Winter driving w/TC
I am no stranger to winter driving. We ski and I drive a lot in nasty/icy conditions. However, we usually don’t take the TC skiing until the shoulder season (late Feb/early March) when day time temps ...
Forum Discussion
Bill:
I had NEVER planned to drive in winter (winter-like conditions) with our TC ever....however, we had no choice in 2007:
-luckily, we had winter rated tires on (BFG TA Ko) the rig;
-we entered a brutal snow hurricane crossing Wyoming;
-driving in 2x4 on the Interstate kicked in my Quebec winter driving radar;
-there was NO sand, rock or salt used the entire 266 miles of the snow hurricane;
-I slowed it down to 48 MPH, but was just slightly faster than most, but the passing lane was almost totally open;
-wind hitting us broadside (roughly 40 MPH wind) didn't affect our traction with TC aboard;
-I always leave enough space that I never have to use the brakes (I glide to slow down, and have enough space to do it);
-as the snow let up (near the Utah border with Wyoming) large sheets of ice/slush lifted off our roof 10 to 14 feet long, and hit the Interstate behind us (it would have wiped out smaller cars IF they would have been following closely). I then pulled off the Interstate to inspect for more glaciers up top, but it had all disappeared.
So, this was the one and only time we (I) drove in winter (like conditions), however, I had nearly a years worth of "winter driving" distance using the TC at the absolute extreme scale during this one instance. I was surprised how stable the rig was given no abrasive or salt on the roads. I was very surprised that Wyoming DOT hadn't closed the Interstate (!) I was woken up to the fact that huge quantities of ice/slush can accumulate on the roof of our truck camper, and could potentially fly off and kill someone driving too closely behind. I was pleased at the traction in 2x4 with our winter rated tires with gale-force cross-winds at speeds just under 50 MPH, so no 4x4 needed. I was glad I did not have to brake for accidents and could use gliding to check speeds going down long hills.
Would I knowingly do this again ? Never. Would I drive our truck camper in winter? Maybe, if it meant getting to the Florida Keys from the North during a climatological hole in the weather.
On edit: I just read the above Post, and have additional: yes, TIRES make a huge difference, I agree, IF you are a trained winter driver of heavy trucks. We are not winter driver trained on trucks that weigh in excess of 9000 LBS, I should mention. I would have only considered the Nokian Hakkapeliitta snow tire on our rig IF we ever decide to winter drive said (and, IF they have the size for our rim dimension).
Silver-
I had NEVER planned to drive in winter (winter-like conditions) with our TC ever....however, we had no choice in 2007:
-luckily, we had winter rated tires on (BFG TA Ko) the rig;
-we entered a brutal snow hurricane crossing Wyoming;
-driving in 2x4 on the Interstate kicked in my Quebec winter driving radar;
-there was NO sand, rock or salt used the entire 266 miles of the snow hurricane;
-I slowed it down to 48 MPH, but was just slightly faster than most, but the passing lane was almost totally open;
-wind hitting us broadside (roughly 40 MPH wind) didn't affect our traction with TC aboard;
-I always leave enough space that I never have to use the brakes (I glide to slow down, and have enough space to do it);
-as the snow let up (near the Utah border with Wyoming) large sheets of ice/slush lifted off our roof 10 to 14 feet long, and hit the Interstate behind us (it would have wiped out smaller cars IF they would have been following closely). I then pulled off the Interstate to inspect for more glaciers up top, but it had all disappeared.
So, this was the one and only time we (I) drove in winter (like conditions), however, I had nearly a years worth of "winter driving" distance using the TC at the absolute extreme scale during this one instance. I was surprised how stable the rig was given no abrasive or salt on the roads. I was very surprised that Wyoming DOT hadn't closed the Interstate (!) I was woken up to the fact that huge quantities of ice/slush can accumulate on the roof of our truck camper, and could potentially fly off and kill someone driving too closely behind. I was pleased at the traction in 2x4 with our winter rated tires with gale-force cross-winds at speeds just under 50 MPH, so no 4x4 needed. I was glad I did not have to brake for accidents and could use gliding to check speeds going down long hills.
Would I knowingly do this again ? Never. Would I drive our truck camper in winter? Maybe, if it meant getting to the Florida Keys from the North during a climatological hole in the weather.
On edit: I just read the above Post, and have additional: yes, TIRES make a huge difference, I agree, IF you are a trained winter driver of heavy trucks. We are not winter driver trained on trucks that weigh in excess of 9000 LBS, I should mention. I would have only considered the Nokian Hakkapeliitta snow tire on our rig IF we ever decide to winter drive said (and, IF they have the size for our rim dimension).
Silver-
