roads cleared off during winter. Maybe you might have to throw some chains as an OTR driver to get out of there, if you’re feeling brave enough to even do Montana in the middle of winter. I’m not dik-ing with it as an OTR guy going over Snoqualmie or Donner or the Siskyous because the next day they’ll have it cleared anyway. Linehaul/regular route guys that run that territory daily it will be a thing some days.

 

Running mountains in an 18-wheeler this time of year is a whole different beast.

When it comes to the jake brake, yeah, use it but don’t slam it like it’s an emergency stop. On slick roads, you gotta be gentle or you’ll end up fishtailing before you know it. It’s still better than riding your service brakes all the way down.

As for chains, if the signs say “chain up,” don’t debate it. I know they’re a pain to throw on but they’re what’ll keep you hooked when that black ice hits.

Now about that inter-axle lock, don’t even think about flipping that switch while you’re rolling. You need to be stopped or crawling slow or you’ll risk tearing your drivetrain apart.

Since you’re running an automatic, just take it easy on the gas and brakes. Smooth inputs all the way, no jerks or stomps. Let the rig do the work for you.

Mountain snow runs call for patience more than anything. Slow your roll, give yourself plenty of room and don’t rush those curves. You’ll get the hang of it quick enough.

Keep your head on straight and welcome to the winter grind. You got this.