2017 New Years Challenge

[Bob Carriere]

It took me over half an hour to blow ( with the air compressor) the packed snow from underneath the truck. It seems that once the axles and brake drums get warm they collect snow which quickly freezes on the surface.

We push the Hup back in its coccoon for later consideration ...stored the Dodge and my cab 11 until the next escapade.....then generally cleaned up the snow until dark.

Looking forward to next year .... but I may cheat and install the spare set of 9x16 Michelin block threads....... and maybe like Bob B use chains on all four wheels....

Cheers

[RHClarke]

It was a great day in Hammond! Despite the HUP refusing to start, it all worked out in the end. The M37 ran like a dream in the deep snow - unlike driving in sand, I found that increasing the tire pressure (50 pounds) makes running in the snow easier.

Bob, please thank Joyce for taking these great photos! Let's plan a drive at -20, -30 and if possible -40oC.

[Wayne Hingley]

Nice photos guys! Its great to see the trucks (and Hammond pit crew) getting some laps around the field. Looks like fun!

[Alex van de Wetering]

Thanks for sharing these pics guys! The C15A....awesome. A pity the HUP was being stubborn and didn't want to perform in these kind of conditions, but it's good to see the M37 was there to complete the show.

Looking forward to next year .... but I may cheat and install the spare set of 9x16 Michelin block threads

Bob, do you think swapping over the wheels and reversing the chevron would make any difference? No more Mythbusters on TV, so I guess you have to try.....

Alex

[Bob Carriere]

,,,,when I got stuck I tried forward and backwards trying to rock it free.....so Chevron were coming and going and made only things worst by sinking deeper.

I believe that a narrow tire such as the 9x16 michelin with the NATO block pattern would be slightly better...... but chains are the way to go if things really get bad........ my 7000 pounds Massey tractor would be useless with out the chains on the rear wheels.

...... for the interested....... everything is coated with ice today......freezing rain.... getting power outages every hour or so for a few minutes...... typing this in between power blips..... not a day for even a CMP to venture outside.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Thanks for sharing these pics guys! The C15A....awesome. A pity the HUP was being stubborn and didn't want to perform in these kind of conditions, but it's good to see the M37 was there to complete the show.



Bob, do you think swapping over the wheels and reversing the chevron would make any difference? No more Mythbusters on TV, so I guess you have to try.....

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

when I got stuck I tried forward and backwards trying to rock it free.....so Chevron were coming and going and made only things worst by sinking deeper.

hmm...reversing the truck is indeed an easy way to test the direction of the chevrons....why didn't I think of that .

Yes, I can imagine chains are the way to go.

Alex

p.s. only some rain and hail here in Holland....haven't seen any snow here so far.

[Terry Witiuk]

First MV drive of the year...January 2nd...45 minutes or so....no snow, bare roads...cold but not too bad...not in a CMP but in my cherished Ferret. No better way to help start the New Year.
Cheers, Terry.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by RHClarke

... The M37 ran like a dream in the deep snow - unlike driving in sand, I found that increasing the tire pressure (50 pounds) makes running in the snow easier.

...

The tire pressure trick is one thing I noticed on working half-tons on the Prairies. The smart farmers never put wide all-terrain tires on their farm trucks. One daily chore of every rancher is to count cattle. They choose high ground clearance springs and skinny conventional winter tires to get around the trails and in the pastures. There is less snow to push away, and it packs down firmer.

Edit - one other thing you will always find in a working truck is a centrefire rifle. One old timer I knew said he was checking cattle and suddenly they all crowded around, complaining about something. He stepped out with the rifle and spotted a black bear circling in the forest fringe. The game laws allow landowners (the key difference) to dispatch nuisance animals harassing livestock. I forget if he got off a shot, but he encouraged us to shoot any bears we saw on his pastures.

[Jes Andersen]

Out here in logging country, the common tire used on pickups in the bush is a 10 ply 750 x 16 radial. I got a couple of almost new ones from the tire shop that had changed out all 4 for a customer. They went onto my Case 580CK front end where they are up to the challenge of an heavily loaded front bucket. They choose these tires over wider because of profile and the ability to get our wet snow on the way to the worksite.