use tire chains going down the hill?

[eplurubus]

Recently, I saw trucks with their chains on going down a hill even though chains were only required to the top of the hill. In my opinion, the descent looked safe to drive without chains, though there was snowpack at the top but clear roads as one drove farther down. I'm just wondering what some opinions are on this. Thanks.

[Uturn2001]

Depending on the area there may not be a safe place to unchain at the top of the hill. Also given the time involved with chaining many drivers will leave their chains on until they get through the pass and the road fully clears.

[headborg]

what goes up, must come down.....i think the guy was wise to leave 'em on til he was DOWN the HILL...if you think about it ..it's only logical....the chains are needed more to safely decend a slick hill than climb one...
lets say you start up a grade....you get traction half way up the hill then start to loose traction..THEN & THERE it's time to pull over and chain up. But, many drivers never realize (a) they are loosing traction or (b) figure they'll be able to make it on up to the top! It only takes 20 feet of ice....to jack-knife a tractor/trailer sliding BACKWARD down a incline......now coming down the Hill is completely different....it could be ice all the way to the bottom and gravity isn't on your side......there's no such thing as simply sliding backward 20 feet managing to keep 'er streight and finding that dry patch you just rolled across.

Plan ahead....watch the weather forcast..

REMEMBER!

ICE NO-DICE, SNOW GO SLOW

IF IT'S TIME TO CHAIN, IT'S TIME TO PARK THE RIG

the only time i would ever chain my rig, is if I stuck between passes(would otherwise be stuck there several days) or at the top of one when they throw up the lights or get caught mid-climb.

You can route yourself around these problems....or try to time it right(with luck)
Remember, it's a catch-22. EVEN if you chain up and are completely legal and trying to do it safe and get that load there on time. Murphy's Law is a bitch....even with chains on- "the :dung: can hit the fan" and that safely department will still rule it a preventable accident...cause YOU should have used better judgement and PARKED THE TRUCK!

[Orangetxguy]

Recently, I saw trucks with their chains on going down a hill even though chains were only required to the top of the hill. In my opinion, the descent looked safe to drive without chains, though there was snowpack at the top but clear roads as one drove farther down. I'm just wondering what some opinions are on this. Thanks.

Durn..Iron already gettin slung someplace ??????







OOOOOOoooooooooops !!! I'm just to accepting of these warm winters after 2 years on the Gulf Coast !!! :P :P :P :P

[scania]

How does the dispatcher/company react to that if you park for awhile because of road conditions do they pretty much let the driver make the call on that or will they give you a hard time about not trying hard enough to get the load there.

[headborg]

How does the dispatcher/company react to that if you park for awhile because of road conditions do they pretty much let the driver make the call on that or will they give you a hard time about not trying hard enough to get the load there.

That's why it's Catch-22....you're damned if you do...damned if you don't.

I've had dispatch/operations praise me once of actually arriving at a shipper to pick up a load...and was told I was the only truck out of 95 in Nebraska moving that day...all the rest were still setting at the T/S waiting for clear skies and clear roads. This kinda pissed me off- what I had not told them was I had actually slide off the road into the median...managed by the grace of god(luck) to streighten er out and pull her back onto the road...with 0 damage( luck)...
If they can see that 99% of their drivers feel it's unsafe to drive-you'd think they'd tell the other 1% to PARK the TRUCK.
But, they leave that judgement call up to YOU.

Another time, years ago, There was an ICE storm- winter storm blowing into Missouri I-44, I was loading late in the evening in Monett, Mo- the temp was dropping..the rain was starting to freeze. So as soon as I got loaded...I headed streight up H to Sto's Stop Mt. Vernon, Mo and put 'er to bed for the night. The next morning check call( ancient times-before qual-com)....my Dispatcher bitched me out for not running "ahead" of that Storm....said he had 4 other drivers that passed me during the night and made it fine past St. Louis--now it was morning and I had nothing but blizzard conditions ahead all the way to Ohio....
Funny- but I also had Daylight and snowplows& salt shakes had been working since dawn...and I passed many a truck jackknifed that hadn't been as lucky as his 4 other drivers that Night...and I could have been one
too.

