Why spin your tires in the snow?

Couldn't agree more about the shovel... at least could have bought you a coffee...lol... cheers my friend...

 

Many trucks today have automatic transmissions. This can cause alot of frustration especially when trying to get the truck moving on an icy parking lot or deep snow.
One way to getting unstuck with an automatic is to rock the truck back and forth just as we used to do with the old rear wheel drive cars.
For those drivers that still drive a manual shift truck it is possible to move the truck off of an icy spot by starting out in a higher gear and feathering the clutch.
Carrying a shovel on the truck is good sound advice.
A few other ideas;
1. Carry kitty litter or rock salt during the winter just in case you get stuck.
2. Carry a couple of tire chains and chain up your drive wheels to get unstuck.
3. Carry a a couple of tow chains on the truck and you can ask another driver to help get you unstuck
(also very useful for pull starting a truck if the starter fails or the batteries are too low).
Experienced drivers should able to get themselves unstuck without having to call the company for help or a tow truck.

 

Not all of us have the "luxury" of living in the snow..

Like the other driver said, we go with what we think will work.
Sometimes we are successful, other times we aren't.

 

Well, winter is a pain. I, for one, am way past ready for it to be over for the year. And if I actually carried everything I have heard drivers say I should carry, my empty weight would be 42,000 and there would be room for me and a small bag of clothing in the cab. Sometimes I spin my tires a little, sometimes I drive right out. And with a Volvo with 12sp auto, its a guess and a golly which it will be.

 

It's not carrying a lot. I actually just have a military e-tool. A folding steel shovel, that takes up less room than a small pizza box.

 

A little bit of spinning isn't a bad thing depending on circumstances. Say you've melted through some snowpack, not hard as ice, but hard enough it's not crushing under the tires. In that kind of spot, spinning a bit (5-10 mph wheel speed) will help chew the front of hole you're expanding your rocking room. I supposed one could say that as long as it is generating forward progress, a bit of slippage isn't really hurting anything, and actually helps keep the tread blocks cleaned out. Your tires should never by 'singing' when spinning; if you anything more than a growl, you're turning them to fast!

 

Some guys spin them trying to get to the pavement or just in hopes that something will grab. Others might not know how to get unstuck or realize how bad they're stuck

In reality not many drivers are prepared for the snow. When 58 got shut down a few weeks ago I was amazed at how few people had chains. I had chains and a shovel and helped many guys get rolling again. Just laid the chains out like tracks and shoveled when needed.

Heck I even had chains on and still got stuck a couple times.

In the end were all in it together so I'll help out when I can.

 

I do not carry chains, I run thru Tehachapi sometimes several loads a day, I do not recall it being shut down lately. The last couple of storms were nothing. Why would we carry chains in this area. If its bad enought to chain they close the road.

 

I did that once at Rip Griffin's in Rawlins, WY years ago. The entire parking area is on a gentle slope. Backed in, parked it, locked the truck, and started walking towards the restaurant. My truck started sliding towards the fuel island. It could've been an epic fail if the tires had held until I was in the building.