CHAINING...are you ready?

40% chance of rain/snow drizzle on Sunday in Denver, and I'll be delivering to the evil empire in Loveland on Sunday morning.

 

I'm finishing training a new driver, who will be testing out and going solo early next week. Sitting in the truck stop in Laramie this afternoon we had some time to kill, and I went through chaining up, step by step. Had a couple other newer drivers come by and watch and ask questions.

Have a step by step procedure for chaining up and for unchaining. Do it the same way every time and put the chains, bungies, and chaining tool back the same way every time. Organize the chains so they are easy to lay out and be ready the next time you use them. Check the chains after every use to make sure the cross links aren't too worn or broken and replace them before you need to chain again if need be.

Whatever you do, take time to go through chaining up when it's sunny and dry. Make sure you have it right. It makes it much easier to do it "for real" when it's cold and miserable.

One other thing to think about when chaining: it's wet, dirty work. I use the passenger seat of my truck as my drying rack, putting garbage bags over it so it stays relatively clean. After chaining up my outerwear and gloves are drying off. Then I have to put them back on for unchaining and the clothes go back on that seat to dry off again. The floor under your feet will get wet, so having a broom and sponge are great to have to sweep out snow and mop away extra melting water. Instead of a sponge you can use paper shop towels.

 

Newspaper... throw that on the floor to sop up the mess. Save the shop towels for cleaning up after the storm.

 

Donner is supposed to get around 8-12 inches of snow from today into tomorrow. Gonna be a mess up there come tonight and tomorrow morning.

 

[HR][/HR]In The Northern California Area & Sierra Nevada

Eastbound Trucks Are Being Screened At Applegate (Placer Co) - Drivers Must Have Maximum Chains In Their Possession In Order To Proceed - Permit Loads Are Prohibited

Westbound Trucks Are Being Screened At Prosser Rd /In Truckee/ (Nevada Co) - Drivers Must Have Maximum Chains In Their Possession In Order To Proceed - Permit Loads Are Prohibited

[HR][/HR]Highway Conditions Hotline: 1-800-427-7623

 

Chains Are Required On All Vehicles Except 4-Wheel-Drive Vehicles With Snow Tires On All 4 Wheels From 1 Mi East Of Baxter (Placer Co) To The Donner Lake Interchange (Nevada Co)

Eastbound Trucks Are Being Screened At Applegate (Placer Co) - Drivers Must Have Maximum Chains In Their Possession In Order To Proceed - Permit Loads Are Prohibited

Westbound Trucks Are Being Screened At Prosser Rd /In Truckee/ (Nevada Co) - Drivers Must Have Maximum Chains In Their Possession In Order To Proceed - Permit Loads Are Prohibited

 

Come on now, Otter!

You of all people know that the snow doesn't have to be on the road for California to turn on the chain signs!

 

I was just checking my chain supplies the other day then stumbled onto this thread, good info. Chaining my first set of super singles this winter.