Some winter driving advice

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Hammer166, Nov 7, 2018.

  1. Hammer166

    Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

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    True enough, but this was bare pavement with only the right lane's wheel tracks icy from the blowing snow being run over.
     
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  3. tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    Similar to what happened in this video. Light snow being blown across the road, melted by the heat from the tires and then frozen.

     
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  4. okiedokie

    okiedokie Road Train Member

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    As a long time mt driver I have found what helps me is don't drive where everyone else has. Split the tracks. On a few occasions I've been known to drag my trailer tires down the bar ditch on a beaver slide in a log truck not a hi-way rig. Run it cool out there.
     
  5. Hammer166

    Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

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    That's it, if you see everyone sliding, why do you not do something differently? It blows my mind.

    Last night, approaching one of the trucks in the ditch, I'm watching the string of trucks (all in the right lane) I was catching, all struggling to keep their trailers from coming around as we slowed. I could have thrown out the anchor with no issues if I'd needed to, and these guys are about to Jack knife just from taking their foot off the throttle.

    And even after that adventure, not one of them moved to the bare left lane. :dontknow:
     
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  6. okiedokie

    okiedokie Road Train Member

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    Fear will overcome common sense. Stay calm and don't tell mom.
     
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  7. Hammer166

    Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

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    Exactly point I made in one of the other winter threads last year: Respect it, don't fear it! You don't learn from fear.
     
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  8. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Tires make a HUGE difference in traction (grip) on ice. Some guys are on tires that can just look at ice in the opposite lane and break traction

    It’s in the rubber composition. A tire doesn’t have to be a “winter tire” to perform better than a cheaply constructed tire.

    The science behind winter tires and how they work
     
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2018
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  9. okiedokie

    okiedokie Road Train Member

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    Another factor is how your loaded and what kind of combination your driving. We use to run "snow loads" at night mid winter. A little extra weight on those drivers right.
     
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  10. Hammer166

    Hammer166 Crusty Information Officer

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    Balanced at minimum, and NEVER tail heavy!
     
  11. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Another factor? In those latitudes and especially on cloud-free nights, temps can drop very fast and what was wet 5 miles ago is now frozen. Anybody can get squirrely during and immediately after the transition phase and then it just becomes a matter of how they deal with it and if it’s in a straight or curved section.
     
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