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When is it appropriate to lock your drives?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by LostSoulCA, Oct 13, 2009.

  1. Oct 13, 2009 #1
    LostSoulCA

    LostSoulCA Medium Load Member

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    Apr 7, 2009
    Visalia, CA
    0
    The episode that led to this question occured the other night on I-90 at or near the Idaho border. I think. It was dark and my eyes were clouded with a yellow liquid!

    We had no chains. The road was packed fresh snow over ice. We weighed about 65K. As we neared the summit our drives spun out. To maintain forward momentum I feathered the throttle in an effort to reduce spin to zero. Ultimately, I made it to the summit by maintaining a constant slow spin, about 7mph while the truck was moving at 5mph.

    In this case locking the drives was out of the question. If I would have stopped we would have gone backwards. I believe if the drives would have been locked I would have lost lateral traction provided by the non spinning wheels.

    So, other than stuck in the mud, when do you lock up?
     
    LostSoulCA, Oct 13, 2009
    LostSoulCA, Oct 13, 2009
    #1
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  3. Oct 13, 2009 #2
    Rollover the Original

    Rollover the Original Road Train Member

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    Jul 1, 2009
    Springfield,MO
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    When you suspect that there is ice on the road, when you are in snow covered or packed snow/ice (like you were in) driving conditions or are on unlevel ground and you start to spin out or there are a lot of pot holes in the lot you are driving in. Just remember NEVER hit the lockout switch while the drives ARE spinning! That will tear the rears up! And remember to release them when your speed gets above 35MPH.

    I'd say you did ok by not loosing ground by stopping! You don't have to be stopped to engage the lockout. You might have let up on the fuel to stop the spinning and hit the switch without to much trouble but if it was that steep just keep on going but try not to spin as that will cause you to break traction!

    Next, stop at Wal-mart, grocery or a hardware store and get a "tube of sand" for about $5.00 and throw it behind the sleeper and strap it down! Sand is better than kitty litter as it is sand and not clay! Kitty litter turns into slippery clay when wet!
    DO NOT USE BLEACH! It's SOAP! Soap/bleach when wet is slippery! Yes it used to be used at the drag strips to make the tires SLIP to heat them up!
    Morons tell you to use bleach to laugh at you as you burn a hole in the ice !
    The tube of sand can get wet behind the sleeper and won't turn into a block of modeling clay and doesn't take up room in the side box of the truck and is packaged in a fibreglass bag that can also get wet!

    If you had to stop that sand would have helped you get to get going on up the hill by spreading a few hand fulls in front of the drive and up the road about 20 yards! It sure beats paying for a tow by about $300! ROFL!
     
    Rollover the Original, Oct 13, 2009
    Rollover the Original, Oct 13, 2009
    #2
  4. Oct 14, 2009 #3
    Darkschneidr

    Darkschneidr Light Load Member

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    Jan 31, 2009
    Phoenix, AZ
    0
    I've yet to need them in inclement weather conditions, only when the ground was uneven like Rollover mentioned. With traction control being on all the trucks I've used, there was no need to split the differential.
     
    Darkschneidr, Oct 14, 2009
    Darkschneidr, Oct 14, 2009
    #3
  5. Oct 14, 2009 #4
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
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    Yeah, you can lock 'em in while still moving (slowly and NOT spinning)
     
    Allow Me., Oct 14, 2009
    Allow Me., Oct 14, 2009
    #4
  7. Oct 15, 2009 #5
    striker

    striker Road Train Member

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    6,436
    Aug 8, 2009
    Denver, Co
    0
    below 35 mph you can lock them if your not spinning, I would strongly recommend getting chains, it's winter and your obviously running in states that require you to carry and use them
     
    striker, Oct 15, 2009
    striker, Oct 15, 2009
    #5
  8. Oct 16, 2009 #6
    LostSoulCA

    LostSoulCA Medium Load Member

    343
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    Apr 7, 2009
    Visalia, CA
    0
    Chains... Now that's a lucid thought. However that rant would be sensored by the moderators. Besides, I'm a rookie and not allowed to think.
     
    LostSoulCA, Oct 16, 2009
    LostSoulCA, Oct 16, 2009
    #6
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