[bikerboy]

I was out in the CO mountains a few weeks ago
Headed up the hill with an empty trailer. started to feel it spinning but managed to keep it moving until about a mile from the summit.
Finally spun right out and slid backwards and sideways about 20 feet, almost went over the edge!!

Sat for 3 hours until a tow truck showed up to pull me to the summit
cost 100 bucks for tow, and then i had to buy chains from the tow truck driver to go down the hill!

The chain signs were off when i headed up the hill, but they were turned on not long after i headed up!
So the CO highway patrol was there just to make sure i bought chains and then i was on my way!
300 bucks for chains and 40 bucks for them to install since i had never done it before and it was almost dark

It was quite a trip, i will never go into mountains without chains again, and i would still rather throw on chains and get moving instead of sitting for days!
I hate sitting.

[headborg]

I was out in the CO mountains a few weeks ago
Headed up the hill with an empty trailer. started to feel it spinning but managed to keep it moving until about a mile from the summit.
Finally spun right out and slid backwards and sideways about 20 feet, almost went over the edge!!

Sat for 3 hours until a tow truck showed up to pull me to the summit
cost 100 bucks for tow, and then i had to buy chains from the tow truck driver to go down the hill!

The chain signs were off when i headed up the hill, but they were turned on not long after i headed up!
So the CO highway patrol was there just to make sure i bought chains and then i was on my way!
300 bucks for chains and 40 bucks for them to install since i had never done it before and it was almost dark

It was quite a trip, i will never go into mountains without chains again, and i would still rather throw on chains and get moving instead of sitting for days!
I hate sitting.

You were very lucky...my friend. Colorado has no 'failure to maintain control" ticket or "too fast for conditions"...they simply have "careless" driving tickets....for drivers who need to be TOWED from a scene.
This is why smaller companies stay away from/go around Colorado during the 9 months of winter. Insurance companies hit 'em heavy with drivers getting 'careless' tickets.

[RockyMtnProDriver]

ICE NO-DICE, SNOW GO SLOW

IF IT'S TIME TO CHAIN, IT'S TIME TO PARK THE RIG

Chains are for going uphill and downhill. If you need chains for flatground it is because it is icy and then you should probably park it, as the speed you will be able to travel will be so slow it will be better to wait until it gets hit with salt.

I agree mostly with your first statement, but if you park your truck in the area where I live every time they needed chains in the winter, you might as well shut it off in mid November and start it up again in mid April and go skiing in all that in-between time.

Chains are like any tool, if you know how to use them properly then they have a purpose. And properly does not just apply on how to put them on, it also applies to knowing when to put them on, and how to drive once you have.

[Orangetxguy]

Chains are like any tool, if you know how to use them properly then they have a purpose. And properly does not just apply on how to put them on, it also applies to knowing when to put them on, and how to drive once you have.

Amen to that !

[headborg]

I agree mostly with your first statement, but if you park your truck in the area where I live every time they needed chains in the winter, you might as well shut it off in mid November and start it up again in mid April and go skiing in all that in-between time.

Like I said, I'll just park and wait out an evening until the next morning...
or if it really looked like there was no other way around it...(stuck between two passes for the season...LOL... I'd throw 'em....I just wouldn't like it).

The real "purpose" they serve on my truck is for Looks(to CYA-have them in possession- 6pair)

Do you prefer to use just old fashion bunji straps or have you shelled out the $$$ for those fancy spider looking one piece bunji things?

[RockyMtnProDriver]

Do you prefer to use just old fashion bunji straps or have you shelled out the $$$ for those fancy spider looking one piece bunji things?

I use bungies. One on the inside to keep the extra chain from hitting stuff and a couple on the outside just to keep them a bit snug.

I dont run the truck higher than third gear when the iron is hung so they dont need to be super tight, just snug.

[wackyncrazy]

Okay I have only been running solo for a month. And was just thinking that i have never been taught how to put chains on when to put chains on or anything like that. Only thing I have been told is to have them on the truck during the time chaining is. Why don't they teach you anything about chaining only thing I was told is "If you need chains park it" I have no problem with that but what if you are caught were you have to put them on and you don't know how.

