snow on trailers

has anyone here ever shoveled off the top of a trailer. i’ve seen guys do it before. As much as I would hate to have a chunk of snow fly off my trailer and damage something while i’m rolling, I refuse to climb on top of these trailers to clean them off. I think i’m risking a law suit by driving with snow on the trailer but i’m not going to break my neck.

I don’t know about back home in the UK, but I do remember that around about 1995/96 they made it illegal in New Jersey to have Snow/Ice on top of your trailer, drivers are expected to sweep/clean it off before setting out, I know I would’nt be too sure about climbing up there!

PS. Not to sure if it is still the law up there, seems I remember something about it being challenged the following year?

Here in germany the authorities are trying an idea where on certian

motorway reststops ,there is a place where you park next too and

by useing the ramp built up to the height of the trailer 4.00 metres

you can safely clear the snow off the top of your trailer.

also there is a firm which has developed and built,also tested

a system where you can push the middle of your covering canopy

and this dislodges all snow and ice from the top of the trailer

automatically. And yes here in Germany it is also an offence to

drive a lorry which would be a danger to the other users of

the road and you are prosecuted if your vehicle has been

caught causeing a danger to others on the road,

WHAT!!! With how good I am with height’s I DON’'T THINK SO!!! :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :blush: :blush: :blush:
When that start’s I will be running a flat bed. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

One of our regular pick ups is at Pactive corp in Glens Falls NY, when we pull out there is a 13’6" bridge on the road outside. After a heavy snow storm with about 2 or 3 ft of snow on top nothing gives me greater pleasure than to pull out, drive up to it (by this time doing about 20 mph) and see the car behind buried as I pass under :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Cliff, the best way to remove it otherwise is to drive at 70 mph for a mile or two :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Pat Hasler:
One of our regular pick ups is at Pactive corp in Glens Falls NY, when we pull out there is a 13’6" bridge on the road outside. After a heavy snow storm with about 2 or 3 ft of snow on top nothing gives me greater pleasure than to pull out, drive up to it (by this time doing about 20 mph) and see the car behind buried as I pass under :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Cliff, the best way to remove it otherwise is to drive at 70 mph for a mile or two :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Your a bad man. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
I like a good flood! :smiling_imp: :smiling_imp: :smiling_imp: :smiling_imp:

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :smiling_imp:

You don’t know the half of it :smiling_imp:

:wink:

It’s not something I really thought about until a few years back.

Whilst running through bosnia on a regular trip I came up behind a local artic on a steep climb and while sat behind him chunks of 2" thick ice started dropping off the roof of the tilt onto the road directly in front of me.

Made me back off the gas I can tell you…

Cheers
Neilf

I seem to recall a UK legal decision that snow falling from the roof of a truck was NOT Dangerous Condition, but I can’t find the original reference at the moment.

I can see the Courts taking the decision that snow that had accumalated on the roof was not part of the vehicle or load and that any following vehicles could observe the condition and should allow for the possibility of it becoming dislodged.

A bit like overtaking a Gritter in your car and then complaining that your paintwork was chipped.

Yes, with the recent heavy snow we’ve been having here in upstate NY, I often come upon a “road comet”, usually somebody who’s just picked up a trailer that’s been sitting since before out 24" snowfall of last week. Takes the better part of 10 miles for it to all blow off.

Several years ago, I was denied entry to the Pennsylvania Turnpike because I was “overheight” due to the 8" of snow that had fallen the night before. I was in Breezewood, PA, and heading west. Luckily, US30 westward from there is pretty flat, so I just drive the 10-15 miles on that road, then entered the Turnpike without incident there.

Another time, I picked up a trailer in Mississaugua, ON (outside of Toronto) that had been parked since before the most recent snowfall, and it had a snowdrift about 1m on the roof. I headed to the 401, and just after joining the road, doing about 80 KmH, the drift hit a 4,5m bridge and I created a very localised whiteout.

Then there was that trailer in Commerce City, CO that I had to take to California. Denver had just been hit by a nasty blizzard that included heavy snow, rain, freezing rain, then a cold blast that froze everything solid. The 6-8" of snow on the trailer roof was capped with ice, and even the 25+ mile climb to the Eisenhower tunnel didn’t blow it off. Then I drove into the truck inpection station. They said I was overheight, and that I’d have to take “the pass” instead, whenever it would open, that is… Luckily, they did have a staircase used for inspecting trailers, and after about 10 minutes with a spade, I was able to continue.

Hey Alex, Regarding my earlier post about NJ bringing in a law back in the 1990’s Do you know if it is still law in NJ?, or did it get thrown out?, not that I ever go up there anymore, just curious.

I suppose it is similar to an old tilt trailer, when you had to try and remove 1000 gallons of water with a plank of wood.

It was heavy enough to rip the sheets if someone had not put all the roof bars back in.

What if a drop of frozen water drops on a car or a pedestrian? It happens all day long with aeroplanes

cliff, i did some research on the net and it looks like it is still illegal to have snow on a trailer in nj.

It’s bad enough climbing on a flatbed when it’s icy. You wouldn’t catch me on top of a trailer.

I used to get in the back with a board when i was pulling tilts out of Felixstowe, if trailer was sealed id climb up onto the roof and clear it, bloody dangerous though, but as the tilts werent solid or tight roofs the weight of snow and or water filled the roofs up like swimming pools :open_mouth:
I considered it a safety thing for the vehicles behind me on the road, especially if there was ice up there :confused:

Ladytrucker679:
WHAT!!! With how good I am with height’s I DON’'T THINK SO!!! :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :blush: :blush: :blush:
When that start’s I will be running a flat bed. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Puts Biggles’ s worries about the Magnum height in the shade, Lady, but don’t forget; flats have high loads and high loads have snow too :cry:

Salut, David.

Spardo:

Ladytrucker679:
WHAT!!! With how good I am with height’s I DON’'T THINK SO!!! :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :open_mouth: :blush: :blush: :blush:
When that start’s I will be running a flat bed. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Puts Biggles’ s worries about the Magnum height in the shade, Lady, but don’t forget; flats have high loads and high loads have snow too :cry:

Salut, David.

Magnum yes I have tramped in them.
I took on a rugby team and offered them out! :open_mouth: (drink! :blush: )
Rats yes
Spiders yes
Hairy arsed lorry drivers, no problem.

Step ladders no! :blush: :blush: :blush: :blush:

ladytrucker, you’ll change your mind about flats the first time you get to sheet a load in high winds

gorgeousload:
ladytrucker, you’ll change your mind about flats the first time you get to sheet a load in high winds

Been there and bought the t-shirt it is still preferable! :wink: