Cheap tricks we forget to pass on...

also after parking sit for 15 min then pull up a couple of feet then set brakes again if there is alot of snow. that way you dont melt yourself into a hole where your tires are warm.

 

Along the same line, I was forced into stopping in a lot that was covered with a mixture of water and ice. Because I knew it was going to freeze up, I moved that truck back and forth a bit every couple of hours or so. When the interstate finally opened up, I was one of the few who could hit the road immediately. A whole bunch of trucks were frozen in solid. . .

 

If you've been running through slush and puddles of water, your brakes are going to get wet. Once you get slowed down, apply light pressure while you're getting into wherever you're going to park. It'll heat-up the brakes and dry them. That'll help keep from having frozen brakes in the morning.

 

Boot brushes mounted on the running boards do wonders for keeping the truck floor clean, especially in the winter.

 

Same thing with running in the rain on a highway or long stretches of road. Usually the brakes are a bit wet and are not at 100% efficiency.

Mikeeee

 

If you are having problems pulling the pins on the tandems a ratchet strap works wonders. Strap one end to the handle and one to the side of the trailer ratchet it tight now just pump trailer forward and backwards and the tension on the strap will break it loose where you can manually pull it.

 

Just as an aside here, not only is doing this a good idea, not doing it is a DOT violation, and a biggie. Load securement does apply to door swingers, too. Not having your equipment secured is the same as pulling a load on a flatbed with no tiedowns. Same goes for spare tires, etc.

 

Very true, and bungies (rubber straps, tarp straps, whatever you wanna call em) have NO W.L.L. and are not co.sidered a form of securement.

 

If your trying to gauge your tank for fuel you can use your oil dipstick. It's long enough and always on the truck.

 

Oh, my bad! Wrong cheap trick.