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Welcome to a new episode and today
a very special episode
Like most people now that I'm driving on one of the hardest
country of Europe when it becomes down on winter weather
Norway!
Steep winding mountainroads,
combined with snow and ice
makes it every year a challenge to transport goods from and to this country
I'm now entering my fourth winter and 3 year experience isn’t that much here.
But in the meanwhile a learned a lot from different
colleagues’.
So is it essential to prepare yourself in front
and that’s why I take you this year with me on my preparation
I don’t really have a fixed sequence of steps.
This year it turned out that I start
with checking the chains and changing the mudguards
Why changing the mudguards?
Severals reasosn
I’didn’t want any (anti spray)mats in the mudguards.
Mat’s are holding the snow
Snow keeps hanging, gets stuck frozen
and results into a lot of weight what might cause cracking the mudguards.
what might cause cracking the mudguards.
Besides that, I wanted an easier way to get between the the tires
for when I have to lay chains.
That’s why I cut out the side of this mudguard.
It gives more room, but it’s still not the best.
That’s why I now just disassemble the whole mudguard
when I’ve to lay them.
Rattle 13 is in handreach
I loosen up 2 bolts
and hup the whole mudguard off.
I put them in the back of the trailer and done.
When the chains are coming off, I put them back on again
And why not leaving them off all the time?
The tires throwing a lot of junk to the front
front and my chains come unnecessarily full with snow
Because they’re hanging behind the driving axle.
Three. With disassemble you damage the paint quickly.
These plastic not painted mudguards are just better to work with.
Top decks pure coincidence that I’ve painted 2 sets
So that’s why they look neat
But closer also not that nice anymore because of this working method,
but it’s about functional, not about show.
Every year I take of all the chains from the rack.
I spred them all out on the floor
and check them up for twists and the whole condition.
Twists must come out
and this is what I always check up before laying them.
A twisted chain will get under pressure while driving
and the chance on blowing it will be big
Off course I also look to the general condition.
Like ice chains, here at the right,
you want the studs as long as possible.
Better to buy a new set, then getting in trouble on the road.
After that, I practice every year laying at least 2 chains.
A snow and as an ice chain.
This also because they’re getting both locked
on a different way.
Here how you lay down a chain.
You lay the chain next to the tire.
Hook outwards
You take the chain
and put the middle of the chain
on the middle of the tire
The chain needs to be the same depth in the inside and outside of the tire
You put the front of the chain under the tire
You’ve to put it like this,
that you won’t break the hook when you drive forward
Drive the truck a 4th of the tire forwards
After that you hook the back hook in as far as possible.
Then they outside, it has to stand tight.
Next we drive a few meters forwards and backwards
and we can see that the chain is hanging loose again.
We repeat this adjustmentproces again
Make sure that both the inside as the outside
of the chainlocks are hooked in equally
I personally drive here after a few more times back and forward
just to be sure that the chain is locked tight
And I often stop again after a few kilometers
Better sure then sorrow.
End result
The snowchain works with half-moons.
First hook up the chain as far as possible.
Then you lock them down by turning it with a special key.
After this it’s time to hang them up again.
Think about the chain you hang up on the outside.
Wisest is to hang the chain outside you’re going to use the first
and the most, for easy access.
Practicing in front is very important!
Then you’ve got the time to watch it and finding it out without a rush
It’s definitely not easier
when you’ve to do it for the first time on dirty wet or slippery road.
And a trailer hanging above.
Besides that, it’s important that you know that the chain is the right length.
Even when you buy them for the right tire size,
it’s always possible that there’s made a mistake.
I experienced it.
A good tool to carry with you is a chainplier.
Does a chain snaps while driving,
Then you can easily cut this row out with this tong
And later fixing it again by adding a row.
You can also make the chain longer or shorter with this.
So, very important
Next step: the tires.
But that was pretty vissible
Where we can get away in Holland with a four season tire
do I need a better wintertyre
One with a softer compound and more siped.
Or slats/lamels.
These characteristics are forming the base for a better suction to the road.
How softer the tire and the more slats/lamels,
the better the grip in the winter.
The Norwegians are often driving on very soft tires, like a Nokian.
In my work this is detrimental.
Because I’m going through a lot of temperature changes,
the tire will wear out pretty fast and can it get worn out with 80k kilometers.
That’s why I also choose this year for Continental HWD and HSW Scandinavian
A tire who has proven itself at me on subjects as grip and lifespan
With my old set conti’s I drove easily 240k Kilometeres.
What is very good for a wintertyre and my configuration.
Besides that it’s a very comfortable and trustable tyre with winter conditions
Especially when you’re coming from a 4 season tyre,
you notice what a wintertyre like this does.
From now I’m buying every year a new tyre set.
After the first winter you’re losing about 30-40% grip
Financial it may be a little bit more expensive,
but my safety is worth more than a bit money.
So, the biggest steps are made.
What now rests, is taking the gravel and salt with me.
Something I’m being very happy with every year.
When I park my truck somewhere for the night and I don’t thrust the road,
I’ll first let my tyres cool down for 10 minutes.
Next some gravel for the wheels and drive it on there.
It will guarantee that you can drive off the next morning.
Also in docks is it ideal.
You don’t have to throw meters,
it’s pure getting some speed.
When it rolls it rolls.
I also take a shovel with me.
Always usefull to shovel some snow away.
You can really prevent a lot of damage.
I’m also carrying enough food and drinks, flashinglight,
I think it’s like the general stuff we’re carrying normally with is us too.
But also my winterboots,
But also my wintersuit!
For when it’s dirty and cold weather.
And when I’ve to lay snowchains while there wet junk, I’m using this too.
Don’t forget to take a cover for your seats,
because putting the suit on and off is also a lot of work.
And we want to keep everything nice and clean
Besides that I’m keeping during the trip an eye on weatherupdates
and am I’m familiar with the numbers I can call from organizations
who can tell me more about roadconditions of certain roads.
And sometimes I ask truckdrivers and snowplowers how the roads further up are.
And stop when the weather is getting too bad.
It can save you from a lot of trouble.
And that’s bassicly it.
But even when you’re having years of experience,
it’s always important that you remain calm,
drive with your mind,
listen to your surroundings
and with a bit of luck everything will be all right.
I wish you all a nice and safe winter
and see you next time!