Winter storm warning Rome New York

Slip seating sucks.

Sometimes I drive trucks for oil companies and it's rare to have a functioning CB. Then I rely on MyRadar and Google Maps with the traffic layer turned on. Download the MyRadar app if you haven't already.

Google Maps often will give a heads up if there's an accident ahead. Just be cautious taking its recommended detours. They aren't always truck friendly. But at least you will know traffic is coming to a stop in a few miles.

 

Don't worry about my height question. I was thinking about a different route than the one I gave you. No height issues on the route I gave.

No matter which way you go there are hills to climb going north out of Ithaca. The hill on Rt 13 north of Ithaca is pretty aggressive. I will give an alternate for that and you can make it a game time decision as you are departing Ithaca, depending on how the road surface is.

Instead of staying on Rt 13 north of Ithaca to reach I81 you can take Rt 34 North towards Auburn. The exit is just before you start up the long hill. (There is a hill on Rt 34 but is much more gradual. After that there are no hills to worry about.) - Continue thru Auburn and continue north (still on Rt 34) until you reach I90 in Weedsport and than go east on I90 towards Rome (signage will say Syracuse or Albany there). Toll booth to I90 will be on your left just after you go over a bridge that crosses RR Tracks when you get in the area.

If you take Rt 34 north there is one point of interest to know. About 4-5 miles after you get on that hwy you will come to a T intersection at Rt 34B. There is a traffic light there. You turn right there to continue on Rt 34 North. The turn is a little tight so hug left as you approach that intersection. Also people coming from the right quite often stop over their stop line. Just swing left and hook right when making that turn. The rest of the way is all easy for about 30 miles until you reach I90.

Since you do not have a GPS a couple of other points from my route that gets you to Ithaca. When you take I86 West (Rt 17) from I81, that will be in *Binghamton and you will be taking I86 west towards *Corning. There is some construction in the area of the split and just before you get into Binghamton. Get into the left lane as soon as you see construction signs and stay there until you exit left onto I86. It will be a distance of about 3 miles. If you do not, you have a good chance of being trapped to the right and miss your exit which will be to your left. The Rt 13 N exit in Elimira off of I 86 says Ithaca.

Everything should make sense as you you reach these areas and you actually see what I am trying to explain.

 

You shouldn't drive with the power divider engaged when you have good traction. Doing so can build up immense stress between the axles, and has been known to grenade the power divider and get the driver fired as a result.

If your wheels don't slip when you floor the accelerator, then leave the power divider off.

 

That depends on where you're driving.

Upstate New York? Anything up to 12" forecast and you'll probably be OK.

Atlanta GA? If someone rolls down their window and yells "SNOW", you'll want to park it and watch the ensuing panic.

 

Nope, you're right.

 

If you decide to stop there are rest areas on I81 & I86. If you reach your first stop in Ithaca and decide not to go to Rome from there, ask to stay there and if they say no there are 2 pull offs within 2 miles of there north on Rt 13 towards Ithaca.

First one will be on your right and is not marked but should be obvious. If I remember correctly there is a brick retaining wall to the right of it and some type of electronics store to your left. The second is about a 1/2 mile further north on your left and is marked.

Have you heard of the Truckers Path app? If not and if you have a smart phone download the free version. You can filter points of interest such as rest areas, truck stops etc...and see what is near you or ahead on your route in map form.

 

Buffalo is a tough town during winter. Some of my winter stories come from there. I remember one really bad storm where I had the trailer pointed into the wind in a field on the state line with PA because the winds were too strong to stay warm (In a cabover of all things...) A little shoveling took care of the morning. I did not have a habit at that time of rocking that truck back and forth several times in the night to make and maintain a bed under the tires.

One day dispatcher told me to gtfo out there and it was a pretty day, I laughed at him. Well by morning Im seeing 3 feet and it wont quit. I barely got out of there Such hubris when I was young. I knew nothing about that lake effect machine.

These days I go there in any weather but winter. I know that I have said in the past how much I rule the mountain snow in the worst of it. But Santa Claus can have Buffalo. He gets around there better than I do.

 

You are absolutely correct. I forgot to mention that when the road is bone dry disengage it.

 

When I was " heavy " I was loaded to the back door with 15,000 pounds, At times I had half the load. You can tell the difference in snow or wind . just use common sense. My trouble was that once I got to my destination, it usually wasn't plowed out. Fun times !