Getting where you need to go, and getting home, when winter weather strikes
The Texas Winter Driving Challenge
Texas drivers, ranchers included, often lack much experience with winter weather behind the wheel. When ice storms or winter events roll through, they turn familiar roads into hazards. For ranchers, the challenge runs deeper: livestock need care regardless of conditions, and many ranch roads are unpaved, isolated, and never see a grain of sand or salt.
This guide focuses on the practical realities of vehicle safety during winter conditions. Not just commuting tips, but strategies for ranchers who have to drive no matter what the weather is doing.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Winter
Critical Vehicle Checks
Tires deserve the most attention. Check tread depth with the penny test (insert a penny head-first; if you can see all of Lincoln's head, replace the tires). Tire pressure drops about 1 PSI for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature drop, so check it when cold snaps arrive. Consider all-terrain or mud-terrain tires for ranch vehicles, and inspect for cracks, bulges, or uneven wear.
Batteries over three years old may fail in cold weather. Check terminals for corrosion, clean them if needed, and make sure connections are tight.
Cooling system hoses should be inspected for cracks or bulges, and check for leaks anywhere in the system.
Windshield maintenance means switching to winter-formula washer fluid that will not freeze, and repairing any chips or cracks before cold weather makes them spread.
Heating and defrost systems should be tested before you need them. Run the front and rear defrosters and verify that vents direct air properly.
Lights need clean lenses and fresh bulbs. Replace any that have gone dim.
Emergency Kit for Every Ranch Vehicle
Essential items:
- Extra warm clothing (jacket, hat, gloves, socks)
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Non-perishable food (energy bars, nuts)
- Water (insulated container to prevent freezing)
- Phone charger (12V car charger)
- Jumper cables
- Tow strap
- Basic tools
- Knife or multi-tool
- Shovel (folding or compact)
- Bag of sand, cat litter, or traction mats
- Hand and toe warmers (chemical type)
- Fire-starting supplies
- Reflective triangles or flares
- Road atlas or maps (if GPS fails)
Before Heading Out
Weather Assessment
Check weather radar for precipitation timing and watch the temperature trend, since warming conditions mean thawing, which creates potential black ice. Note wind conditions (they affect both visibility and vehicle control) and look at the forecast for the full duration of your travel.
Ask yourself three honest questions: Can this trip wait for conditions to improve? Is there an alternative route? Does anyone know my route and expected return time?
Vehicle Preparation
Clear all snow and ice from every window (not just a small peephole), mirrors, headlights, taillights, the hood (snow can blow onto the windshield while driving), and the roof (snow slides onto the windshield when you brake).
Allow warm-up time. Let the engine reach operating temperature, run defrosters until the windows are fully clear, and check that the brakes work before getting underway.
Keep the fuel tank at least half full. A full tank prevents fuel line freeze-up and provides extended survival time if you get stranded.
Communication
Before you leave, share your intended route with someone, provide an expected arrival time, and commit to checking in when you arrive. If plans change, notify someone.
Driving on Ice and Snow
The Fundamentals
Black ice hides in predictable places: shaded areas under trees and on the north side of hills, low-lying spots where cold air pools, anywhere water runs across the road, and intersections where stopping traffic polishes the surface smooth.
Speed Management
On ice, even 15 to 20 mph may be too fast. A speed that feels perfectly safe can still be too fast to stop in time. Stopping distances on ice can run 10 times normal or more. That 50-foot gap behind the vehicle ahead needs to be 200 feet.
Braking
With ABS: Apply steady, firm pressure. Do not pump the brakes. ABS prevents wheel lockup automatically. The pedal will vibrate, and that is normal.
Without ABS: If the wheels lock, release and reapply. Pumping the brakes helps maintain steering control.
General braking rules: Avoid braking while turning, and anticipate stops well ahead of where you need them.
Acceleration
Accelerate slowly and smoothly. Rapid acceleration causes wheel spin, and spinning wheels actually polish the ice underneath them, making things worse. Use lower gears for better torque control.
Steering
Make smooth, gradual steering inputs. Sudden movements break traction. Keep both hands on the wheel and steer less than you think you need to. Oversteering is one of the most common winter driving mistakes.
What to Do If You Slide
Rear-wheel skid: Ease off the gas, do not brake, and steer in the direction of the slide (if the rear goes right, steer right). As traction returns, straighten the wheel. Avoid over-correction.
Front-wheel skid: Ease off the gas, do not brake, and ease off the steering by turning the wheel less rather than more. Wait for traction to return, then gently continue your turn.
Full slide (all four wheels): Ease off the gas, do not brake, and look where you want to go while steering toward that spot. Once stopped, assess the situation before moving again.
