So what did you do with your truck today?

[kbenz]

I really like the Bando belt on rockauto. the gates was too long for some reason. I bought a few of them to have on the shelf

I went and looked at rock auto. Never realized there were that many variations

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Since there was freezing fog/drizzle this morning, I didn't go to Wal-Mart. It's a good thing too. The forecast said less than 1/10" of an inch of ice accumulation, but there's at least 1/4". THEY LIED!!! I did go on my planned shorter trip though. The highway was kind of slick when I left town, but by the time that I got there it was SLICK. I had to stop twice to scrape my windshield. They hadn't pretreated the roads like they normally do and there wasn't anyone out doing it when I went. As I was heading back to my garage, the roads in town had been treated, but not the highways. I left the engine running while I was at the garage so the windshield was fairly clear. I had wanted to do some badly needed clean up in my garage since it faces west and there was an east wind. By the time that I got there, I was tired of messing around in the icy weather so I took some stuff out of my truck and put it in the garage including the crap on the dash in one picture. Then I hooked onto my trailer of firewood and headed home. I did stop to talk to a friend for a time before I left town and while I was there, a salt truck had gone by. Even with salt on it, the road was still slick so I took the dirt road home to be safe. In the last picture, that's not frost on the grass. It's all ice.

 

[Nero]

You've never really driven until you've swapped ends on a rig in the ice. Heck. Even in the rain.
I locked up a semi and slid it sideways through an intersection on Monday. Should have worn the brown pants. Luckily didn't hit anything.
Glad to see your truck is coming along well and handling the ice like a pro.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

handling the ice like a pro.

Sort of. Right as I got back to where I live, there's a curve at the west end of main street. The trailer pushed the truck through that curve sideways. Somehow, I managed to not jackknife.
For the record, although I can drive a semi and have driven one, I have no desire to drive one for a living. Hence no CDL.

 

[Nero]

I have my cdl, but its mostly for doing test drives. I detest driving big rigs, especially in a big city where all drivers are glued to their phone.

 

[KansasIDI]

1/2” to 3/4” of ice here. Tire chains ftw. Helped pull people up icy hills on the only road that was still open south out of Manhattan, and taught a truck driver how to chain up, after he slid and blocked the road. Cops and such were busy on the interstate dealing with wrecks, pretty messy out. I left Manhattan at about 2, got home 6:30ish. Typically an hour trip but not so in the ice.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

1/2” to 3/4” of ice here.

 

[KansasIDI]

Worst part, it’s supposed to continue accumulating all night, then turn to snow early morning, and then the wind will blow. Sounds like it’s gonna blizzard.

 

[Old Goat]

Do you guys use Studded tires back there?
I have a full set, but usually use them on the rear. But there is times I need them on the front.

I don`t use Chains but do use cables, easier to put on. Last winter
I didn`t have them with me like I should. Think the law here is carry them Oct to April.
Last winter
Drove into town and things were ok?? on way back home this one
little hill that really a bear to get up was icy. Back tires started to loose it and front end started towards the shoulder. Backed down the hill to a dirt road, and headed back to town and bought a new set of Cables from O`Rillys. $106 was on my way. Picked up a small blue tarp from HF and installed them. Now own 3 sets of the darn things.
I put a set in the bed 2 months ago, so Iam ready. Have some Ring tie downs on the bed wall and they are Pad Locked in place.

When I worked for the State, we had Chains for the Grader, Loader and plow Trucks and other things. We had sacks of spare Cross links case one broke, and a set of long handle Chain Plyers to uncrimp and recrimp on new links.

In the auto supply`s I see no new cross links available. Just buy new chains or Cables.
I started looking in the Good Will and other thrift type stores for used one`s. My Cables as I remember are 14" wide. Found a set the right length. All ya gotta do is bend up the Tab on the ends and insert the new cable and beat the tab down with a hammer.

