It's time again to play in the snow and rule number one is to go slow. Tis the season not to get stuck, that's why I drive a big Ford truck. Anybody have any other driving tips? A couple that work for me is putting the truck in four low, shifting it into granny gear, and just let it crawl at idle. It'll crawl through anything anywhere. For those with automatic trannies without lockers, try to keep wheel spin the same speed as the truck to get traction and not dig a hole. Also if you do spin the wheels, apply a little brake and gas at the same time. This will transfer power from the free spinning wheel to the one with traction. Manual traction control. That's my two cents.

 

Another tip. Don't tailgate the guy in front of you. He may get tired of it and without notice decide to test his anti lock brakes. People that drive to fast and tailgate on snowy/icy roads annoy most sane drivers and are a nusance, regardless of how big or small the vehicle they are driving.

 

don't stop unless needed to, the only time i ever get in a sticky situation is trying to move after I stop.

 

For those of us with Auto locking hubs, remember to have the 4WD engaged before the big storm hits. If you can't move, they won't engage.

2nd gear is very useful on glare ice.

Keep the Overdrive locked on the "off" position when on the slippery stuff

If you've never driven on snow or ice, find an empty parking lot (schools on weekends are perfect) and get a feel for the slip 'n slide action. The highway isn't the place to learn this stuff.

Parking brakes freeze. Never forget it.

Nothing beats the weight of an F-Series when plowing through drifts. It's going downhill on ice that sux.

Hidden obstacles (like boulders) can be underneath those snow drifts (past experience)

Let the idiot in the SUV that wants to go flying by at 70 get past. Make sure you have a towchain on board- you'll be needing it to pull him out later.

Keep some useful stuff in the truck at all times:
warm gloves
shovel
tool kit
jumper cables
chains
tow strap
rope
change of clothes and socks. Especially socks.
Xtra pair of boots
Xtra warm coat
Blanket
really big flashlight that works
First Aid kit
5th of brandy. (optional)

I keep a tote with all that stuff inside. You'd be amazed how often it's come in handy- usually for someone else that forgot.

 

Something I learned on a tv show years before I was even old enough to drive and has stuck with me ever since, so I think it's something everyone knows but maybe not. When/If the back end slides out of control - left or right, - to regain control, steer the vehicle in the direction that the back end is going.

For example, something you can try. you go around an icy Right corner and goose it, the back end slides out to the left, turn the steering wheel to the left 1/4 to 1/2 a turn and you should regain control pretty much instantly.

It works at high speeds as well but the momentum of the vehicle straightening out on the icy road may and probably will put the vehicle into another uncontrolled slide the opposite direction but with less force and speed as the first and will require the same manuever in the opposite direction. Oh and obviously, you should let off the gas as soon as you lose control of a vehicle, before correcting.

tip 2, if the roads are icy enough to cause uncontrolled slides at speed; Slow Down!

 

Letting off the gas is where most people run into problems. If you maintain a little wheel spin and use the counter steer you will hold the slide and if you slowly release the throttle you will have to steer back to center. If down correctly there is no correction in the oppisite direction.