Special Situations
Ranch Roads
Unpaved ranch roads bring extra challenges. Ruts fill with water and then freeze solid, while thawing creates deep slick mud. Ice accumulates in ruts and low spots, and there is no other traffic helping break things up. Visibility along the roadbed drops when everything is white, making it easy to drift off the edge and hit an obstacle. If a storm is in the forecast, consider marking your route beforehand.
Gates
When opening and closing gates in winter conditions, park on level ground before stepping out. Wear ice cleats or traction devices, and watch for polished ice around the gate area where traffic concentrates. Test your footing before moving around the vehicle. If it is too slick to walk safely, skip that gate and find alternate access.
Livestock Checking
When you must drive out to check animals, take the most direct route and minimize your time on hazardous roads. Park in a safe spot that does not block other vehicles and is not in a drift-prone area. Consider whether an ATV or horseback might actually be safer. Keep your communication device on your person, not sitting in the vehicle.
Towing and Pulling
If you need to pull another vehicle or a trailer in winter conditions, recognize that traction is severely reduced and the job may not be possible. Weight does not help as much on ice as you might expect. Jackknifing risk goes up dramatically. Consider whether the trip can wait. If you do tow, reduce speed well below what you would normally run.
4WD and AWD Limitations
What 4WD Does
Four-wheel drive helps you get moving because all wheels provide forward force. It helps with climbing slick hills and provides better traction in snow and mud.
What 4WD Does NOT Do
It does not help you stop (same brakes as two-wheel drive). It does not help you turn (same steering, same traction limits). And it does not make ice any less slippery. Overconfidence in 4WD capability is one of the leading causes of single-vehicle winter accidents.
If You Get Stuck
Assess the Situation
Ask yourself four questions: Are you in danger from traffic, exposure, or other hazards? Can you get out on your own? Do you have traction aids? Is help available and able to reach you safely?
Self-Recovery Attempts
Rocking method: Straighten the wheels, put the transmission in the lowest gear, and accelerate gently with just enough throttle to move. As momentum dies, shift to reverse and back up as far as you can. Shift to drive and repeat, using the rocking motion to build your escape. Do not spin the wheels, as it only digs you in deeper.
Traction aids: Place floor mats (rubber side up) under the drive tires, use traction boards if you have them, or try branches or cardboard in a pinch.
Lower tire pressure slightly: This can provide enough extra contact area to escape, but only do it if you can re-inflate afterward.
When to Stop Trying
If you are making no progress, digging in deeper, risking vehicle damage, or exhausting yourself, stop. Call for help and prepare to wait.
If You're Stranded
The Number One Rule: Stay with Your Vehicle
Your vehicle is visible to rescuers. Walking in winter conditions is extremely dangerous, distances are deceiving (what looks close may be miles away), and you will exhaust yourself trying to walk out.
Survival in Your Vehicle
Engine use: Run the engine periodically for heat, but crack a window about an inch to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Before each time you run the engine, check that the tailpipe is clear of snow or mud. This is critical.
Conserve energy: Use blankets and warm clothing first, the engine second. Eat and drink to maintain energy. Stay calm, because anxiety burns calories you need.
Make yourself visible: Set out reflective triangles if it is safe to exit the vehicle. Tie a bright cloth to the antenna or mirror. At night, the dome light makes the interior visible from a distance.
Stay active: Exercise your arms and legs periodically. Do not sit still in one position for too long. Avoid sleeping for extended periods, as it becomes harder to wake up if your body temperature is dropping.
Signaling for Help
Use your cell phone to call 911 and provide your exact location if possible. Text messages may go through when calls will not. Horn patterns work for signaling (SOS is three short, three long, three short). Wave bright-colored items to attract attention. Building a fire is an option only if you can do it safely and away from the vehicle.
Bottom Line
Preparation covers most of the risk. Winterize your vehicle, stock an emergency kit, and check conditions before you leave. Once you are on the road, slow down dramatically on ice and snow, because speed is what turns a recoverable slide into a wreck. Remember that four-wheel drive helps you go but does nothing to help you stop, so do not let capability create overconfidence.
Bridges freeze first, so treat every bridge and overpass as potentially icy. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. It is your shelter and your signal. Keep your fuel tank above half to prevent freeze-up and maintain a survival margin. Tell someone your plans every time you head out. And when conditions look truly bad, ask yourself honestly whether the trip is worth the risk.
Resources
- TxDOT DriveTexas: drivetexas.org (road conditions)
- National Weather Service: weather.gov (forecasts and warnings)
- 511 Texas: 511 or drivetexas.org (traffic and road info)
- Local county emergency management: Area-specific resources
