CHAINING...are you ready?

Sittin out here in Ft. Bridger, WY at the TA. 16 degrees and snowing. Truck stop is covered in ice and I gotta head out at 0300... I've lived in Phoenix all my life, never seen ice before let alone driven on it. Not even in a 4 wheeler. And I'm still green on top of it... Should I even consider attempting this? I have chains and have thrown them once, for practice but. What do y'all recommend that I do?

 

Call your dispatcher, and tell him that it's unsafe to drive.

 

My #1 Rule for Winter Driving.....

If you can't walk on it.....You can't drive on it.....


Be safe......

 

if you have no experience driving on snow and ice, wyoming is not a good place to learn while it is dark... call your dispatcher and let them know.. atleast wait till day light

 

I hate this "Global Warming"......It has made me throw iron more than when it was just "Global Cooling"....

 

Really thoughtful, well done series of video clips re chaining up. I would like to add a few tricks I've picked up over the years... Ignore or not as you wish.
1) $2.00 knit gloves from H.D. or Lowe's "inside" usual "rubber" gloves work sooo much better than insulated rubber gloves alone. Getting back in the cab, toss them near the defroster vents. Be warm when first put on each time.
2) Inexpensive "headlamp" beneath your raincoat hood for use at night negates need for packing flashlight. You are wearing rain gear and boots aren't you???
3) KNOW your chains! Before you leave the yard or home... Same truck always? Check crosslinks as you remove and stow chains after each use. Different rigs each time you're dispatched? Toss them on the ground and check status of each as part of your pre-trip inspection. Really. Now is the time to find problems and correct, not at the chain control point!!!
4) "dogs out" pertains to "cheaper/ lots of brands of chains" not necessarily PEWAGS. I've flopped them back and forth almost as often as Robme would, if he actually worked for a living. I wear out the top side and the bottom side of all my chains, but that may be just me.
5) I cannot stress enough, plan ahead as to where you install or remove chains, safety being paramount! On ramps are great (until that old Ford Areostar with the driver on the phone slamming into the back of your parked trailer as he decides too late, that's where he's gonna unchain, skidding into your trailer. Really happened) BE OUT OF THE LANE OF TRAFFIC!!!
6) At night, leaving your engine running, with headlights on benefiting the driver ahead... Maybe the guy behind will do the same for you?
7) (I) use the 1, 2 or 3 Jake heads in addition to brakes on grades to let ME know how slippery the surface of the road is. My Detroit cancels Jake as oil pressure drops so I won't kill the engine! But paying CLOSE attention, traveling downgrade with few pounds of air applied, and 1 head, then 2 just to see if revs drop. I'm just sayin. Practice this one at your own risk. I do NOT JAMB BRAKE with chains on, but that's another story.
8) Drivers, be safe and think about what you are doing. Are flashers on for the whole hill really a warning to anyone else that you are terrified or actually acknowledging a hazard ahead. Running with flashers on is a distraction and makes judging distance between vehicles a distraction as well. IMO. Additionally, are illegal to run in CA except in an emergency, hence being called emergency flashers...
Hope other will learn even a little from my years of "doing The Hill."

 

Have twitter? @i80chains If you subscribe, will keep you up to the minute on requirements over Donner if that's info you need. I have not looked for similar sights for other roads.

 

One more suggestion; as you remove chains and stow, take a close look at all your tires with flashlight if need be, to be sure you've not picked up a piece of chain monkey "waste matter" or simply a broken link in the road. Why? Thought you'd ask. 3:am all the way to Benicia after running chains from stateline to Colfax, CA, pulled them off and proceeded without checking for waste in left front steer tire which did not make itself know til catastrophic air (and tire) loss approaching the Benicia bridge. Again, really happened. Fortunately right at last possible pull off spot before bridge and yes I carry a spare and tools, gun, air line jack etc to get back on the road without a service call and accompanying $. loss. Be Safe.

 

I decided to head out this morning instead of waiting. I'm still alive, and so is everyone that was around me! Not too bad for a green, Phoenix native. Didn't have to chain, and it wasn't as bad as others were saying it was. Got loose on a ramp, and once on an upgrade but all in all, wasn't too bad!