Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/356210
cover story Replace front shocks twice as frequent when using the truck for plowing. Brake or Turn: The fi rst lesson in snow driv- ing school is when making a corner, either brake or turn, never both at the same time. Brake in a straight line before the turn, then lift off of the brake and turn the wheel slowly. Smoothness is the key to being a good winter driver. Adjust Speed: The biggest mistake when driving on slick roads, especially snow-packed or plowed roads, is driving too fast. Speeding can't be corrected by braking on snow/ice. That problem is compounded when towing a trailer. How fast is too fast? Test the road surface from time to time when no one is behind or ahead by lightly putting your foot on the brakes to test the slipperi- ness of the road surface. You'll know if your speed is appropriate. Straighten To Turn: If you are trying to make a turn and the truck doesn't respond, straighten the steering wheel while keeping off of the brakes or throttle. Front tires turned too sharp can't get traction. They skid instead of roll, creating a "plowing" effect. Straightening the wheel helps regain steering control. Trailer Skid Control: If the trailer starts to jackknife, accelerate and don't brake. At the same time, keep the tow vehicle's wheels straight – don't counter-steer in the direction of the sliding trailer. Once the trailer is straight, slowly brake to regain control. Boxing Corners: Another winter towing tip is "V-ing off" the corners by braking in a straight line before enter- ing the corner then steering through it, before accelerating out of the corner when the truck and trailer are again in a straight line. Never turn and brake at the same time. Weight Balance: Keeping the ve- hicle (and trailer) balanced at all times is the primary goal for winter driving. When the weight balance on the tires shifts front to rear, or side to side, because of ag- gressive driving habits, the vehicle control be- comes an immediate issue. Accelerate easily. Turn smoothly. Brake lightly. Driving like you have the proverbial raw egg under your foot is ideal in slick conditions. A U G U S T 2 014 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m 2 9 Want your employees to be better equipped on how to handle snow and ice, whether driv- ing a pickup or towing trailers? Bridgestone's Winter Driving School (winterdrive.com) in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, provides cor- porate classes with hands-on and classroom training throughout the winter. Equipping pickups that work everyday in the snow with dedicated snow tires provides the driver with an added margin of vehicle control and safety.