towing on snow
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towing on snow
Well, we finaly got our firts big snow here in cleveland area. We got about a foot with it still snowing.
Anyway our service crews for our siding division of the company drive f-250's and pull 12 foot dual axle boxed in trailers. The problem is when they break on the snow and the anti lock breaks kick in. It kills the electronic breaks to the trailer. So now they are comming back and saying the trailer is all over the place when breaking.
Any ideas to help with this problem? We cant tell them to stay in. These are our service crews and we pride ourselves on our service and Punch out work.
The trailers are pretty loaded down. Im not sure on the exact weight, but they are 12 foot boxed in trailers. the tounge isnt enclosed like some of the other ones out there...just a box...
any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
Kevin
Anyway our service crews for our siding division of the company drive f-250's and pull 12 foot dual axle boxed in trailers. The problem is when they break on the snow and the anti lock breaks kick in. It kills the electronic breaks to the trailer. So now they are comming back and saying the trailer is all over the place when breaking.
Any ideas to help with this problem? We cant tell them to stay in. These are our service crews and we pride ourselves on our service and Punch out work.
The trailers are pretty loaded down. Im not sure on the exact weight, but they are 12 foot boxed in trailers. the tounge isnt enclosed like some of the other ones out there...just a box...
any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
Kevin
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Amarillo, TEXAS!
You need to tell them to slow down. That will eliminate the entire issue. In a million miles with a tractor trailer, I never even came close to a jackknife situation. Sure, there were trucks passing me, but they would be the ones in a ditch further down the road.
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its not a matter of speed.... because i have been in the trucks when this happens. Its hard when the roads are completely snow covered. Especialy in these subdivisions that we work in. Which dont get plowed by the city, because they are private subdivions and they city wont plow them untill all construction is done in them.
this is happening at 10 - 15 miles an hour in a subdivision on snow that is 2 or 3 inches packed on the roadway. If the ABS wouldnt come on the electronic breaks would stay on and eleviate the problem???
Its just a bad situation in all....
kevin
this is happening at 10 - 15 miles an hour in a subdivision on snow that is 2 or 3 inches packed on the roadway. If the ABS wouldnt come on the electronic breaks would stay on and eleviate the problem???
Its just a bad situation in all....
kevin
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Not sure if this would actually help out any, I wouldn't think that the ABS would have anything to do with brakes, but guess it does. Maybe try taking out the fuse for the ABS. Might work, might not, i'm not sure, but worth a try.
-Kevin
-Kevin
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From: Valdez, Alaska
I have to agree with Pikachu. They need to allow themselves plenty of room to stop so they will not have to have the ABS come on. I never had this issue with my brake controller. Next time I have the trailer on I will have to, on a clear section of road, slam on the brakes and see if the ABS effects my trailer brakes. Kinda currious.
Another thing that I have notices is the shorter trailers, with a heavy load, seem to be somewhat squirrly. I had a 12 foot trailer and every time I had any considerable load on it, well you get the picture. Just my $0.02.
PS what do they have the brake controller set at, ie the syn and power setting. Might try adjusting those.
Another thing that I have notices is the shorter trailers, with a heavy load, seem to be somewhat squirrly. I had a 12 foot trailer and every time I had any considerable load on it, well you get the picture. Just my $0.02.
PS what do they have the brake controller set at, ie the syn and power setting. Might try adjusting those.
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i agree on the speed issue. whats going on with the abs....when the abs kicks the breaks on and off, its also kicking the trailer breaks on and off, causing a almost hopping effect to the trailer.... i dont know if that makes sense.
i think the problem may be with the brake controller settings.... they just need to be adjusted for the snow.
the trailer is defenitly loaded down. That could also be another problem.
personaly i think that all the trucks that tow trailers all day need break upgrades, switching to a bigger setup, something aftermarket that is better than what you get stock.... i think that would fix alot of the problems with the trailers.
i think the problem may be with the brake controller settings.... they just need to be adjusted for the snow.
the trailer is defenitly loaded down. That could also be another problem.
personaly i think that all the trucks that tow trailers all day need break upgrades, switching to a bigger setup, something aftermarket that is better than what you get stock.... i think that would fix alot of the problems with the trailers.
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From: Medford USA!
One thing we used to do is disconnect the rear tandem wheel brakes on a dual axle trailer when pulling in snow. This keeps both axles on the trailer from locking up= NO CONTROL 
After towing stock trailers in snow, I can say don't be afraid of putting good snow chains on your truck AND trailer (the braking axle) while trying to navigate the stuff.
