Winter Driving Tips

[Big_Dave]

Click here for winter driving tips (http://www.truckstopusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4666) ;)

[saddletramp]

As far as chaining is concerned, if you are running in country that requires alot of chaining up, make the process easy on you by following some tips. If you have chain hangers on your tractor or trailer, hang your chains so they are in the same position that they will sit on your tires. If you have the cam lock style, hang them with the cam lock down so when you throrw them on the tire the cam lock will be closest to you. Try to hang them so the crosslink hooks are facing up on the tire; this will stop the hooks from digging into your tire while you are running.

When you stop to chain, try to back up a little bit so you are not sitting in deep snow with the tires; this will give you the ability to move back and forth when it come time to drive up onto your chains. Be sure to place the chains on the tires so when you drive up on them the bulk of the chain will be what you drive over.

Once you have drove up onto the chains take the time to pull them up tight by hand so when you hook them together they will be tight as possible. If you do not have the camlock chains, use your rubber bungees ( the black rubber straps with hook in each end) and cross thread them on your chain to get it as tight as possible. If you have the cam lockers, tighten them with the tool that is supplied with them, and use a couple of snubber bungees to take any slack out.
Usually a set of 3 railers on the back drive axle or a single chain on each outside tire is sufficient to get you underway; but some states like
Wash and California have specific chaining requirements so it is best to check ahead to the area you will be traveling.
Most of all, if you get up into snow country and you are not sure what to do when you pull into the chain up area, do not be afraid to ASK!!!! for help. Many of the frieght outfits and the UPS guys like me travel these roads every day and will be more than happy to help you out. It benefits us too to have you chained up right and safe as it may keep you rolling and not blocking the road in front of us! :rofl:
I think most of all, what Dave mentioned is a good idea; stop for awhile in a safe area and wait it out for a bit to see what changes on the roadway. Sometimes a couple of hours sitting it out will be the difference between having to chain up or being able to run across without having to!
But in any event, it is apart of winter when you run in high country, so practice putting your chains on, get it to where it is easy to do and come on out and have some winter fun with those of us who have to do it everyday!! :D

[maxmiddle]

Chains: Use them to get out of trouble - not to get INTO trouble.

If you need to chain up to get to a safe parking spot, ok. Then wait out the trouble and let the state boys clear the roads. If you gotta go, then be extremely careful. Go slow with chains on. They come loose, and you lose a lot of parts off your truck and/or trailer. Slow and easy, slow and easy (chained or otherwise).

Personally, I do not feel that chains belong on tires. But, I have the luxury of not running where they may be needed.

[LSMR]

10 years ago I worked for a major truck leasing company.One day my boss and I were looking at a new pick up truck I just bought.Here's how the conversation went.

Boss:Nice pick up.Is it 4wd
Me:Nope
Boss:What are you gonna do when it snows
Me:I'll run chains
Boss:Chains??You mean to tell me you'd run 50 miles to work on chains
Me:No I won't drive 50 miles on chains to get here BUT I'll drive 50 miles on chains to get home from this place!!

I agree maxmiddle-use chains to get out of trouble not into trouble.No freight & very few jobs are worth it.

[saddletramp]

To chain or not to chain............

I guess it all depends on the part of country where you run and live. In these parts it is a way of life in the winter; people who work in this industry in this part of the country accept driving in winter conditions as part of the job, and old and new drivers alike take each day as they come, and learn to be patient and tolerant of those who fight the winter and have a hard time with it.

[tommy]

Just what states do they use chains in? In s years recently as a driver, over 20 years working the office for a trucking company and 6 - 7 years (getting my feet wet) in trucking before all of this I have NEVER seen chains used, see them hanging, never in use though..I would think having them hanging up on the truck is a Good thing though!! :p


Just curious where they use them at..I think it would be hard on my 1/4 panels...

[Jack5]

Wa, Or. Nv. Wy. Ca. MT. Ut. Id. Co. 9 western states I believe. My
policy is if you have to chain up it's time to park the truck and wait for the
plows until they drop the chain laws. Or. is one state I know of that you have to carry them even if you don't use them.

[ROADHUGGER]

You would have seen chains in use if you ran Western States , Mountain Regions , Northern areas