Winter driving

The main thing I have learned over the last 12 years is to just keep calm and relaxed. No sudden movements, don't be in a hurry. That's not to say you shouldn't be fully alert and paying attention though. I also find it helps to turn off anything distracting (am/FM cell phones etc) but leave the cb on... And if you don't feel comfortable, pull over. If someone is happy to see ya on Monday, they will be thankful to see you on Tuesday..

 

Phil S,
That is the best advice I've ever read on winter driving. I learned all of those things the hard way. Never did put it in the ditch, but had to hammer the brakes a couple of times. Carrying a plumber's torch is helpful too.
FB

 

as long as i'm in gear and the engine is on. i wanna know who goes downhill in neutral with the engine off.

without the engine, you've got no air build up for your brakes and you've got no steering.

sorry, but they do and THEY DID lock up. it was pretty evident when my rpm's started dropping.

 

torque comes on the low end. power comes on the high end.

 

I believe what you're calling a pucker factor I'm calling comfortable. I have a low pucker factor in the winter or "comfort" level in the winter. It's rare for me to even get my pickup above 50 in the snow and ice. Usually on the highway I'll keep it around 35-40ish. Over that is a rarity city I'm crawling along at about 20ish. Hit the back roads and then the fun begins. Just how I have become accustomed to driving in the winter. When people are around I try and keep with the flow of traffic without exceeding my driving ability and my vehicles capabilities, get me out in the abandoned parking lot with NO utility poles and then the fun begins. That's actaully how I learned how to drive in the winter. An abandoned parking lot being told to have fun and skid. Actually taught me a lot about winter driving and what to do and what not to do.

Have you looked at the power curve on a motor? Peak torque on most motors today unless youre running an old mechanical motor is at 1200 rpm. Peak horsepower up there around 1700-21000. According to the spec sheet I have on my motor Peak torque is from 1200-1550. Now if I'm putting out 2050 at the flywheel from those RPMs, please tell me why I would want to run those RPMs in the winter. I prefer to use horespower, and feather the throttle to get my truck moving in the winter, and pull hills as opposed to falling into the torque curve and gouging on it. You're applying gasoline technology to diesels. In a car I don't turn high RPM I turn low rpm, In a truck I want to be on the higher end of the power specturm.