Dealing with old man winter, a primer on winter driving.

I see I have not properly explained my view about Jake's in winter. It goes like this.

Many drivers have the idea of turning on the Jake and leaving it on (usually on full). I won't go into that except to point out that if that was the plan they'd be installed at the factory in the "always on" position. They aren't so that should tell you something.

Now, most drivers here know about taking curves "slow in,power out". It's basially what race cars do; lift yer foot, pick yer line, reapply power to exit. We do it without even thinking about it. Newbies are still learning it.

On icy roads curves are a dangerous place because you are "changing direction". Centrifugal force is pushing you to the outside of the curve. If your Jake is "full on" when you lift your foot it will do what it is designed to do.... apply retarding action to your drive axles only and you will break traction. Jackknife faster than you can react to it. Again refer to what happens when a race car breaks traction in a curve.
Breaking Traction is the big nono in winter driving.

Can you use the Jake in winter? Of course you can.... if you think about what you're doing and keep your hand on the on/off switch. The only thing that you turn on and leave on is your brain.

That make things clearer?

 

Sooner or later the inevitable will happen and you will be assisting at an accident. Learn from my stupidity and CARRY A FLASHLIGHT, a good one. A couple weeks ago I was directing traffic with a half dead flashlight on an icy hill at six in the morning with a flashlight that had about as much going for it as the average candle. Needless to say, as soon as I got home I went out and bought the brightest rechargeable flashlight I could find. It stays in my truck permanently, and I charge it overnight once a week so I know next time I'll have light.

 

Ya but nascar run on no legal slicks

 

It's common sense when your drives are holding you back and all the weight of the trailer is pushing on you. Any minimal curve can put you in a jack knife on slick roads. Plus if there is weather going on, your brake shoes and drums are getting wet. I like keeping them dry.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0hdQENt2f0 regardless of what you hear, a jack knife can seldom be saved.......

 

I saw a truck like this on 17 near Kenora yesterday. Ripped the cab right off the chassis, and the nose of the trailer and the sleeper were under water. Looked creepy as heck.

Either the brakes or a jake was applied going down a hill and around a bend too fast in a low traction situation.

 

Do you know how much common sense is left in the world

 

Common sense is, and always has been, dependent upon a certain level of knowledge combined with intelligence.

I don't know if the intelligence levels are actually going down, but the knowledge imparted to make an intelligent choice or decision certainly has.

At least in the U.S.A., where the dumbing down in schools panders to the lowest common denominator - to the detriment of the brightest of us - all too often.

 

Lol like most people say you cant fix stupid but I know there is always improvement for common sense

 

Too bad you didn't get some video, with an interview from the driver.