Road Sliding

[idahohikker]

In light of the recent thread on chains and my slight nightmare from last year, who's been sliding towards the steep side? How'd you solve things? Maybe just luck sometimes.

I hadn't thought much about it until old tires, without chains, and snow and ice met a steep downhill and a grade tilting down the mountain. This was during that big snow in September last year. I've driven on snow fine in the past. Are there times when you won't drive forest roads in the snow because the conditions are just too much? Or do you see it more as depending on how the road is situated?

Do chains really help with side to side sliding danger? I'm definitely getting some because it makes sense they would.

 

[NJDiverDan]

I have been on roads out here that were snow covered gravel / clay mix that was worse than ice. As much as it is a TON warmer in the truck, I use my SxS or ATV to travel off road. I can chain up the SxS a lot faster than the truck and it has a winch on it to get me out if needed. Also, in good weather, I can go a lot faster in the SxS or on the ATV than I can in my truck on the gravel roads, well at least without pounding the crap out of my truck.

 

[Silverado]

Happened to me last November. Going up a steep incline, road sloped towards a steep drop off on the side. I didnt chain up because it was probably less than an inch of snow...but it was enough to cover up the solid layer of ice underneath. About half way up the hill I lost traction and truck starts drifting towards the edge. Came to a stop and tried to abort but then i just started sliding backwards AND sliding towards the edge. At this point I'm surprised I didnt ruin my favorite hunting pants. Partner jumped out and jammed rocks under the tires. We hooked up chains and were able to back down. Thank the good Lord for those chains being in the truck. First time I've REALLY needed them so far but they'll never leave the truck after that experience...and they'll get alot more use

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[jeremy.b]

So I have a fun story about sliding to the steep side... and what I do to avoid the situation I found myself in.

A few years back I had picked up a used Tacoma and it came with large lug mudding tires that I didn't replace for a while...

I was at a football party when I got a call from a buddie's wife telling me he shot an elk and could use a hand. We had gotten snow up where he was at and it had packed down to a nice squeeky ice layer from a fair amount of traffic on it.

There is a 1/2 mile stretch that is a decent pitch and nicely off-camber (to avoid run-off damaging the road bed you know...) right before the tailhead he had taken off from. I made it down that section with a touch of pucker factor with a couple minor slips, but keeping the right speed made it manageable. I noted that I would probably have a bit of an issue climbing out of there with no chains (and no weight in the truck), and needed to make sure I could make a good run at it to get out.

I found said buddy, we packed out half of the elk and we headed out. My first mistake was to not give my buddy enough of a lead up the hill, so when I took off I ended up having to slow up a bit, of course at the exact spot where I had slipped a bit going down. Sure enough all 4 wheels started slipping (even with the rear locker) and the rig started nicely drifting back down the road toward the steep side... It didn't keep moving when I stopped, thank goodness, but I was essentially stuck on a flat icy snow sheet on this road. We eventually were able to spread enough dirt/sand on the ice and under the tires to get me a grip and I was able to take off and climb the rest of the way out.

So, to avoid that situation I ALWAYS have decent (edit: snow rated) tires on PERIOD. If they start getting down to 3/16" tread they get replaced (usually I have to replace them around then anyway since I seem to catch some kind of debris that takes out a tire). I also always have at least 150-250 lbs of weight in the back once the snow starts flying AND I always have 2 sets of fitted chains.

I have yet to need to break out the chains to get out of a situation, but I've been in some sketchy spots again and not had the same issue as that first time. I also don't go looking for trouble. If it ices up real bad, there's just spots I don't go either, or at least not alone.

 

[idahohikker]

Love and hate the stories. Pucker factor for sure. Some snow that was packed down on ice was my issue.

I hit the brakes when I started to go sideways and that stopped the slide. Hitting the brakes is a natural response but I'm sure there are cases when more speed is needed instead. I wanted to open my door to bail out if needed.

I would have really been in trouble if I met another truck on the bad stretch. What the heck do you do then?

 

[jeremy.b]

I would have really been in trouble if I met another truck on the bad stretch. What the heck do you do then?

I forgot to mention, while we were working to get me moving again a MINIVAN came barreling down the hill.... thankfully they saw us in time and somehow stopped on the cutbank side of the road. Eventually they made it past us, but I have NO idea how the climbed back out again... Talk about insult to injury btw!

Honestly, if its that sketchy, and you need a run at a stretch, AND you have someone with you it would be a really good idea to send then on foot up ahead to hold up anyone else at a good stopping point. Unless the other person is already down helping get you moving like in my case... .

