Snow Driving

Yes they are called tiller trucks, they are usally operated by paid departments just because of training and staffing,issue,(as a voulunteer you can not always count on alot of people) But yes there is a lock so if there isnt any one able to drive the rear the driver up front can lock the rear and drive it like a reguler tractor trailer. I have had the pleasure of driving a tiller once and let me tell you it is a little scary but cool.

 

Thanks for the tips guys! And chip as a former firefighter I know the excitement of sliding a fire truck. Nothing like a old 64 F800 super nasty snow storm warm barn to cold outside and vacuum wipers and the pull three turns to the left 1 to the right defroster for a exciting moon lite(not) drive. Oh yea 3 guys stuffed into a cab with a five speed split and an extra 750gallons of water. Also got to ride in a tiller once about wet myself when we finnaly went around that corner. Doug thinking about driving, as a kid helped dad NAVL.

 

i usually just go by the old rule......... "snow, go slow...ice, NO DICE"

 

Amen...

 

I like that, and you sure hit the nail on the head with that brief, but sound advice....

 

Many years of "Doing Donner" (I-80) in northern Cal. have taught me that the night time is the right time to do 'The Hill' (especially while snow is present), if at all possible. Being an owner operator makes this my option, especially with all the 'snow-flakes' parked for the night.

CHAINS)
A head-lamp is a must as is good high visability rain-gear and boots, also, I recentley discovered that lite knit $2.00 cotton gloves inside larger rubber gloves help keep my old fingers from freezing/burning like crazy. Know your chains are the right size and in good condition, and know how to properly install them, and keep tight, keep tight, KEEP TIGHT! Repair links and the tool to install them are indispensible. Check chains before winter if they're yours, or before leaving yard if not yours, if you'll see snow that trip. Have the best chains available. Cheap chains are no bargain when they break which they will. You DO NOT want to fix them in a storm along the road when this could have been done before the trip.
Many states require chains to be on truck in winter months or year round in some states. I always open both windows just enough to hear a broken chain singing to me.
LEAVE LOTS OF ROOM AS YOU MAY NEED IT AT ANY MOMENT!!!

ON THE ROAD)
It is a given that four wheelers know nothing about driving in snow except to bunch up and tailgate. This is a human trait I believe but exactly the wrong thing to do. Four wheel drive may go better than two wheel drive under power but often times they go out of control when braking, to their surprise as they brake like everthing else: in relation to their tires' traction and the roadway slope at any given point. In these circumstances MOMENTEM is the enemy. While driving with no one close to your vehicle, it can be your friend, if used properly. Find yourself a hole in traffic and try to maintain it as much of the time as you can.
LEAVE LOTS OF ROOM AS YOU MAY NEED IT AT ANY MOMENT!!!

DOWNGRADES)
Though I do this, I am not recomending it, as I only do it manually on straight downgrades only. Manually turning the Jake switch on or off, I will use the Jake brake on 1 or two heads on STRAIGHT down grade sections to indicate how slippery the road is, only with single chains on one drive axle and of course one trailer axle. This is subtle and best practiced with no one around. It's finessing your way off a hill, best practiced with great care. Again the object is to build less brake heat but mainly show how little braking traction is available. I use, say two heads on a straight, with no foot brake, for several moments to maintain my speed, then manually turn OFF Jake THEN use foot brakes thru corners, watching my lane placement and trailer placement in my mirrors. If while on the straight with say two heads on, my Detroit begins to idle down, I immediatley power up enough to speed drivers back up and manually kill the Jake. When I need to slow my speed with the truck brakes, I turn the Jake off first. This concept takes practice under ideal conditions! Kind of like Jam-braking. But that is another story.

 

i'm not a fan of snow, but you do what you have to. My philosophy is if there are chain up signs I shut down till the the sanders have a chance to do their job. There are times that you have no choice but to put on jewellry, but I avoid it. I look at it this way, if you have to chain up, it's too slick too drive. I know I don't have as much experience as some of the guys (14 years), but that just how i feel.

 

I'd say 14 years is plenty and then some.

 

Okay, now for the dumb questions....

Which axel on the tandems do you install the chains? And do you engage your interlocks?