Winter driving

Nobody, nowhere can drive on ice (freezing rain situations) especially if it remains wet on top a while before freezing. I don't care where you grew up driving. Nobody's that good. It's all you can do to get off the road and some place safe. With chains? Perhaps but you're still in the line of fire of every one else.

 

I was born in Ohio, moved to Co. when I was 10, so I learned to drive in this stuff. My Dad was a trucker in Ohio and out here, he made darn sure I knew how to drive in it. When I was still driving on my permit, we drove from Colo. to Ohio to pick up a trailer load of snowmobiles my grandparents were giving us. My first real interstate exp. was driving across I-80, I briefly got to drive on the trip back pulling the trailer. Pretty much since I've had my license, I've had a job of one sort or another that involved driving, for 3 yrs I delivered pizza full-time, had no problem chaining up my 2wd pickup if needed, my boss hated me, he'd want to close the store and me and another driver would beg him to stay open.

Like every trucker, I hate chaining, BUT, it's part of the job, and those bills aren't going to get paid if I'm sitting on my butt watching tv or sitting around the truck stop counter listening to BS stories. So I chain, I carry 3 sets of chains, sometimes I'll carry a fourth set if I'm going to be gone a real long distance. All my chains can be used on any tire position, I also carry 3 T-handles, because you never know when one will "go flying" after you get slush sprayed by a 4-wheeler.

 

Don't be afraid of the white stuff. Just respect it. That said. I'm quitting my day job($18/hr) and running away with the circus($38/hr).

 

That is true. There is a point where there is no traction period. I've slid off a haul road when parked in a logger. Kind of a strange feeling. You can't even walk. You are helpless!

 

I learned respect for ice the hard way, parked at the truck parking area, WB Vail Pass Summit. Used the porta john and came out to find my truck sliding down the road. I set my brakes, but, because my tires were hot, they melted though the snow, hit the ice below.............and away she went. Luckily, she only slid about 100 yd and nosed into a snow bank, $500 later for a HD wrecker to come out, lift my tractor nose and shift it over 5 feet. Now, when I drive in the snow, if I feel it slip, I'll slow till my tread turns white, at that point I have traction. Heard or saw an old saying "white on white = traction, black on white = accident", meaning, if you reduce speed till your tread turns white, you have friction of snow on snow, if your going fast enough that your tread stay black, your tires are hot and will melt the snow, reducing traction.

 

Hahaha comes out of john sees truck rolling off wtf

 

did a little hydroplaning tonight in the rain, at one point the tractor started to jack knife in a 60 mph construction zone, the drives lost it about 58 mph . other trucks were passing by at 62/65 or so.hmm? didn't have cruise control or the engine brakes on. it was a matter of letting go of the pedal to slow it down with out brakes and a little corrective steering. boy did I get wide path.

parked now..


strange

 

Were there ruts in the road? Water puddles in the ruts. I keep an eagle eye for random puddles in the rain, but especially the long puddles in the ruts. If you are able to get your tires out of the ruts, riding the rumble strip and putting your left tires in the middle of the lane on the high crown between the ruts it helps, but it can often be a handful to stay there.

 

I love winter. I'd rather work in -35C than in +30C.