Winters coming. Advice?

If the Frey's hold a wedding, don't attend........

 

When it starts getting bad in the winter just pick up the CB mic and say "I want my mommy".


The responses you get back will probably cheer you up and ease the tension of those around you too.

 

Remember ...hot fires smoke less....keep the fire in the cab loaded with dry wood....and chimney pipe clean..lol

 

...and don't lick the ice cycles that form on your tractor. Especially if they're yellow!

 

I would buy a Tanker Load of Jim Beam and get into a Fetal position on the couch until spring, Just sayin'........

 

Plenty of youtube videos explaining the methods to apply chains. Best to watch now, instead of hoping you have a good signal while sitting on the shoulder in a blizzard.

Or, tell your Boss, See you next May.

 

Also check your chains that they are not broken, have missing hooks and foremost are the right size. I was laughed at by a super trucker in the parking lot last winter when I laid all my chains out, checked them and put them on the truck to make sure they were the right size when I started with my new company. Since I did that I did not need to chain once. I missed all the storms by a day and only was shutdown for a little while on I-80 due to ice and trucks that had spun out.

 

... last winter was remarkable when I was teaming with my O/O brother. We never had to chain once running LA to Midwest and EC. Several times we missed major blizzards by hours and often rerouted to avoid them, once "running the gauntlet" on the 54 from Kansas City to Tucumcari, NM to catch I-40 just below a blizzard coming down into Kansas and a broad front of thunderstorms and tornadoes coming up the I-44. We drove on snow and ice only twice all winter, once getting past Chicago on the way to Detroit and once in New Mexico and Arizona on the I-40.

I heartily agree that it is a good idea to lay out your chains NOW in sunlight and dry conditions and make sure they are are in good shape. Also make sure you have enough bungies and square away all the winter gear so it is accessible when you run into snow country.

One thing I've added to my winter gear is a good pair of ski goggles. I wear glasses and it is a major pain in the hiney to deal with glasses that are getting covered in snow in a driving blizzard while trying to chain up. A good pair of gloves is also very helpful, especially those sold for use as snowboard gloves... built with precurved fingers and grippy palms that are great for grabbing things and with kevlar fabric (to avoid getting cut by sharp snowboard edges). They will last a lifetime but are pricey.

 

Last winter was remarkably warm... for winter. Don't judge winters by that one.

 

from time to time in snow and slick roads, before I reach speed after coming off a ramp, or, when I have some space where no traffic is around me I will apply some brake, nice and easy, to get an idea of where the point that my tires will break loose is. I'm not talking about locking up or hard braking, just an idea of what I will need if I have to slow down. No, cruise control, ever, when its slick. I also run high rpm when the roads are greasy, like 50, to 53 in 9th. The same idea if your going slower, lower gear, higher rpm, more control. the lower gearing is also usefull when you need to slow since just letting up on the throttle will slow you without breaking loose. if you use brakes, be real easy, start with very light pressure then increase slightly to slow your self. Triple your following distance and always be sure of where your out is, the ditch or the median is way better than running over someone. I carry two 2 foot 4 by 4s, I place them under the inside drive tires to lift the axel off the ground and then just wrap my chains around. I also carry a set of cables for my steers, to help decrease the tendency of the steers to plow.
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