Winter Parking Question.

thats why i always carry a few gallons of bleach...it will melt that stuff up fast

 

Drive around the truck stop or back and forth in your parking spot, allowing your tires to cool down.

Ride the brakes as you do so to heat them up some so you are drying them at the same time.

Never heard the bleach deal. Do carry a five gallon bucket of salt/sand mix though, in case it's really slick. Toss some around the truck or on steps. Makes pre trip etc.... a bit easier.

 

Had scenerio #2 happen to me before, thank goodness for a friendly flatbedder who came along and gave me a tow out. I learned the kitty litter trick that day and it works great.

I avoid pulling the red brake in the wintertime to keep scenerio 1 from happening

 

For number 1, I don't set the brakes unless I absolutly have to. Get a couple boards, place one infront of a wheel and one behind a wheel and you don't have to worry about the truck rolling without the brakes set. I have never had frozen brakes using this method and I run alot of snow,ice,slush etc since I run upper North Dakota, Manitoba and Minnesota only.

 

Don't bleach your tires unless it's an emergency and you don't mind replacing the tires- Chlorine destroys rubber. It can get you moving but be ready to replace the tires you bleached.

You'll be OK if you use common sense. If you park on ice and just let your wagon sit for awhile, the warm tires melt down into the ice and you're sitting in eight half moon shaped depressions. It's hard (or impossible) to get out. So just move around every few minutes. Let the tires cool down to below freezing temps and they won't melt the ice under them. Remember to pull up or back a bit, but not in the same exact place every time.

The one most dangerous hazard no one mentions about while parking in ice or snow is sliding around in a parking space. Anytime you're standing in between two trailers on ice, expect one of them to move sideways without a reason. Don't get squashed between them. Sometimes the trailer will start sliding sideways when you lift the landing gear. Or when you pull the fifth wheel and your tractor slides away from the trailer with the parking brakes locked- then your trailer decides to start moving sideways.

Sometimes you just can't get the drums to let go of frozen brake shoes. That's when you need a propane torch- you'll have to heat the drum without burning down your trailer.

And the most important thing of all- don't wear flipflops in snow, you'll look silly.

 

Take a couple laps around the parking lot to let your tires cool off, and never set your trailer brakes. Tractor brakes don't seem to freeze up like trailer brakes do.

 

Bleach is REALLY hard on your tires. Tires are expensive....

Anyway. We teach our guys to 1) don't set the trailer brakes in the winter. Make sure, however, you set the tractor brakes. It's amazing how many new drivers forget that part.... Tractor brakes WILL freeze, but you've got power applying to them so they will break free under a lower gear. A trailer will just drag.

As for number 2, I kept ice melt in my truck. Kitty litter works well, but keep in mind it's clay and will eventually just turn to mud under your tires if you keep spinning in the wet. Anything you can stick under a tire to get traction will help.... I've used old mudflaps, carpet, rubber coil friction mats, etc... but I was a flatbedder so I carried this stuff with me. Sometimes locking the interaxles (aka "4 wheel drive") and using a *higher* gear will actually help you pull out of space. The load will also make a difference. If you're bobtail you're going to have hell getting out. If you've got a load, you have something pushing down on the tires giving you some traction (drives).

 

So I realize I'm only new here, but I've been out there for a bit. Here's what I do. When the weathers crappy and cold, and I'm getting close to where it's time to stop, I start riding the brake. Not stupid like, just 10 or 15 llbs of air. Just enuf to warm up the drums, discs, pads, shoes, rubber, mechanisms, lines, etc.. When I park, I leave the trailer air on. Tricky with some modern rigs, but still do-able. I pull the tactor valve. If on a slope, I'll chock my tractor AND trailer wheels. Why not. Only takes a sec and shows due diligence in case something happens in a truck stop. I've NEVER had a trailer freeze up on me this way AND I've driven ALL States and Provinces North of Florida including the ice. Mind you I've backed under quite a few trailers with frozen wheels up north, and generally WE DO NOT use 'tiger torches' or propane torches. We use 'Herman Nelsons'. They're not as fast as Tigers, but they also cause far less damage as they distribute the heat evenly over tires, wheels, release valves, etc, but I'm starting to ramble.

Over the years I've seen to much mallet damage done both to the truck/trailer and the mallet operator. Broken parts, and bruised bodies. If you're going to use a mallet to beat a frozen rig, have someone show you where BEST to beat it !! I have yet to have warm tires sink into the snow and ice and freeze there. Yes, my warm sneakers have made 18+ cute little alcoves in the packed snow, but nothing serious. Although I don't deny it's happened to folks, I can't imagine it would be to hard to pull away from. Do you have tire chains ? Are you trained in their installation and use ? I've never used bleach. Actually never heard of that application until now. Up north we don't even use road salt. It's sand or chains. Sand sparingly because it's hard to get and store on the truck. Hope that helps.

SL

 

I don't put the bleach ON the tires
You pour it on the ground around them it will take much much more bleach than a gallon or two to damage them.