winter driving

All this talk about chaining the tires leaves a few questions unanswered....How long does it take to chain 18 tires? Do you actually chain ALL of them or only some? What effect do the chains have on being able to drive in poor conditions? If you're on a deadline with your load, wouldn't it be best to do what is needed to continue your route so long as it is not 'outside your comfort zone'? And where on earth do you store enough chains/salt/sand/shovel etc? You can't use the trailor, so are you forced to store it in your cab? And if you do, doesn't that cramp your space a bit? (As of now, I have never been in a cab, so I have no true idea how big they are, so I may be sticking my foot in my mouth here.)

 

^^^^That should be it's own thread.

 

Great information!!Just wish i had a job to use it for.

 

Drives and maybe one on the trailer......Or park and get some sleep

 

when winter comes--the heavier i am loaded the better---and yes i get that warm fuzzy as well when i can run down the hammer loaded up while others are sliding around in the granny lane
as for the dont go faster than you can stop--kinda got to throw that out the window sometimes in the winter---cause if you have to get in a panic stop it isnt going to be pretty on ice
the one thing that i hate in winter is stopping on ice in winter and you get that pull in the seat--and you look out the window and your mt trailer is sliding around to meet you--some times no matter weather you spike it--brake very slow--dont brake--no matter what it comes around

 

^^^^That is terrifying! Has that happened to everyone in winter driving? Having the trailer slide around to meet you? That has to be REAL bad....and scary and dangerous...

 

since i have never driven a 18 wheeler in the snow,do any of you have tips or tricks to properly secure chains?

 

This flatlander from Florida would rather be doing the Deadliest Catch in the winter than sliding off the side of a mountain.

 

as one that has thrown a lot of iron at times in my life a little practice and planing and it is really not the big deal most make it out to be but still not a fun hobby
standard stuff on my trucks is a full set of triple pwacs for the drives and 6 singles , a tow rope , clevises and a shovel none of its in the cab
now that doesn't mean one must use all though chains every time just whats needed but they can all be on the truck in 30min more or less
as for comfort zone that is a very personal thing

 

get the right size don't lose your wrench good spider bands or bungies hooks out and check and re-tighten after a few revs
Also learn how to store them so you can lay them out easy
learn how to do it on a nice sunny day first