I pulled three horses down a winding mountain pass at 6000' in blotchy snow (dry pavement/then snowy road/dry pavement, etc). It wasn't much fun and those loads (horses) shift a lot too
After towing stock trailers in snow, I can say don't be afraid of putting good snow chains on your truck AND trailer (the braking axle) while trying to navigate the stuff.
I pulled three horses down a winding mountain pass at 6000' in blotchy snow (dry pavement/then snowy road/dry pavement, etc). It wasn't much fun and those loads (horses) shift a lot too
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so are you saying to disconect the breaks... or just disconect the breaks from the rear axel????
this would allow one set of tires to not lock up, while the other set locks up... is this correct???
and your saying it works????
this would allow one set of tires to not lock up, while the other set locks up... is this correct???
and your saying it works????
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From: central NY,near Syracuse
the anti skid effects the trailer because it is using inertia of the slowing tow vehicle to apply the trailer brakes. when the anti skid interupts the truck brakes, it also stops the application of the trailer brakes. train the drivers to apply the trailer brakes by using the manual slide on the brake control, that will allow the trailer brakes to keep slowing the whole vehicle. it should be practiced in a controlled situation for a while though,and only while going straight, not in a turn, or the trailer will slide sideways Pikachu, it would be like applying the trailer brakes on the big truck with the trolly Good luck Phil
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From: Del Rio, Texas USA
the break controller should have an manual engaugement switch, if the trailer gets fishy you lock the brakes on it or add pressure while letting off the truck and it straightens out.... ABS is good for most situations, in others it works worth crap.. off road/ mud/ loose terrain/SNOW.. are a few of MANY situations that ABS is Crap... pull the fuse on it if you need....many man before us drove tractor/trailers before ABS was invented..somewhere skill is just required....
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From: TEXAS
Just to make sure, are these '05 trucks with the IBS? Just curious. You could look at getting brake controllers that respond directly from the brake light signal and output level control and not from the inertia sensor. I have an older Reese, a real basic model that does not have the inertia sensor and it has a SYNC. control and OUTPUT control. Between the two I do not have a problem, wet road, dry or even nasty solid ice once; a whole different story, but it had to be done and I did it by setting the sync to make the brakes come in real easy but strong at the end so I didn't have to use the truck brakes to stop and it kept the trailer right behind me without the snapping action that usually locks up the wheels and makes a great jack knife. Good luck. Mat
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great info guys.....
this helps alot. the iniertia contorl explains why the trailer does what it does for sure. using the trailer brake control to slow the rig woulb probably work, though it would take practice to get used to that for sure.
pulling the ABS fuse, i like the idea, just another one of those things that would take practice. but it doesnt take a brain surgeon to stop a rig without abs if you know what your doing.... which our guys do, otherwise they wouldnt be trusted with the trucks
Ill pass this info on to my guys and see what they say, and ill have them try some of this stuff out.
by the way the trucks are 01 to 02 f250's
thanks guys
kevin
this helps alot. the iniertia contorl explains why the trailer does what it does for sure. using the trailer brake control to slow the rig woulb probably work, though it would take practice to get used to that for sure.
pulling the ABS fuse, i like the idea, just another one of those things that would take practice. but it doesnt take a brain surgeon to stop a rig without abs if you know what your doing.... which our guys do, otherwise they wouldnt be trusted with the trucks
Ill pass this info on to my guys and see what they say, and ill have them try some of this stuff out.
by the way the trucks are 01 to 02 f250's
thanks guys
kevin
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From: Rochester, NY
How about switching to SNOW TIRES and see if that helps. My new 05 4x4 SUCKS in the snow. These new Continental-JUNK All-Terrain 
tires are all over the road, even in 4wd with a plow (extra weight) on the front. I could not even climb up my driveway with 3 inches of powder snow without a running start.
But my mother in law's Cadillac Catera (RWD) with snow tires climbed up the driveway without even slipping.
I don't understand.
And yes, 4wd was engaged and working.
tires are all over the road, even in 4wd with a plow (extra weight) on the front. I could not even climb up my driveway with 3 inches of powder snow without a running start.But my mother in law's Cadillac Catera (RWD) with snow tires climbed up the driveway without even slipping.
I don't understand.
And yes, 4wd was engaged and working.