Weekend in the snow

[TerryO]

Spent a few days with two other Aulro members Jimmy Salsa (Fender) and Disco Drover (D2a) driving up around the Vic snow fields over the weekend. Given we all live up around the Hunter it was a bit of a journey there and back but well worth it.

We had a great time eating and drinking, especially drinking, way to much with these two top blokes and their good ladies.

Was amazed at how bad some people drive in the snow, especially Subaru drivers who seam to think they are all rally drivers. Mind you given how many we saw driving badly we only passed one parked on its side in a ditch having discovered steep down hills and ice covered roads make braking interesting.
The other interesting thing is now many people think that a soft roader SUV doesn't need chains when the roads are covered in snow and ice just because it looks like a 4WD.



.

[laughto]

I thought all cars (2WD or 4WD) needed chains in the snowfields.

[Lukeis]

Nope, national parks only insist 2wd cars fit chains.

I've previously owned a couple of subarus/soft roaders and been in the snow with them plenty of times and found them great. As long as they have Awd and your not driving like a jerk they are ok without chains, why do you think they aren't terry?

[PTC]

In NSW only 2wd's need snow chains but they do recommend that 4wd carry and use them too.

In Victoria all vehicles are required to carry chains when in a designated alpine snow area. Mainly the roads leading to the ski resorted and if you travel up and over from Bright to Omeo. You have to fit then when directed and get big fines if you do not carry them. Most of the time 4wd's can travel further up the road without being told to fit them.

As for other areas in Victoria you can go 4wd'ing in the snow without any restrictions. Mt Matlock and Terrible are the closest areas to play. And then the Jamison - Licola road. Though permits are required. The other area which gets snow at the top is past Licola on the Tamboritha - Morokka Rd.

[Meken]

What's this "snow" you speak of ?

[sheerluck]

What's this "snow" you speak of ?

White stuff, cold, mostly shown in pictures on Christmas cards. Not something sensible people need to worry about or touch. :p

[TerryO]

Nope, national parks only insist 2wd cars fit chains.

I've previously owned a couple of subarus/soft roaders and been in the snow with them plenty of times and found them great. As long as they have Awd and your not driving like a jerk they are ok without chains, why do you think they aren't terry?

I like Subies, great cars, as I said it would seam that many of the owners think they are rally drivers because they drive one though, which speaks volumes about how badly we saw some being driven, comes back to what you said about driving like jerks.
The one that ran off the road going down hill and had two wheels in the air didn't have chains, his choice and his (expensive) problem.

When it comes to soft roaders, we passed several that didn't have chains and couldn't get up the hills and were blocking the road, it was even more frustrating being stuck behind the ones without chains going down as they nearly all drove at just above walking pace.

[TerryO]

The pic I put up in the first post was really low res, so I got Jamie to send me a higher res one which looks much better.

For those of you who don't know Jamie he is the guy who does the 4WDMisadventure video's and has previously done the video's of the first two D3/D4/RRS Lithgow weekends.

Anyway here is the pic in higher res.
.

edit,... ok its not in higher res when I uploaded it somehow its been reduced in size, my apologies for that.

[oldsalt]

So - I got a set of chains for my D3, however the man at "Guest's 4wd" said they can only be fitted on the rear wheels as there is "little or no clearance" on the front wheels of modern 4wd's... so what happens to the steering ability of my D3 in the snow...
confused:confused:

cheers

[Nicky]

So - I got a set of chains for my D3, however the man at "Guest's 4wd" said they can only be fitted on the rear wheels as there is "little or no clearance" on the front wheels of modern 4wd's... so what happens to the steering ability of my D3 in the snow...
confused:confused:

cheers

Rubbish, there are chains for the front wheels!

[oldsalt]

Rubbish, there are chains for the front wheels!

O.K. if you say so... any examples...???

[sheerluck]

Have you got the standard 255 width tyres on oldsalt?