[RockyMtnProDriver]

Okay I have only been running solo for a month. And was just thinking that i have never been taught how to put chains on when to put chains on or anything like that. Only thing I have been told is to have them on the truck during the time chaining is. Why don't they teach you anything about chaining only thing I was told is "If you need chains park it" I have no problem with that but what if you are caught were you have to put them on and you don't know how.

And that just drives me crazy. Every....EVERY...student who comes to my school, summer or winter, is taught how to chain up a tractor, on all four drivers, including proper tightening, readjusting...and even how to put them away, so they are ready for the next time you use them.

Driving schools that do not do it are just not schools.

And in my school, when we take you into the mountains, we take you in the winter if at all possible, and hopefully it is snowing like a bastard and then we park you, make you chain and up the hill we go.

Anyone who told you that if you need chains to park the truck, should park his Driving Instructors License back in the box of Crackerjacks that he got it from.

[COLT]

You think that drives you crazy !!!

This time last year, I crested a steep icy hill and seen nothing but headlights in booth lanes on my way down...

Some trucker thought it would be nice to haul a load to Alaska...

Rather than spinning out in his lane,and chaining up, he thought he would spin down to pavement on the downhill side of the highway...

The other thing that drives me crazy is the slow pokes hauling light loads that are totaly in the way for heavy loads trying to run the hills... :evil:

This area is foothills, up and down, we must run the hills to make them, and somebody that is afraid of ice just drives too slow to follow !!!

I get sooo mad hitting the brakes uphill wieghing 60- 80,000lbs more than the Idiot in front of me... ARggg

Don't take a load for Alaska if your not a good trucker.... Please...

[RockyMtnProDriver]

Don't take a load for Alaska if your not a good trucker.... Please...

Well, Alaska is in the States, right? It cant be that much different than California, can it??

[headborg]

Okay I have only been running solo for a month. And was just thinking that i have never been taught how to put chains on when to put chains on or anything like that. Only thing I have been told is to have them on the truck during the time chaining is. Why don't they teach you anything about chaining only thing I was told is "If you need chains park it" I have no problem with that but what if you are caught were you have to put them on and you don't know how.

And that just drives me crazy. Every....EVERY...student who comes to my school, summer or winter, is taught how to chain up a tractor, on all four drivers, including proper tightening, readjusting...and even how to put them away, so they are ready for the next time you use them.

Driving schools that do not do it are just not schools.

And in my school, when we take you into the mountains, we take you in the winter if at all possible, and hopefully it is snowing like a bastard and then we park you, make you chain and up the hill we go.

Anyone who told you that if you need chains to park the truck, should park his Driving Instructors License back in the box of Crackerjacks that he got it from.

Well...guess that counts for me....send a letter to Drumright, Ok and have mine revoked...I told all my Students to park the truck if it's that bad..

But, I also lost a Student one time....we were in Larado, Tx the middle of summer nothing better to do...waiting for a load....so I decided he'd learn to "throw chains".....which he didn't enjoy ...later wrote a letter begging to come back after he jumped ship....claimed " I tortured him".

[devildice]

I just had to chain up when going over Lookout Pass on I-90 and the chain removal area is at the bottom of the pass. I didn't think it was bad enough to use them going up, but sure was glad I had them going down the other side.

[Orangetxguy]

I just had to chain up when going over Lookout Pass on I-90 and the chain removal area is at the bottom of the pass. I didn't think it was bad enough to use them going up, but sure was glad I had them going down the other side.

LOL...ain' the westside of Lookout fun??

And just think..it's 100% better now than it was in 1977!! :shock: :shock: :shock:

[Ian Williams]

And that just drives me crazy. Every....EVERY...student who comes to my school, summer or winter, is taught how to chain up a tractor, on all four drivers, including proper tightening, readjusting...and even how to put them away, so they are ready for the next time you use them.

Driving schools that do not do it are just not schools.

And in my school, when we take you into the mountains, we take you in the winter if at all possible, and hopefully it is snowing like a bastard and then we park you, make you chain and up the hill we go.

Anyone who told you that if you need chains to park the truck, should park his Driving Instructors License back in the box of Crackerjacks that he got it from.

Now now Rockie, cut us some slack. Some of us wackie Yankees only have the Bunny Hills like Donner and Cabbage rather than the Double Diamonds that you get in British Columbia.