If you ever break a cross link, stop and tie it back NOW. That thing flying around will will tear up a fender or?? pretty fast. Keep some wire or bungees with you.
I see people heading over I-80 from Ca to Reno/Tahoe etc.. trying to get there before the snow melts I guess.. Driving 50 miles an hour with chains on...crazy. and then the DA with the broken link, bang bang bang tearing up things. When they see the white stuff they get stupid.


Goat

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Do you guys use Studded tires back there?

I don't. I've never used chains or cables either.

When they see the white stuff they get stupid.

Yes they sure do.

 

[Old Goat]

Well here, Nevada (Ndot) and Commiefornia (Caltrans) will have Chain Control on I-80. No Chains, you get turned around and or a ticket.
Same on Hwy 50 between Nv and Ca. but it is on the Ca side for the control. Between Twin Bridges where it is a steep climb for a while with switch backs and Myers just before Lake Tahoe. 1/2 of Tahoe is in Ca.
Coming up 50 on the Nevada side, don`t know what they do as I never go up there mush at anytime of the year.
And in the winter every idiot with some type of 4X4 and ski`s and a
Snow Board are up here screwing things up, and making the roads dangerous.
Just bring us your money and then leave.
It`s terrorist season again. We have it 2 times, winter and summer.

Goat

 

[KansasIDI]

I just have all terrain tires, and if I so much as slip, I chain up. Better safe than sorry. Sure it’s slow going but if you’re driving fast in that crap, you probably aren’t thinking things through just a whole hell of a lot…

 

[IDIBRONCO]

if you’re driving fast in that crap, you probably aren’t thinking things through just a whole hell of a lot

HEY! I resemble that remark!

 

[Cant Write]

We run studded tires at my residence. I curse the idiots that buy the cheapest hardest longest lasting tire due to price when they are driving a 40k plus vehicle. And think they will work in the winter. Steep grades and hard compounds coupled with ice equals disaster.

They closed 10 miles of our road yesterday due to these types of thinkers. Blocked the highway due to accidents. Friend never got home until 10pm, off at 5.

And I’m sure salt and mag-chloride help traffic safety, but I’d rather just have sand and people use studded snow tires. But some people change cars like underwear so they don’t worry about rust.

23 of my miles yesterday was a sheet of ice yesterday. 26 was slush. Took me 5 extra minutes. Passed 11 or so cars. My low COG German Wagon with studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9’s are near magic.

Oh and I brushed 4” of fresh off Wally and gave the door a pat!!

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Today I went to Kearney, NE to stop at Menards, Wal-Mart and Harbor Freight. It was an adventure to say the least. The roads were icy and, going into the strong north wind, I didn't make the speediest trip. It's really something to be driving along at 64 MPH and suddenly realize that your engine is revving up because your tires are spinning. There was about 24 miles where I really had to fight to keep them from spinning. The rest wasn't too bad. There was only about 1"-3" of snow, but there was ice everywhere. My preferred method of leaving a atop is to start out in 2nd gear while slipping the clutch and not giving it much throttle. That works the best for me. Most of the trip demanded my attention but wasn't too bad. The worst part was about 15 or so miles from home. There's a hill before you get to a US highway. The hill isn't too steep, but it's about 1/4 mile long. I think I let off the throttle as I crested the hill to start slowing down because the back end of the truck started fishtailing. Mind you that this was over 50 MPH. I fishtailed about 3/4 of the way down the hill, completely off the throttle by this time. I wasn't too worried about the ditches, but there's about 200 yards of flat ground and then a small bridge. I just knew that I was going to wipe out my truck by hitting the bridge sideways. At about the 3/4 mark, I thought to myself "push in the clutch!". That did the trick. The truck fishtailed two more times and then straightened out just in time to cross over the bridge. That was certainly a drawer soiler! The rest of the drive was at a slower speed, but not with much more traction. The road looked wet from the sun shining on the ice, but it wasn't. I made it home without any big incidents.