 

[rayporter]

back about '89 I got a call about 2 am from a guys wife. he was plowing snow for the county in blizzard conditions and was stuck.

I chained up and went to help him get out. it was not a mountain road, just a slight hill. but he was sliding sideways and I could not budge the big ol dump truck. my truck slid every time we tried to move him. eventually we left it and headed home and he got a couple state trucks to get him out the next day.

 

[widnert]

Since we're telling stories, here's one for you.

Was called to come help a friend get a couple of elk out that he and his wife had downed at top of this mountain road. They were about a mile and a half form the truck and needed some help getting them to the truck over the fresh snow before it was the middle of the night. The brother-in-law and I jumped in my truck and went to them. Got there over the snow-covered road no problem, still daylight. Took a bit to get the elk back to the trucks but, managed it over a couple of hours. He had a 4wheeler to help with the last 1/2 mile and we got them out whole. Loaded one in his truck with the 4wheeler and one in mine. Started back down. It was full dark by now. As we're easing down this nice slick road (about 6 miles worth of winding, rocky mountain fun), we see a set of headlights coming up the same road. I slow way down and let my friend get further ahead. Neither of us has chains on at this point. Didn't need them going up and had enough weight in the beds that going down seemed fine.
I can see my friend meets up with the headlights down in front of me. Slight pause and the headlights coming up start backing down. My friend starts going forward and so do I, still keeping a large distance between us. After a few minutes of backing, I lose direct sight of the two in front of me around a turn but, can still see the headlights shining my way. Suddenly, I see them bounce around a whole lot and then start shining virtually straight up in the air.
As we roll up on my friends now-stopped rig around the bend, I see them all standing in the road looking over the edge. The headlight's beam starts somewhere down there and I can still see them shining virtually straight up. We stop and climb out and walk up to my friend and his wife. Look over the edge and about 300ft down there's a truck, jammed against a bunch of boulders with about 500ft of sheer drop right behind it. I also see a figure trying to climb up the slope to us. We grab some rope and drop it to the guy and help him up.
After he's up with us and can catch his breath, he says his brakes just gave out on him and he couldn't stop anymore. His truck just went over backwards. There's a strange smell also emanating from his trousers. Pretty sure we all know what that is. Seems he was on his way up to load-up one last load of firewood he had been cutting up in the same area my friend and his wife had shot their elk. He had chains on and everything. But, brakes obviously had been overlooked. It was an older truck. He got his trouser issue dealt with in the bushes and he rode back to the nearest service station in my backseat. Was shaking pretty good when we finally got there. Tow trucks had fun getting the old truck out later that week.
Think about overall service on your rigs, not just slapping on some chains when you head into the backcountry. Or, better yet, take a 4wheeler and save the abuse on your rig. I've spent too much money on mine to take too many risks with it. Would rather abuse the 4wheeler. If a road is open to pickups, it's open to 4wheelers also.
Good luck to everyone this season!

 

[Beendare]

Thats one of the worst feelings when you are sliding sideways toward a steep drop-off.....

I've had my hand on the door handle a couple times while in the passenger seat on roads like that....[uphill side of course]

A guy really wants to pay attention with some of these new rigs that have antilock brakes.....my old chevy would get going down a slippery hill and hitting those brakes was like losing a master cylinder....you learn how to steer like crazy.

Early 80's we were hog hunting central Ca in the pouring rain and sliding off a Mtn in my buddies Toyota compact pickup. Luckily it stopped when he stopped....[stopping isn't always the best strategy]

He got out and refused to drive it. We were standing there in the pouring rain, no chains, no winch. I swear he would have just left that truck there and had us walk out....which in hindsight might have been the better idea /grin.

I jumped in and nursed it over the slick spot while he was pushing me back up on the road from behind. At one point the rear passenger wheel slipped out over nuthin...but the front wheels caught and pulled me out of there....one of my more pucker worthy adventures for sure.

 

[rayporter]

and to speak of pushing one over the edge---

somewhere in the 80's there was a big snow storm. we got to the truck late in the afternoon and after loading meat we had to dig out the truck. as we worked many folks arrived to get out of the hi country. about the time we got the truck moving a big guy in a tan Lincoln went past us about 50 yards and could go no further. it was rented and he was paranoid he would have to pay rent on it all winter so he plugged the road on purpose so we would push him out. it took quite a few of us to push him to where he could move again. many comments were made of pushing him over the side.

 

[johnhenry]

I've been driving mountain roads covered in snow since I started driving and that was a long long time ago.
Have a light touch on the wheel - just the fingertips. do everythingwith a light calm touch
never use touch the brakes if you are sliding
if its not in 4x4 shift in and hit the gas. use the front wheels to pull you away from trouble.

