Driving in the snow

There are several threads regarding driving in snow. Anything West of Denver you will need to know how to chain up and experience is the best teacher, East of Denver, many of the States don't want chains used on their highways. You are going to hear a lot of the "If they require chains, it isn't safe to go"...which isn't true in most cases, if it isn't safe, the roadway gets shut down....be patient, take your time, do everything smooth and steady, but don't over reach your comfort zone.
Here's one I have going...full of useful information: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...ers-advice/158771-chaining-are-you-ready.html

 

The other thing to remember, when the snow and cold weather comes in, and it is staying below freezing. Wait 5 mins or so before setting your brakes. So thy cool down and will not freeze up.

 

I'm sorry, but I must disagree with you on setting brakes in freezing weather conditions...don't set your trailer brakes at all, by setting them you can expect to have some fun crawling under and breaking the ice to get moving.

When parking in freezing conditions....get backed into your spot, wait a few minutes, then roll forward and back a few times...this allows the tires to cool, and you won't be freezing your rubber in place.

 

Yeah, one thing no one hasn't mentioned except the heavy hauler with a lack of understanding of physics and friction alluded too is a trick I use.

the heavy you are on drives and steers the more traction/control you get. I run exclusively rural-ish north east (Vermont, NH, Maine, upstate NY) mostly non-interstate and run a lot of New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario.

I will frequently slide my tandems as far back as I can get away with loaded in snow/ice. I drive for a company that has the WORST set up for winter. When I say as far back as possible I dot mean as far back as legal, I mean as I can and still make corners on the roads. If the weather is really bad scales won't be open and cops won't be handing out bridge law/axle weight tickets. Multiple times last year I rand a few hours with well over 34,000 on my drives (42ish probably) to finish out the day getting where I wanted to get. If I pulled over everytime the truck was losing traction I wouldn't be able to run in rain or fog cause the POS's we have spin in that. That would mean no pay at all many weeks

 

Buy a bottle of rubbing alcohol to keep in the truck. Get the highest concentration of alcohol possible. It should only cost you about $0.89. If you forget and set your trailer brakes and they freeze up, you can take your glad hands loose, pour alcohol in the hose, then reconnect. You need to then get back into your truck and start using everything that has air. Pump your brakes, blow the horn, etc., Pumping the brakes works best to move the alcohol through the system. It should unfreeze the brakes in a few minutes. That bottle of alcohol will save you time and money.

 

Just drive as fast as you can, so you skim over the top of the snow

 

Too chain or not to chain? You'll figure it out.

 

That's all fine if you have a VALVE froze up and not operational, but if the brake linings are froze to the drums, all the alcohol in the world isn't going to help. Then all you need is some energy from a carefully applied shop hammer.

 

Yep, I carry a 5 pound sledge hammer and a small MAP gas torch, its a good idea to have at least a hammer in the toolbox

 

most of the guys pretty much were rite on about winter driving. just 1 o 2 things more for whats its worth. in the winter trucks tend to bunch up together, try and avoid that. on a mountain grade watch your rpms real close,dont let the rpms get to low or you will stall the motor and it will just get worse from there. chains, you need to b the judge of that yourself. sometimes its just a little on top of the hill or its early in the year an they put the chain up lights on early. for me i ran to alaska for about four years so chains were no big deal. one thing about them, always got soaking wet from dripping trucks and trailers. lots for luck on your new adventure and b careful out there