newbie winter driving - tips...need some

[Sizzle]

Great Posts. I PMd the new driver giving him almost the exact information that Colt did. I didn't dare post it on the forum. Every single time I say use jakes some long time driver gets all hot and bothered. I had an argument with a driver for 50 miles across Wyoming one day. He kept saying it was dangerous to have the jakes on and I explained the A.B.S. and jake information to him.

He just wouldn't believe it. Another driver concurred with me. The driver who thought I was wrong went on and on channel 19 telling everyone they'd see me in the ditch or median down the road.

Finally, the driver that agreed with me said, "Don't argue with him, you know that you are correct. You're just lowering yourself to his level." He's right--this argument with persist with most long time drivers that are used to the "old jakes."

Glad to see some fellow C.A.D. members know what's what!!! 8)

Sizzle

[LadyNorthStar]

I don't neccesarily think either way is correct or incorrect. If that driver runs safely without his jakes, then its correct for him. I run mine all the time safely, its correct for me.
If he was getting his panties in a bunch about it, then the laugh is on him, he probably doesn't have much else going on in his life.

[wildkat]

With ya on that LNS, I run mine all the time too....BUT I also know where the "OFF" switch is & know when to switch them off. I don't deal alot with mountain passes anymore...you young pups can have them now, I had my fill, , but I still deal with alot of ice & snow 8 months of the year, so I "think" I'm still qualified...

Use your head...learn to read the road, the only thing I can liken it to is drive by "FEEL", understand your equipment & it's limitations. Always be aware of the temperatures, the most dangerous temps are just a few degrees either side of freezing. Roads at 40 below are alot different than roads at 28 to 34 F

Give me 40 below any day of the week!

[tinytim]

Winter is coming quick up here. I thought I would look over some winter driving threads to get back in the right mindset. Some great info here so I'm bumping it.

[jonp]

The best advice is pretty short and to the point: SLOW DOWN. When I started driving several years ago the guy that trained me told me something that I never forgot. "You've got the rest of your life to get to the bottom of a hill. Don't rush" This holds true on snow and ice. Let the supertruckers blow on by. Only go as fast as you feel safe.

[jonp]

With ya on that LNS, I run mine all the time too....BUT I also know where the "OFF" switch is & know when to switch them off. I don't deal alot with mountain passes anymore...you young pups can have them now, I had my fill, , but I still deal with alot of ice & snow 8 months of the year, so I "think" I'm still qualified...

Use your head...learn to read the road, the only thing I can liken it to is drive by "FEEL", understand your equipment & it's limitations. Always be aware of the temperatures, the most dangerous temps are just a few degrees either side of freezing. Roads at 40 below are alot different than roads at 28 to 34 F

Give me 40 below any day of the week!

Got that right, Kat. I'll take mucho sub-zero any day. You know what you got and can plan for it. Freezing roads at 32 (or 0 for you canucks ) sucks. Alot.

[thephoneispapa]

4th of July is on I90 between Wallace and Mullan ID, then you have Lookout Pass on the Id and MT border.

[geeshock]

don't forget larame, wy to saltlake city, ut where it can snow right in the middle of summer. was wild, 76 one moment then sub zero the next several hundred miles, then summer again.

[jonp]

When I ran Denver to SLC I always headed up into Wyoming. Figured if I ran off the road I'd rather it was flat.

[Flying W]

I'm glad to see the compression brake comments, and the thermometer comment is a great thing in my opinion (always felt more comfortable knowing the temperature wasn't around freezing). It's not exactly a driving suggestion I offer, but a planning one. Allow more time on your plans for Winter vs. Summer. I like the way GTI did it when I was there by basically planning the load at -5mph from a Summer plan. It'll help remove the stress felt to speed up to make sure you get there on time allowing you to feel more comfortable driving at whatever speed you feel is reasonable for the conditions.

[Fourcats]

Last winter, I found that a flat blade shovel came in handy, to help get the cars in front of you unstuck.

Also, when parking for the nite in snow, it pays to roll back and forth in your tracks a few times. The tires are less likely to become frozen the the ground.

[cdswans]

While this story doesn't get real deep into details . .

Fiery semi crash shuts down Colorado 287 in Kiowa County - La Junta, CO - Ag Journal

. . it's obvious that the NB Driver broke traction FIRST and the SB Driver got the ticket because he was going too fast to be able to respond to the NB Driver . . and that is precisely how the law is written. The other guy breaking traction in these conditions is reasonably foreseeable and our speed has to be adjusted down with that in mind.

As for the jakes, I, too, am all jakes, all the time, except when I'm empty, wicked light or bobtailing. If my speed is appropriate to the conditions, I don't have to worry about the jakes throwing me into a jackknife.

[jonp]

Last winter, I found that a flat blade shovel came in handy, to help get the cars in front of you unstuck.

Also, when parking for the nite in snow, it pays to roll back and forth in your tracks a few times. The tires are less likely to become frozen the the ground.

I bought one of those kids snowshovels, about 3 ft long and kept it behind the passenger seat. Used it a bunch of times at customers to get me moving. Also, go to Wal-Mart and buy a plastic jug of de-icer and one of kitty litter and throw them in your side-box. They will help get you moving if you get stuck on the ice. When I park for the night on packed snow/ice I always stop, do my log book and fiddle around a little then move about 1 ft forward or back to get out of the spot that I was in as my tires prob melted into the pack and left me a little hole that would suck in the morning. And be very careful about parking on any incline. Just a little will get you stuck.

[jonp]

While this story doesn't get real deep into details . .

Fiery semi crash shuts down Colorado 287 in Kiowa County - La Junta, CO - Ag Journal

. . it's obvious that the NB Driver broke traction FIRST and the SB Driver got the ticket because he was going too fast to be able to respond to the NB Driver . . and that is precisely how the law is written. The other guy breaking traction in these conditions is reasonably foreseeable and our speed has to be adjusted down with that in mind.

As for the jakes, I, too, am all jakes, all the time, except when I'm empty, wicked light or bobtailing. If my speed is appropriate to the conditions, I don't have to worry about the jakes throwing me into a jackknife.

"Too fast for conditions" is one of those catch-all tickets that gets alot of people when the cops decide to charge the driver with something and nothing else will stick. Still, you should be able to stop at all times.

[Windwalker]

You're right. The law DOES say you must maintain control of your vehicle at all times. Wonder... Does that include when you're on your way down a 300' embankment?