 

[mmac]

Hopefully I am stating the obvious, but double check you can run chains on your front tires. With newer front suspensions the clearance on many vehicles from the inside of the front tire to other parts is in many cases less than an inch. Most OEM's state not to run them on the front and I bet most of you on here are not running stock tires either which could then decrease that space.

That said chains are great....

 

[PAhunter58]

Was always worried about the front wheel clearance for chains, so on my 2018 I had leveling kit installed. Problem solved!
4 chains are always better than 2 if things go south.

 

[mathews8pt]

Was always worried about the front wheel clearance for chains, so on my 2018 I had leveling kit installed. Problem solved!
4 chains are always better than 2 if things go south.

That doesnt really effect the clearance for chains on the newer trucks. My Ram 1500 has very little clearance between the tire and the suspension components ( UCA). That is the most common clearance issue on trucks with independent front suspensions. I recently found this out while shopping for chains for my truck('18 Ram 1500).

 

[idahohikker]

Wild stories, man. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the tips too. I will definitely be getting chains. I'm interested in any more tips for stopping a slide.

Sliding sideways: gas or break? I braked when I just started to head sideways at low speed. I can see speed being helpful if sliding a little faster.
Sliding backwards: that seems like mostly a gas issue
Sliding forward downhill: I'm thinking slow breaking and steering

 

[mathews8pt]

Wild stories, man. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the tips too. I will definitely be getting chains. I'm interested in any more tips for stopping a slide.

Sliding sideways: gas or break? I braked when I just started to head sideways at low speed. I can see speed being helpful if sliding a little faster.
Sliding backwards: that seems like mostly a gas issue
Sliding forward downhill: I'm thinking slow breaking and steering

Ive not experienced crappy western roads, but i have wheeled in the "hills" of ohio a good bit. One major thing Ive found is that you want to be manually controlling what gear the vehicle is in on slick surfaces. Going forward down hill you always want to be in a gear that will slow your descent without applying the brakes. Ive had plenty of times where i edged over a steep section going downhill and was sliding when on the brakes but with the truck in 4low, 1st gear and letting off the brakes the tires would start grabbing again and slow my descent.

Same if you have to back down a slick slope. Instead of just putting it in neutral and trying to control your speed with the brakes, put the truck in 4 low and reverse. That way the engine will slow you enough to keep your speed in check and you can use the brakes if needed.

Sliding sideways is a crappy situation no matter how you look at it. I always turn away from the slide slightly and use light throttle or no throttle if going down hill. If the tires wont grab and pull you away then get stopped ASAP and figure out your best method of getting more traction. Normally in those situations if it wont start steering out with minimal wheel speed and driver input then your SOL.

 

[GregB]

Happened last year above Challis going up a steep rise in the road. I was too lazy to put my chains on earlier, I was almost to the top and totally lost traction slid down and stopped with my back tires right on the edge of the drop off. The main thing I've found when sliding is go easy on the brakes, if you lock up the tires you have no control and slide more. I dug some dirt and cut pine branches to shove under my tires for traction and got my chains rolled over then I was fine. I would recommend getting chains with ice bars for more traction in thick hard packed snow.

 

[blackpowderhunter]

something to keep in mind..
a few years ago in idaho we headed in a road in the morning, light layer of frost, no problem..sun came out and melted that up and this road became the slickest, snottiest, nastiest road ive ever been on.
first truck made it out "fine", the second truck didnt have as good of tires and started sliding backwards and to the side.
we ended up tying ropes off the truck to trees up on the hillside while the truck worked its way forward, moving the ropes forward each time.
so just remember, road conditions can change QUICK even without any added precip.

 

[hobbes]

If you see someone coming off of a steep switchback mountain road with chains on, dont wonder "why the heck are they running chains on gravel" as you drive up the mountain without them. You may soon discover that they are smarter than you are while praying you can find somewhere to get your truck pointed safely back down the mountain. Not that Ive ever done that.

 

[mtmuley]

something to keep in mind..
a few years ago in idaho we headed in a road in the morning, light layer of frost, no problem..sun came out and melted that up and this road became the slickest, snottiest, nastiest road ive ever been on.
first truck made it out "fine", the second truck didnt have as good of tires and started sliding backwards and to the side.
we ended up tying ropes off the truck to trees up on the hillside while the truck worked its way forward, moving the ropes forward each time.
so just remember, road conditions can change QUICK even without any added precip.

I see this happen all the time. Guys head up early when the road is cold no problem. Most don't think about chaining to go downhill. I've lent a set of chains to more than one driver with no mountain experience. mtmuley