Stuck in snow?

[Migmac]

The idea behind airing down is to not push through, but to ride on top...

Working in the forest before 4wd was common, have tried every trick to get places on Escort and Marina vans. Letting the air out was never that successful. Far better was being properly prepared, tires, extra weight in the back and watching how the old hands at winter driving drove. Technique is probably the most important part of driving in snow.

 

[Sean]

My sister used to have a Citreon Diane, pram wheels ,used to get her everywhere in the snow.

its a few years ago but the only car to get out that day LOL
4" tonight the Dyane will be used tomorrow if there's much more. The transit struggled to get home tonight

 

[8ob]

its a few years ago but the only car to get out that day LOL
4" tonight the Dyane will be used tomorrow if there's much more. The transit struggled to get home tonight

Truly amazing little car, you can drive one of those flat out across a field with a cup of tea in one hand. Makes you wonder why the world fell out of love with bare bones simple vehicles like this

Bob

 

[Jlg]

Truly amazing little car, you can drive one of those flat out across a field with a cup of tea in one hand. Makes you wonder why the world fell out of love with bare bones simple vehicles like this

Bob

That's exactly why people don't seem to like simple anymore I do but most don't

 

[indy4x]

2CV in action, this one was 4WD, IIRC it had some underbody protection that alowed it to toboggon over obstacles with enough momentum. It still had original engine and he had also taken it up to the Artic circle.

 

[nickk]

im a great fan of chains, but on most cars the arch space is so restrictive they're tricky to fit, has anyone tried these plastic straps that thread thru the wheels,theyre cheap as chips on e bay ?

 

[captain-destructo]

whats all this talk of snow????

not even a hint of any here

 

[brightspark]

whats all this talk of snow????

not even a hint of any here

who are u kidding 5 miles down road from u and it was snowing an hour ago granted wasn't a lot but it did for 15 mins

 

[captain-destructo]

who are u kidding 5 miles down road from u and it was snowing an hour ago granted wasn't a lot but it did for 15 mins

I haven't been out the house since Thursday slowly getting over man-flu

i even got up from the desk and looked outside the back door to double check before clicked send on the last post

 

[Bryan Williams]

That's exactly why people don't seem to like simple anymore I do but most don't

That's why I love my 95,1.9 T4.
Big slow tank, easy and cheap to fix.

 

[Jlg]

I love my little Honda 50 that my grandad gave me when I was 13 the bike is 49 years old this year

This was supposed to be a reply to the post above

 

[doubleboost]

Working in the forest before 4wd was common, have tried every trick to get places on Escort and Marina vans. Letting the air out was never that successful. Far better was being properly prepared, tires, extra weight in the back and watching how the old hands at winter driving drove. Technique is probably the most important part of driving in snow.

I well remember Marina vans in the snow

 

[GW8IZR]

I well remember Marina vans in the snow

When I was a nipper on the Railways our linesmans vans were either HA's or Marinas , on a roundabout two in the back could throw our weight to one side and promote an unexpected drift for the unsuspecting driver... sometimes I wonder how the heck we grew old enough to realise how daft we were ;-)

 

[doubleboost]

When I was a nipper on the Railways our linesmans vans were either HA's or Marinas , on a roundabout two in the back could throw our weight to one side and promote an unexpected drift for the unsuspecting driver... sometimes I wonder how the heck we grew old enough to realise how daft we were ;-)

My van had a 1.8 TC engine & box fitted a real handful even had the "Koni" shocks conversion on the front
Heavy duty back springs
Banded rims with 185 tyres Happy days

 

[Olderisbetter]

I used to love my beetle when i was 17, Great fun in the snow and my mate had a 2cv which was even better as it felt like you were floating on air.

 

[8ob]

My van had a 1.8 TC engine & box fitted a real handful even had the "Koni" shocks conversion on the front
Heavy duty back springs
Banded rims with 185 tyres Happy days

Ok DB as you were brave enough to confess to owning a Marina van so will I . ....... Fitted a 1.8 sherpa diesel engine/rad , triumph/marina mongrel overdrive gearbox, tc marina diff, 185 tyres on rostyle rims.

Bob

For the snow

 

[Kent]

Take it slow, its not gaining momentum is the issue but losing it.

What a great user name!

 

[Kent]

Truly amazing little car, you can drive one of those flat out across a field with a cup of tea in one hand. Makes you wonder why the world fell out of love with bare bones simple vehicles like this

Bob

They did not, the manufacturers did. You could make stuff look more expensive but actually cheaper to build - so guess what they did!

 

[normspanners]

Letting the air out was never that successful.

Well been VERY successful for me !! I always drop the pressures down and has got me out when stuck or in bad conditions. One time I was in a forrest and there was no way my tranny was coming back up the hill and all attempts failed but each was making the conditions worse so dropped the pressure to about 5 / 10psi and she came out without spinning a wheel had a slow drive about 8mls to a garage to reinflate but it was better than a 5ml walk in snow just to get out the forest
this shows it nicely

http://arctictrucks.com/Experiences/Icelandic-expedition/Blog.aspx

The thought of someone deflation to 20psi on a commercial type vehicle in snow scares the snot outta me.

Also I think the icelandics would know they run at about 5 psi on snow !! when I was there in the perma snow I was amazed just how low they do go.

Did not @normspanners (I think it was) say he had used cable ties as snow chains at one time.

Yes large cable ties worked fine anything to alter the shape of the tyre.
I once went to andora skiing in an rover SD1 not known for their snow ability and it was a nightmare the kids nursery was at the mid station so you had to take/ carry your 2 yr old on a ski on ski off seat lift !!! did it the first day but never again I dropped the pressures and put chains on the rears and drove up the mountain access road to the nursery every day, some times through 10 ins of fresh snow, only day I couldnt was coz of an avalanche and even the machines could nt get up! so that was fair enough.

 

[mechman]

Winter tyres are the answer.

I found a cheaper way, Just parked it up and used a bus pass till the snow had gone