Very true, I'm up north and have to drive through really bad weather in North Dakota frequently. I just started doing this not too long ago and was really surprised at how fast I would get passed some times. If the roads were just full of snow I would cruise along pretty good, but a lot of times the roads were icy. I'd be doing 55-60 mph in stretches where the roads were decent but still covered in snow and there would be trucks passing at 70. There is absolutely no way they could stop if they needed to. Also icey patches can go undetected until it is too late. Last winter I was driving along doing 45-50 mph, the roads had some icey spots but it wasn't too bad. I was going up a hill and another truck was going to pass me, he was still aways behind though. Without warning the tractor slid sideways I quickly steered into it and luckily got control of it (in the left lane) before I slid into the ditch. Luckily it didn't happen a few moments later or I would have hit the other truck. I learned at that point how much extra carefull you have to be on hills.

 

You might read what you wrote again. you "steered into it and got control of it"... So, why did you slide into the ditch if you had control of it??? It would suggest that you did not regain control of anything if you went into the ditch as a result. Maybe you didn't jackknife, but to have control would have meant you stayed on the road.

 

Good Point Windwalker :P

 

I regained control before I slid into the ditch, it was close but I pulled it out BEFORE that result occured. I remained on the road.

I appologise for my wording, I can see how you would have thought by it that I did go into the ditch. However I agree with both of you, control means not going into the ditch, therefor I assumed everyone would understand what I meant.

 

We thought it Cuz you Said it. Did you go into the Ditch or not?

 

Chains are for hills.

If you need to chain flat ground, get the hell off of the road and wait for the ice to melt.

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So I am heading over the big hill back in the day and pull over at the steep part to toss the jewelry on. Two sets about 10 minutes and 20 minutes if I decide to dress up all the drivers, which was a rare moment.

There is this guy stopped in front as I pull up, I get out and do the job. Then I get back in and see that he is still there. And I have not noticed him moving around at all. So I get out and walk up to make sure he is OK before I head up.

Here is, with a 40 ton jack, jacking up the axles so he could put the chains on.

I says to him "Never done this before, have you".

"No" he says "Never have".

I took a few minutes and showed him the proper way.

He says "Will you follow me up?".

"No", I says, "but you can follow me up. And when we get to the top, I will follow you down". I am not sure he understood why I wanted it that way.

When he got over and into Salmo we pulled in for a break and he bought me lunch.

I asked him how far he was going. He said all the way BACK to Florida and that driving in Canada was not for him.

 

I hope I am not repeating myself here, but a few years ago I had a delivery in upstate Wisconsin. There was already a foot or so of snow on the ground. It started snowing again before I could get reloaded. By the time I pulled out of the shipper, the snow was really coming down hard. The snow continued to fall rather hard, but as I continued to head South toward Chicago, I couldn't help but notice how people were driving in the snow. They slowed down and allowed plenty of room between vehicles. No one seemed to be in a big hurry. I believe I saw one car that had wrecked. He appeared to have spun out and ran into a snow bank. And then I came into Chicago. What a contrast! :shock: We were in the middle of a good storm. Cars and trucks were rushing around, weaving in and out of traffic and tailgating, trying to get to their destination. From the way they were driving, it seemed like another sunny day in Chicago. :roll: I stopped in Gary for some fuel. Several trucks had jackknifed on I-65 and closed the road. There was no need to attempt to get out of the truck stop. I was barely able to find a place to park. I had little choice but to spend the night. Roads were closed until well past mid morning the next day. I still think about the contrast between these two areas of the country, so close in proximity, with such different driving habits. There were dozens of accidents in and around Chicago. When someone tells me how well people drive in the northern states, I can't but help think about that day in Chicago. :wink:

 

I did not say it. I did not go into the ditch. I have never taken my truck off roading. By me saying "before I went into the ditch" means that that would have resulted had I not regained control. I was headed for the ditch, and would have ended up there had I not gotten control. I don't know how else to say it.

 

Without warning the tractor slid sideways I quickly steered into it and luckily got control of it (in the left lane) before I slid into the ditch.

These are your words-Not mine

 

I agree with that 100%, i`m not one that`ll let a little snow stop me but if its reasonably flat terrain and I need to hang iron i`ll just wait it out.