How to drive on snow and ice.

[arakboss]

This: How to drive on snow and ice

Or this: Hello, Domino's I'll take a large pep with extra cheese.

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[Member 34319]

I recall a few years ago seeing a Prius in the ditch with chains on the rear tires.

 

[Member 34319]

Lol. I just googled it and it came up. I remember it being a viral picture when it happened.

 

[arakboss]

I recall a few years ago seeing a Prius in the ditch with chains on the rear tires.

It's probably a good thing most Prius owners don't own guns.

 

[Stomper]

I just got done with a round trip from the valley to Troutdale for an emergency service call.... people either drive too fast, or too slow on the ice/snow... either approach caused extra hazards to everyone else.

 

[thereddog]

We've got a prius and it is a great car... gets 54 mpg and hauls a ton of stuff. It is ,however, totally disabled by even a milimeter of snow. It has a drive system that kills power to the wheel if it is slipping, so it is impossible to drive it when it is icy or snowy. There is supposed to be a means of disabling the antislip drive with a series of button pushes and strange bushman chants. I have a 20 year old ford expedition battle wagon that we use whenever it snows.



It is nice to have a vehicle that you can use to push stuff out of the way by ramming a trailer hitch into it, or plowing it out of the way with the front end and not worry about scratching the paint.

 

[edslhead]

"Make sure you accelerate and decelerate slowly to keep from skidding and remember it takes more time and space to slow down on snowy roads. Give yourself more following distance. Increase it to five or six seconds. That will give a higher margin of error is someone in front of you slams on the brakes or something happens."

Wow, that was really informative.

 

[HB of CJ]

Vee Bars front and rear. Locking rear diff. True Trak front diff. Even then I still crash! So now I just stay home. Getting too old.

 

[Stomper]

BTW- I admit that I had a little fun as I "drifted" around a couple of corners in my Ford Transit truck w/service-box body.


YEEEEEHAAAAAAWWW!

 

[JRuby]

Trying to get from Muskegon Mi to St. Helen's tomorrow. Had to put my dad in a alzheimer ward back here or else I would not have gone. I have a 4wd drive Nitron setting at the airport if i can get to pdx tomorrow. Just read a storm of the century starts Monday. Wish me luck tomorrow.

 

[clearconscience]

Driving in this stuff i always have a 4wd or awd vehicle and studs. Never had an issue.

Biggest rule: Don't be stupid.

 

[Stomper]

Trying to get from Muskegon Mi to St. Helen's tomorrow. Had to put my dad in a alzheimer ward back here or else I would not have gone. I have a 4wd drive Nitron setting at the airport if i can get to pdx tomorrow. Just read a storm of the century starts Monday. Wish me luck tomorrow.

Sorry to hear about your dad, JR!


Good luck, and watch out for that "other guy" who gets someone hurt/killed!

 

[beavernation]

My new mechanic in Boise, ID where I picked my truck up this morning told me with a straight face that he lifted a Prius in his shop recently. I shoulda asked for photos

 

[Bealzybub]

Just read a storm of the century starts Monday.

In Porkland or Michitgan?

 

[JRuby]

View attachment 546860

In Porkland or Michitgan?

I read that on my cell phone about portland oregon starting Monday through Wednesday. The question I keep asking my self is do I believe weathermen are accurate or not. I personally hope they are wrong on this.

 

[Bealzybub]

The question I keep asking my self is do I believe weathermen are accurate or not.

Accuweather says its snowing here now and will continue for 55 minutes. I never realized snow caused as shadow lol ............

 

[Ruger Rich]

Trying to get from Muskegon Mi to St. Helen's tomorrow. Had to put my dad in a alzheimer ward back here or else I would not have gone. I have a 4wd drive Nitron setting at the airport if i can get to pdx tomorrow. Just read a storm of the century starts Monday. Wish me luck tomorrow.

You're an old "UP" guy, you can do it. Is there anything I can do for you here in town?

 

[eightyeight mag]

Not sure if it's just me, but it seems like whenever we have snow or ice, everyone and their brother decide to break out their datsun and s-10 pickups. 2 wheel drive of course, with absolutey no weight in the back.

 

[DuneHopper]

DRift like you stole it,

 

[3MTA3]

Every time I buy a vehicle I factor in the price of a set of studded snow tires. They don't cost extra over time, since when you are using them your other tires don't get used. I usually get the wheels themselves on Craigslist and usually find them pretty inexpensively. Same for tire pressure sensors if you elect to use them in your snow tires. I also match the tire size between the two sets of tires so the same set of chains fit both.

That said, this is how I drove the six years I lived in snow country:

1. studded snow tires plus chains at the ready
2. If a 4WD vehicle run it in that mode
3. Override an automatic transmission to keep it out of the highest gear
   
4. Drive normally, but 5-10 MPH slower than the posted speed.

I never drive the first day of snow and ice if I don't have to. This allows an opportunity for bad drivers and the bald tire crowd to get in accidents so I don't have to worry about them until their cars get back from the shop. In Portland this means they are out of action for the entire snow season. In snow country there were always two waves of them and sometimes a third.

I also have a winter kit I put in my vehicles that has extra clothes (hat,gloves, coat, socks, blanket, food, water) in addition to the gear I usually have at hand year round. Always be prepared to stay the night in your vehicle if you leave urban areas.