Best way to get down a very steep hill in the snow?
Discussion
To me it's a no brainer,in reverse gear,going down the hill backwards on tick over.Your front brakes do the majority of the brakeing and with them being uppermost on the hill the back can't over take the front(or is that the front overtake the back.
I've used this method loads of times in trucks and it works a treat,the most difficult thing is letting the car/truck do it's thing and not touching any of the pedals when you start to panic.
ETA only good for short distances as it's feckin' slow.
I've used this method loads of times in trucks and it works a treat,the most difficult thing is letting the car/truck do it's thing and not touching any of the pedals when you start to panic.
ETA only good for short distances as it's feckin' slow.
Edited by smifffymoto on Friday 3rd December 14:49
cptsideways said:
Keep one side to the very edge in amongst any compacted snow or verge
Also good - the deeper stuff can help slow you down.And vice-versa - saw several people getting up a hill the other day by rubbing the wheels on the kerb, which was clearly giving the driven wheels extra friction. Wouldn't want to do it myself, mind.
smifffymoto said:
To me it's a no brainer,in reverse gear,going down the hill backwards on tick over.Your front brakes do the majority of the brakeing and with them being uppermost on the hill the back can't over take the front(or is that the front overtake the back.
That's not how it works 
More braking force at the rear (well, front in this case) makes it MORE likely for the car to swap ends.
Many thanks all- made it in one piece! 1st gear, tickling the brakes very very occasionally- no dramas. The stress beforehand is the worse bit! The more you worry, the more difficult you are making it for yourself!
Good suggestions- though some a bit odd!
Car was an 09 MINI. No traction lights or anything popped up- great tyres. Couldn't get anywhere on my summer Dunlops last year, but my pirelli winters are genuine peace of mind!
Good suggestions- though some a bit odd!
Car was an 09 MINI. No traction lights or anything popped up- great tyres. Couldn't get anywhere on my summer Dunlops last year, but my pirelli winters are genuine peace of mind!
Petrolhead_Rich said:
On a very steep hill covered with snow (and presumably ICE) this method would work, it's not great for the mechanical parts on the car, but it's a damn sight better than sliding into anything.
A few years back my wife was given exactly the same advice by a policeman, stick it in reverse and rev to try and slow, it beats sliding across a busy main road coming out from a side road.Leicesterdave said:
Many thanks all- made it in one piece! 1st gear, tickling the brakes very very occasionally- no dramas. The stress beforehand is the worse bit! The more you worry, the more difficult you are making it for yourself!
Good suggestions- though some a bit odd!
Car was an 09 MINI. No traction lights or anything popped up- great tyres. Couldn't get anywhere on my summer Dunlops last year, but my pirelli winters are genuine peace of mind!
Thats what my brother taught me... Just dab the brakes little by little. I hate engaging the ABS, so would just dab and dab... Good suggestions- though some a bit odd!
Car was an 09 MINI. No traction lights or anything popped up- great tyres. Couldn't get anywhere on my summer Dunlops last year, but my pirelli winters are genuine peace of mind!
It was a while ago, but I remember being taught on a skid control course that when braking on a very slippy surface, to cadence brake. (Even if you do have ABS) Without a doubt, even braking very softly still took far longer to stop than using this technique.
Any skidpan instructors in? Is there any merit in short sharp cadence braking to keep speed down? Or should it only be considered to slow/stop a car?
Any skidpan instructors in? Is there any merit in short sharp cadence braking to keep speed down? Or should it only be considered to slow/stop a car?
BigS said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZNUUYNwWwc&feature=relatedDimski said:
It was a while ago, but I remember being taught on a skid control course that when braking on a very slippy surface, to cadence brake. (Even if you do have ABS) Without a doubt, even braking very softly still took far longer to stop than using this technique.
Any skidpan instructors in? Is there any merit in short sharp cadence braking to keep speed down? Or should it only be considered to slow/stop a car?
If you have a modern ABS equipped then dont bother with cadence. You should only be braking very very gently anyway to not set the abs off if you can blame the tyres not the brakes for not slowing you down! Almost all modern cars can do a far far better job than a human ever can, especially those equipped with EDD/DSC etc.Any skidpan instructors in? Is there any merit in short sharp cadence braking to keep speed down? Or should it only be considered to slow/stop a car?
And yes thats from a skid pan/ice driving/car control instuctor etc etc
cptsideways said:
Dimski said:
It was a while ago, but I remember being taught on a skid control course that when braking on a very slippy surface, to cadence brake. (Even if you do have ABS) Without a doubt, even braking very softly still took far longer to stop than using this technique.
Any skidpan instructors in? Is there any merit in short sharp cadence braking to keep speed down? Or should it only be considered to slow/stop a car?
If you have a modern ABS equipped then dont bother with cadence. You should only be braking very very gently anyway to not set the abs off if you can blame the tyres not the brakes for not slowing you down! Almost all modern cars can do a far far better job than a human ever can, especially those equipped with EDD/DSC etc.Any skidpan instructors in? Is there any merit in short sharp cadence braking to keep speed down? Or should it only be considered to slow/stop a car?
And yes thats from a skid pan/ice driving/car control instuctor etc etc
cptsideways said:
Dimski said:
It was a while ago, but I remember being taught on a skid control course that when braking on a very slippy surface, to cadence brake. (Even if you do have ABS) Without a doubt, even braking very softly still took far longer to stop than using this technique.
Any skidpan instructors in? Is there any merit in short sharp cadence braking to keep speed down? Or should it only be considered to slow/stop a car?
If you have a modern ABS equipped then dont bother with cadence. You should only be braking very very gently anyway to not set the abs off if you can blame the tyres not the brakes for not slowing you down! Almost all modern cars can do a far far better job than a human ever can, especially those equipped with EDD/DSC etc.Any skidpan instructors in? Is there any merit in short sharp cadence braking to keep speed down? Or should it only be considered to slow/stop a car?
And yes thats from a skid pan/ice driving/car control instuctor etc etc
I have alot to thank my mum for.
1st birthday after passing my test, that was my birthday present. "You should learn how to control a skid, it'll make you a better driver."
MJK 24 said:
cptsideways said:
Dimski said:
It was a while ago, but I remember being taught on a skid control course that when braking on a very slippy surface, to cadence brake. (Even if you do have ABS) Without a doubt, even braking very softly still took far longer to stop than using this technique.
Any skidpan instructors in? Is there any merit in short sharp cadence braking to keep speed down? Or should it only be considered to slow/stop a car?
If you have a modern ABS equipped then dont bother with cadence. You should only be braking very very gently anyway to not set the abs off if you can blame the tyres not the brakes for not slowing you down! Almost all modern cars can do a far far better job than a human ever can, especially those equipped with EDD/DSC etc.Any skidpan instructors in? Is there any merit in short sharp cadence braking to keep speed down? Or should it only be considered to slow/stop a car?
And yes thats from a skid pan/ice driving/car control instuctor etc etc
It's s
t tyres that dont work on ice, a modern ABS euipped car can pulse the brake on a individual wheel up to 20 times a second. An EBD equipped car can work out the brake force required to not the lock the wheels in about 0.2 of second. Those old audi's pulsed the brake about 2 times a second & yes it was st ABS back then.The reason people assume ABS is s
t is because they assume the car should stop on sheet ice, the surface friction is often less than 10% of wet braking, so thats just touching the pedal very very very lightly, way less than 99% of drivers are aware of. If you'd like a demonstration I'll happilly show you
Edited by cptsideways on Friday 3rd December 22:17
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