Not so scared up uphill, but downhill?

[4x4_Gav]

Hi All,

I wondered if anyone could give me some advice before I come to having to do it...

En route to driving my Mrs to work there is a very steep decline (normal road) which in a normal car I would not dare do in snow conditions.

I would like to trust my T2 in these snow conditions but wondered how best to keep control of the vehicle and not start skidding out of control or not be able to stop.

 

[zippy656]

4wd, just use tick over when going down hill.


tuff to any one behind.

 

[4x4_Gav]

Tickover in gear I assume?

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

4 lo , first manual, slower than walking pace.

its whats used on these test tracks with decents
of 45 degrees ( 1 in 1 )

prob little throttle, if come off back to idle still in gear
of course, will feel car brake on its own.

try it on flat first to see just how controlled it is.

 

[4x4_Gav]

Cool - Thanks for your help guys!

 

[Peasgood]

And if it still goes into a skid just steer it as best you can. Don't put your foot on the brakes.
If it is going to grip again it will, honestly, just steering and nothing else is your best bet.

 

[rustic]

I use 1st or 2nd gear 4 wheel drive low, and I use the hand throttle on the Diesel to maintain near constant revs. Depends on how steep.
Drive with a safe exit in mind, just in case, and think what if I encounter a car across the road around the bend.

If in doubt go part up the hill, then try just a small section of the hill first and practice.

If you have to reverse down a hill, same method, use reverse gear in 4 wheel drive low, do not dip the clutch or use the brakes.

Changing gear going up hill is fine, but going down hill can create problems, unless the gear change is very smooth, so select the right gear and stay with it, ignore the idiots behind you.
You could be their brakes as well.....

Drive to your experience and the conditions, it might be better to drive 3 or 4 miles to avoid the hills.

Try and observe other people doing the hill, but make sure you can get out of their way if they slide down the hill.

These vehicles are great in the snow, but of course they won't stop any better than a standard car once they loose traction.:nenau

This is what I do, so make your own mind up on what you want to do in these difficult driving conditions.

If in doubt .... leave it out......
Regards, Rustic

 

[kbekl]

it depends how steep it is and how many cars have been on it already

problem is in a 4wd on steep down slopes in low gearing the weight of the car can cause problems, but as said above tick over probably best in 2nd gear to slow and momentum will take over

approach the hill at the same speed as you intend to go down it

stay off brakes when going down

in an auto on the other hand select power button stick it in second and dont touch the brakes
power mode gives the car a bit better engine braking than normal or eco

 

[clivvy]

i think the hardest part with this sort of driving is staying off the breaks, but if you do, you are rewarded by excellent control from the engine and gearbox.

 

[extreme-4x4]

it depends how steep it is and how many cars have been on it already

problem is in a 4wd on steep down slopes in low gearing the weight of the car can cause problems, but as said above tick over probably best in 2nd gear to slow and momentum will take over

approach the hill at the same speed as you intend to go down it

stay off brakes when going down

in an auto on the other hand select power button stick it in second and dont touch the brakes
power mode gives the car a bit better engine braking than normal or eco

:thumb2:thumb2:thumb2
im over the moon with my automatic t2 in the snow. its been fantastic

down hill
4wd low engaged
o/d off
* mode on
1st gear on really steep stuff

AND DEF NO BRAKES

ok its a tiny bit more work than a manual box, but i recon a slush box would do all a manual box can do ... off road too

 

[Deleted account DD]

but i recon a slush box would do all a manual box can do ... off road too

I reckon youre right. My autobox is 4 + od with a lo option. Hasnt faltered in any of the crap conditions we've had, in fact its a real smart arse at getting it right :thumb2

One less thing for you to worry or wonder about when the going gets tough

Having said that, the auto box on the pathfinder i had for a few weeks was ****. It didnt seem to be able to make up its mind which cog it fancied the most and on a couple of occasions went into indecision mode and started swapping mid bend with no input from me whatsoever.Quite hairy.

 

[Terranosaurus]

Through 4x4 Response I've now done a fair but of offroad instruction with total beginners and taking them to the top of a steep drop, getting them to select 1st in low box and then drive over the edge with their feet completely off the pedals is one of the best bits of the day, for both me and them.

The blind panic as they go over the edge often turning into giggles and laughter as they realise the vehicle does do it all for them and its perfectly safe, you can do much steeper slopes offroad but the technique is just the same for snow and ice.

 

[lacroupade]

All good replies but to be absolutely frank, if its covered in packed snow and fairly steep, don't take the chance, its honestly not worth it. Find another route.

 

[4x4_Gav]

Thanks for all the responses guys, all good stuff for me and any other newbie 4x4 owners

 

[makeitfit]

All good replies but to be absolutely frank, if its covered in packed snow and fairly steep, don't take the chance, its honestly not worth it. Find another route.

Awww mr sensible, where's the fun in that?:lol
I've been very lucky taking nurses to and from hospital the last few days:sly
One of them lives down a three mile track totally snowed in, well till I made things fit :lol
Proper tidy day out:thumbs
And yes low gear no feet works a treat, and once the delivery is made the way back was broody hilarious:naughty
KL71s by the way ARE DEFO BRILL so there

 

[Liam]

Have to agree with Paul,it might be boring to avoid steep snow packed hills but at the end of the day, nobody wants to damage their motor or themselves. Nice to know you have some extra traction if needed but best not to discover it's limitations the hard way.

 

[Nisstay]

Have to agree with Paul,it might be boring to avoid steep snow packed hills but at the end of the day, nobody wants to damage their motor or themselves. Nice to know you have some extra traction if needed but best not to discover it's limitations the hard way.

on the matter of traction in the current weather .... what are anyone's thoughts on deflating the tyres somewhat .... and if so ..... how much to still be legal ?

best regards to all Rex

 

[makeitfit]

If you're in neat fresh snow like off piste :sly then yes, deflate to about 10 psi (unless you've got tiddly tyres then a bit more).Works the same on sand and soft mud
On the road it depends if you're getting contact with the road then dont deflate:thumbs

 

[mikep]

All good replies but to be absolutely frank, if its covered in packed snow and fairly steep, don't take the chance, its honestly not worth it. Find another route.

Could'nt agree more with that comment. Many years ago before the M6 replaced the notorious Shap Fell route.I was returning home from Edinburgh to our Depot in Kendal at around 2am.with an ERF tractor and trailer fully freighted to 32 tons by way of 100x 36 barrels of Scotch bitter! Deep snow on Shap Fell at the time,and I dropped down the gears to begin my 'descent'.It soon became strangely quiet and I quickly worked out that the truck was going too fast for 2nd gear! It had in fact become a massive sledge 'thats when you realise adrenalin is brown'
I was not a very experienced driver,but I quickly worked out that I needed to change up to third' and eventually fourth' to match up truck speed with gear selected! Still around to tell this tale,but only just.

 

[11redrex]

Just to add my 2p worth, I was going down the steep hill into Cromer last week and had it in 2wd, 2nd gear. The back end skidded on the ice, so I put it into 4h. The back end still skidded. I did it again later that day in 4l and it was all over the place.
What I'm saying is (and it's been said before) if it's really icy it doesn't matter what gear/car/2wd/4wd/Unimog you're driving, there is simply no grip to be had.