Oh crap, it's snowing...
Discussion
IME of trying to drive a 2WD Sierra Cosworth in the snow; don't.
The front wheels build up a nice ridge of snow, the rear ones start to spin cos there's insufficient weight over them, and there you are stuck like a right pillock. That happens every 10 yards. I turned round and went home.
The front wheels build up a nice ridge of snow, the rear ones start to spin cos there's insufficient weight over them, and there you are stuck like a right pillock. That happens every 10 yards. I turned round and went home.
zumbruk said:
IME of trying to drive a 2WD Sierra Cosworth in the snow; don't.
The front wheels build up a nice ridge of snow, the rear ones start to spin cos there's insufficient weight over them, and there you are stuck like a right pillock. That happens every 10 yards. I turned round and went home.
Already at work though, came out this morning because it was fine albeit a bit frosty - I wouldn't have come in had it already been snowing.
targarama said:
Follow someone else and try to stay in their tracks. It isn't snowing that much is it?
Enjoy the powersliding too.
It was snowing really heavily a minute ago, but it seems to have eased off now - doesn't look like any has stuck so I might have got away with it!
used the Cerbera most years in the snow granted not as much low down torque as yours but mostly there are ok up to about 4 inches of snow then you struggle.
Compacted snow is deadly mind so beware of houseing estates etc.
at junctions leaving a couple of clicks on the handbrake helps.
keep the revs very very low sub 1500RPM
Compacted snow is deadly mind so beware of houseing estates etc.
at junctions leaving a couple of clicks on the handbrake helps.
keep the revs very very low sub 1500RPM
As someone who's Chim swapped ends just from taking my foot off an already gingerly applied throttle, and this on a fairly major dual carriageway, I can't say I'd recommend it. I also find the "up to 4 inches" claim slightly amusing; I have video of my 500 going up and down the gearbox with zero forward movement in just a couple of inches. OK, it was snow on top of ice, granted, but nevertheless the TOTAL lack of grip was astonishing.
Be very, very careful. Coming off the throttle is just as hazardous as getting on it, the engine braking coupled with lack of weight on the back wheels will unstick you in a blink.
Be very, very careful. Coming off the throttle is just as hazardous as getting on it, the engine braking coupled with lack of weight on the back wheels will unstick you in a blink.
Made it, left work early to get home in the daylight and avoid the traffic.
The major roads were pretty clear, the local ones had a lot of slush and snow, and there was no cars parked down my road (cul-de-sac) so I was able to provoke it into going sideways a little - great fun!
Think it's possible to see where my tyre tracks go on in a straight line in this picture.
Car is now tucked away in the garage, not to re-emerge until this snow has gone (unless the roads are clear and I can find an empty car park
)
>> Edited by crazylegs on Monday 28th November 16:19
The major roads were pretty clear, the local ones had a lot of slush and snow, and there was no cars parked down my road (cul-de-sac) so I was able to provoke it into going sideways a little - great fun!
Think it's possible to see where my tyre tracks go on in a straight line in this picture.
Car is now tucked away in the garage, not to re-emerge until this snow has gone (unless the roads are clear and I can find an empty car park
) >> Edited by crazylegs on Monday 28th November 16:19
It depends how many hills you have to negotiate.
On good tyres you will have enough grip to cope with about a 10% slope on a reasonably good surface; on a smooth surface such as brick pave this can reduce a lot. On ice I barely had enough grip to make headway against a gentle 10 mph headwind on the M1 last year. The cars around me seemed to have plenty of grip and were tailgating each other, cutting each other up etc as normal.
If your tyres are more worn you will have even less grip, two years ago I got stuck in two inches of fresh snow on level ground because the rear tyres had minimal tread (still legal, but barely).
The best technique I have found is to keep the revs right down, and slip the clutch at low speed to minimise the amount of wheel spin. The faster the wheels spin the less grip you have, so if you are struggling leave the engine at idle and balance the clutch to pull away without wheel spin. It's extremely hard work though, and you'll see drivers around you in normal cars doing everything wrong and just driving straight through areas that take you every trick in the book to get through. On balance I'd say leave the Tiv at home if you have the choice.
On good tyres you will have enough grip to cope with about a 10% slope on a reasonably good surface; on a smooth surface such as brick pave this can reduce a lot. On ice I barely had enough grip to make headway against a gentle 10 mph headwind on the M1 last year. The cars around me seemed to have plenty of grip and were tailgating each other, cutting each other up etc as normal.
If your tyres are more worn you will have even less grip, two years ago I got stuck in two inches of fresh snow on level ground because the rear tyres had minimal tread (still legal, but barely).
The best technique I have found is to keep the revs right down, and slip the clutch at low speed to minimise the amount of wheel spin. The faster the wheels spin the less grip you have, so if you are struggling leave the engine at idle and balance the clutch to pull away without wheel spin. It's extremely hard work though, and you'll see drivers around you in normal cars doing everything wrong and just driving straight through areas that take you every trick in the book to get through. On balance I'd say leave the Tiv at home if you have the choice.
...buy a v v cheap 4x4 like we did on saturday so the griff can stay in the garage on days when I cant drop Mrs J into work! £1k for an F reg isuzu trooper (3 month warranty,6 month tax,12 month MOT plus 4 GOOD tyres and a heater). Sell it in the spring!!
Mrs J fishtailed the Griff twice last week on non-ice roads
Mrs J fishtailed the Griff twice last week on non-ice roads
griffsmith said:
Several people have suggested to me to put a big bag of sand in the boot of the car. Would this help?
depends if you need a big bag of sand at home?
Can't hurt to get some more weight over the drive wheels.
I'd try a big bag of rock salt instead of sand. Could come in handy.
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