driving offroad in the snow

[darryl]

hi all hope your all enjoying the snow. i have got a day tommorow at the local farm where i shoot. so i will be offroad in the snow. i know the ground well. is there any thing i should beware of as this is the first time offroad in the snow thanks darryl

[geoffdown]

Originally Posted by darryl

hi all hope your all enjoying the snow. i have got a day tommorow at the local farm where i shoot. so i will be offroad in the snow. i know the ground well. is there any thing i should beware of as this is the first time offroad in the snow thanks darryl

big holes in the ground that u dont no 100% that u think u do have a good day we had snow thismorning most of it round my town has gone now so going up to dartmoor to try and find some snow

[clivvy]

slow, hi-ratio 4wd. Beware the snow compacting in your tyres, reducing grip. Watch your brakes, although i doubt youll be going fast enough for them to lock in anyway. Dont drive over 25 mph if in 4wd. other than that, just drive, its like a different car in the snow, brilliant, i love it!

[stinka]

Braking distances are huge, like 10 times what you think

Hill descents can turn into a passenger ride if the ground is frozen, go steady and keep dabbing brakes to gauge traction

I dab brakes regularly when driving on snow and slush to see how easy the brakes lock and drive accordingly

[solarman216]

as stinka says, braking is poor, only as good as a two wheel drive motor, it is easy to forget as you can accelerate and climb with ease in 4 wheel but stopping is only as good a a two wheel drive, a controlled decent is a little easier in 4 wheel, until you touch the brakes! Rick

[melissachels]

use your gears for slowing rather than brakes if u can more control

[rustic]

Originally Posted by clivvy

Dont drive over 25 mph if in 4wd!

Errmmm

Why on earth not?

Last winter I drove all the way back on the M40 from Oxford in 4 wheel drive at speed approaching 60 mph, on a white out of a motorway.
where conditions allowed. Which was most of the journey.

Today to get home through 6" of compacted snow up our local steep hill, at much lower speed, but if conditions allow, I would have certainly driven in excess of 25 mph in 4 wheel drive.


Maybe, don't exceed 25 mph in 4 wheel drive LOW ratio, makes sense


best regards,
Rustic

[stinka]

1st gear and use engine braking on descents, but beware as if on ice even the engine braking can lock the wheels and you can end up with no control

I tend to use the verge/vegetation if worried

Also deep powder all provide better traction/braking than compressed/driven over snow

[stinka]

Yeh 4H is fine up to any speed really as long as you are not winding up transmission

[clivvy]

Originally Posted by rustic

Errmmm

Why on earth not?

Last winter I drove all the way back on the M40 from Oxford in 4 wheel drive at speed approaching 60 mph, on a white out of a motorway.
where conditions allowed. Which was most of the journey.

Today to get home through 6" of compacted snow up our local steep hill, at much lower speed, but if conditions allow, I would have certainly driven in excess of 25 mph in 4 wheel drive.


Maybe, don't exceed 25 mph in 4 wheel drive LOW ratio, makes sense


best regards,
Rustic

ooops, i meant dont change INTO 4wd when driving over 25 mph doh!!!

[rustic]

Using 4 wheel drive low ratio to descend steep hills in first gear.

I have regularly done this, start at the top stationary, select low ratio 1st gear,
DO NOT TOUCH THE BRAKES...

I use the hand throttle as it is smoother than using the throttle on bumpy roads.

DO NOT change gear as the wheels can pick up and you just slide.
DO NOT dip the clutch as you descend, use the engine for engine braking.
boy will this be a slow but controlled descent, it might not suit all gradients, or conditions of roads, but it works for me. You assess your ability, and cars ability before driving down steep declines.

Keep in mind which is the softest and cheapest thing to crash into, ie risk assessment, if in doubt... don't do it. The lower the gear, the lower the speed of impact, the less damage caused.
In snow, on a decline, if you brake, start to slide, your speed will increase... and you have no steering...

The above comment are my opinion and it is what works for me, I take no responsibility if you do a similar approach to a steep decline, as I have said, it is all about risk assessment and choosing the softest item to crash into.

hopefully not.

In Snow conditions,
Just because a vehicle in front makes it, don't assume you will, they might have different technology, more experience, better, more suitable tyres.
OH and it might not be their car either... hmm.. so think.

Be aware of the idiot behind you, following you, looses control, crashes into you, and pushes you down the hill making you crash.

I love the snow, my Maverick is now in my nice and warm garage, having been driving up steep hills where other cars were stuck at the bottom.
We have over 6" of snow, and we are now getting more.

As I and others have said before, you might have the traction, but you are not going to stop any quicker, in fact a standard car with winter tyres and decent anti lock brakes, could stop even quicker.

Enjoy the snow, but DON'T take risks.

best regards,
Rustic

[solarman216]

Rustic, you found the words I could not, well done, excellent, Rick

[briggie]

excellent rustic , although i might add if driving a auto do not select drive , use either 1st or 2nd gear depending on the gradient

[darryl]

Originally Posted by rustic

Using 4 wheel drive low ratio to descend steep hills in first gear.

I have regularly done this, start at the top stationary, select low ratio 1st gear,
DO NOT TOUCH THE BRAKES...

I use the hand throttle as it is smoother than using the throttle on bumpy roads.

DO NOT change gear as the wheels can pick up and you just slide.
DO NOT dip the clutch as you descend, use the engine for engine braking.
boy will this be a slow but controlled descent, it might not suit all gradients, or conditions of roads, but it works for me. You assess your ability, and cars ability before driving down steep declines.

Keep in mind which is the softest and cheapest thing to crash into, ie risk assessment, if in doubt... don't do it. The lower the gear, the lower the speed of impact, the less damage caused.
In snow, on a decline, if you brake, start to slide, your speed will increase... and you have no steering...

The above comment are my opinion and it is what works for me, I take no responsibility if you do a similar approach to a steep decline, as I have said, it is all about risk assessment and choosing the softest item to crash into.

hopefully not.

In Snow conditions,
Just because a vehicle in front makes it, don't assume you will, they might have different technology, more experience, better, more suitable tyres.
OH and it might not be their car either... hmm.. so think.

Be aware of the idiot behind you, following you, looses control, crashes into you, and pushes you down the hill making you crash.

I love the snow, my Maverick is now in my nice and warm garage, having been driving up steep hills where other cars were stuck at the bottom.
We have over 6" of snow, and we are now getting more.

As I and others have said before, you might have the traction, but you are not going to stop any quicker, in fact a standard car with winter tyres and decent anti lock brakes, could stop even quicker.

Enjoy the snow, but DON'T take risks.

best regards,
Rustic

that was bloody amazing

[rustic]

Originally Posted by darryl

that was bloody amazing

well, we got in this afternoon after driving in the snow, sat in our warm hard wood conservatory, that I built in the summer, having a drop of brandy or two watching the snow come down.

So when I wrote this I was totally relaxed....beer

Best regards,

Rustic