Winter Driving

I saw somthing like this on T.V. The Griswards disney land vaction.
He got stuck under a truckers trailer going down the road.

Chains can get you going,,, but stoping? thats rolling the dice.

 

Ive always told people that say, "If its bad enough for chains its not worth it." How is extra traction a bad thing? There are way more accidents in the Midwest on snow covered roads then the mountain states when chain law is up.

I guess we should just stop trucking in the mountain west from November to April because of snow and chains. That won't work. If someone does not feel safe with chains, its better they stay off the road anyways, just like any condition someone feels unsafe.

I think the reason alot of people that "Don't chain" is the extra work, not the fact they feel unsafe. I drive in the mountain west only. You have better traction with chains then without, its just a fact.

This past Saterday i was leaving Wenatchee WA going over Blewett Pass. Conditions were slick, i threw chains on. A guy i was talking to at the Apple shed i was picking up at said "I ain't throwing no chains on! Iam from Iowa, i drive in snow all the time." He passed me as i was chaining. I get 15 miles up the pass and guess who was blocking traffic, Mister Midwest. Sliding all over the place. I asked him if he wanted help getting chains on, he said "i don't need chains i'll get out" about then Washington State Patrol showed up and wrote him a reminder.

 

I've only had to chain 8 or 10 times in all these years. I wish that number was zero, so I do understand not wanting to do it. I've been fortunate as much as I used to run west that the number isn't much higher. I not throwing stones at you cause you won't, it just not 'me' to sit when I could be going. So I "Just Do It." If I started going that way full time again, I'd probably do the automatic chains, as it seems they are throwing up the chain law in milder conditions than they ever used to.

 

The part I find interesting about the "if it's bad enough to chain it's time to park" crowd. They never explain where their income is coming from while they are waiting out a snow storm or how they explain unemployment when they are fired for it. Sure in some parts of the country, taking a 10 might be enough. But, in some parts of the country, especially the Rockies, that chain law might be up for 2, 3, or more days depending on the highway.

US 160, the most direct route across Southern Colorado from I-25 to Cortez, N.W. New Mexico and N.E. Arizona. Back in Dec., for 8 days straight the chain law was up over Wolf Creek Pass, for 3 of those 8 days, it was also up on La Veta Pass.
Hypothetical run. Your empty in Denver, your DM tells you to deadhead to NAPI (Navajo Pride Industries) outside Farmington, NM.
Your direct route, US 285 SW to US 160 W to US 550 S. Roughly 8.25 hrs, 375 miles.
So, let's assume it's snowing and 285 is in bad shape. Your alternate route, I-25 So. to US 160 W to US 550 So., 8.5 hrs, 425 miles. But, this route takes you over La Veta and Wolf Creek. Your guarenteed to chain up on Wolf Creek.
Alternate 3, I-25 to US 160 to US 285 to SR 17 W. to US 64, 423 miles 8.5 hrs. However, roughly 80% of the time when the chain law is up on Wolf Creek, it's also up on La Manga. There are also some HUGE elk heards that roam that area and result in a lot of truck/elk accidents.
Alternate 4, and no chains. I-25 SO to Rio Rancho (Alberquerque) then US 550 N. to Farmington. This is 600 miles and 11 hrs. That's 225 miles out of route. Who is paying you for those extra 225 miles? WHo is paying for that fuel?

What happens if you have to sit for 3 or 4 days? If your under a load, what happens to that load if it's perishable?

 

You dont stop you keep rolling...unless you want to pay for that load..

 

some companies will not allow you to drive with chains on unless its to get off the road to a safe place.