Snow Driving
 

Ive never drove in the snow before but its getting close to that season.I drive a F-650 with a 24' Gooseneck Trailer mainly mid west and east coast.Please set me up with some pointers for snow driving.My load is never very heavy maybe 5000lbs to 6000lbs .I guess the ice is the main issue??? Just wondering

I have been driving for 7 years.My rule of thumb is if it gets icy,pull it over.There isn't a load anywhere worth my life or one else's.I don't chain up,unless I have to to get to a safe place.

Snow Driving
 

I've driven in near blizzard conditions with dry falling snow at zero degrees with minimal fear. Now wet snow and ice at 28 degrees is an entirely different matter. In my opinion, way more pucker factor. BOL

SLOW is the name of the game in snow! If you do not feel comfortable then pull over till the roads clear up. Just take your time. Don't get in a rush!

I hope to never experience this but, if your trailer starts to slide what is the best way to straighten it out? Do you steer into the skid or away from the skid or what?

How will i know if it is ICY or dropping WET SNOW ??? Thanks to all who sent me replies !!

You have to watch your following distance as other traffic is your biggest problem in snow.
Ice is trouble, if you get paid by the load.
Watch your mirror brackets /antenni for ice, look for spray from the tires of other vehicles and listen to the CB { it may/may not help}.
I drive at a speed that I feel comfortable at or I park it.

Hope you never experience it either, I have once. A 4 wheeler pulled out in front of me on a rural road during a freezing rain storm.....what I learned is this....

Do not hit the brakes, that is the last thing you want to do.
accelerate if conditions will allow, this is the best way to straighten out. This is what saved me.
Otherwise, steer away from the direction of the trailer skid, and say a prayer, and hold on tight! :shock:

Winter driving with big rigs is always an adventure!
After a few winters, you will feel better, and a bit more confident.

Never drive beyond what you feel comfortable with.

Listen to what others are saying about road conditions on the CB and try to plan accordingly. If you have to stop it may be hard to find a place to park. Also conditions can change rapidly.

Take your time.

Leave plenty of following room.

Accelerate and brake gently. Better to creep along at 10mph then to rubberband in city traffic.

Keep you windows, mirrors and lights clean. Keep the washer fluid level up.

If your wipers start to ice up try setting the defroster to a cooler setting. Sometimes cracking a window helps too.

Bridges and overpasses freeze first.

There is all types of snow but I think the worst to drive in is heavy wet snow. Sometimes a colder air temperature is better because the snow is dryer and less slippery. The heavy wet snow can "grab" hold of your tires.

Just because the road looks black doesn't mean it isn't slippery. Beware of when ithe snow first starts to fall. The first few flakes often get melted by passing traffic and become black ice. A little bit of snow on the ground can actually improve conditions.

Be aware of people trying to pass you, especially if there is really just one good lane. I've seen more than one person lose it by getting impatient and trying to make time in a snow covered lane.

Remember to give the other guy a break.

Have a good sleeping bag, gloves, and hat with you. Carry a few candy bars and bottles of water with you in case you have to wait it out in a less than ideal place.

Re: Snow Driving
 

Snow has pretty decent traction until it gets all compacted by other traffic. You can usually move along pretty good in it. What I found is the worst conditions is right after they plow it, the temps rise and it melts a bit, and then when the temps drop again it turns into ice. If you start to skid get off the accelerator and don't hit the brakes. You can generally recover pretty easily if you're not going too fast.

Watch out for hills that will take extra torque to get up, they will cause a skid more easily.

Really it is just about like driving any other vehicle in the snow/ice. Only difference is you need A LOT more stopping distance. Most skids will be on the drive axel since that is what has power on it.

Worst situation I've been in to date was after a blizzard and really cold temps. They had plowed and when I got on the on ramp it was dry good pavement, was crusing along at 70 mph. Well a few miles go by I come over this hill and this truck is doing like 30 mph. I figure he just got on the interstate and I moved over to pass. As I moved over I felt the trailer kinda slide as it followed me... I tapped the brakes a bit and yep.... Glare ice. I just let it coast until I got slowed down.

That wasn't the scary part, there were 4 wheelers flying by at 75-80 mph. About 30 of them went in the medians and ditches in that area that day. I was really worried one of them was going to spin out and hit me.