[oldsalt]

I've got 265 60's and I bought a set of "Piranha" 126S chains... and they do fit on the rear wheels... but as I said in my original post they are to be fitted to the rear wheels only as there is insufficient clearance to put them on the front wheels... so I'm left wondering "surely this will affect my steering & braking" as the front wheels won't have much grip (if any) in the snow or ice...
I'm just wondering what other members have used on their vehicles in the snow.
I'd greatly appreciate on serious feedback on this matter... (as opposed to members who just post "rubbish" as an answer to a genuine query from a fellow member)
thanks

[Nicky]

I've got 265 60's and I bought a set of "Piranha" 126S chains... and they do fit on the rear wheels... but as I said in my original post they are to be fitted to the rear wheels only as there is insufficient clearance to put them on the front wheels... so I'm left wondering "surely this will affect my steering & braking" as the front wheels won't have much grip (if any) in the snow or ice...
I'm just wondering what other members have used on their vehicles in the snow.
I'd greatly appreciate on serious feedback on this matter... (as opposed to members who just post "rubbish" as an answer to a genuine query from a fellow member)
thanks

I've been going into the ski areas for 40+ years, and I will warn you now to find some type of chain (and there are many) that fit the fronts. (Do some searches) The chain regulations won't help when your rear fittings prove to you that you have no steering and hopefully not tumbled down a gully with serious injuries.

[sheerluck]

......I'd greatly appreciate on serious feedback on this matter... (as opposed to members who just post "rubbish" as an answer to a genuine query from a fellow member)
thanks

Very sorry, it was going to be a genuine attempt to help based on my experience of clearances with standard or non standard tyre sizes.

[oldsalt]

I've been going into the ski areas for 40+ years, and I will warn you now to find some type of chain (and there are many) that fit the fronts. (Do some searches) The chain regulations won't help when your rear fittings prove to you that you have no steering and hopefully not tumbled down a gully with serious injuries.

O.K. - thanks Nicky, I certainly will be searching for some "front" chains... and I would still love to hear what other D3/4 drivers are using in the white stuff...
cheers

[rocket scientist]

White stuff, cold, mostly shown in pictures on Christmas cards. Not something sensible people need to worry about or touch. :p

You are probably right!
Having said that I am about to spend the weekend camping in the snow.
I always thought there was something wrong with me. :(

Pete.

[oldsalt]

In NSW only 2wd's need snow chains but they do recommend that 4wd carry and use them too.

In Victoria all vehicles are required to carry chains when in a designated alpine snow area. Mainly the roads leading to the ski resorted and if you travel up and over from Bright to Omeo. You have to fit then when directed and get big fines if you do not carry them. Most of the time 4wd's can travel further up the road without being told to fit them.

As for other areas in Victoria you can go 4wd'ing in the snow without any restrictions. Mt Matlock and Terrible are the closest areas to play. And then the Jamison - Licola road. Though permits are required. The other area which gets snow at the top is past Licola on the Tamboritha - Morokka Rd.

This is the very reason I'm asking this question !
I've recently bought a property North of mansfield and I have an aged aunt who lives in Omeo so my wife and me will be travelling over the Bright to Omeo road quite a bit and I want to avoid fines etc..... and be safe when travelling on those roads !!! so come on guys & gals give me your knowledge (if any) of chains that will be suitable for the front wheels of my D3... please...any help will be much appreciated.

[chuck]

We have done a few trips over the Jamieson Licola Road during the snow season.
You can apply for a permit thru Parks Victoria or whatever they are called this week.
They will usually ask how many vehicles are involved & what recovery precautions you have in place.
Every time we have been we have not used chains but this is in deep snow over gravel roads & airing down to sand like conditions.
In fact we went sailing past vehicles with chains as the chains tend to cut up the crust allowing your vehicle to sink down to the chassis.
Chains in Alpine areas are usually effective while driving over snow covered bitumen roads as the chains break thru to the bitumen allowing grip.
Snow mode is not good in deep snow believe it or not - I found this out the hard way - rock crawl or mud n ruts are the modes to use.
Snow mode is designed for light snow over bitumen or gravel.
I found over the years that my D2 albeit quite well modified was better in the snow than my D3 or D4 however this is further qualified as in deep snow.
The D2 with its big aired down tyres can get up on top of the snow!!

[Chops]

As I understand it, chains are only to be used on bitumen roads, and in the case of a 4x4, or an AWD, to be used on the front only if you only have one set of chains.
I've been up to Falls many times, and "most" times, they have said don't bother fitting any, just be careful.
I believe LR sell Disco specific chains, maybe ask a dealer.


On a side note, sorry Terry.


Pete, where are you going to camp in the snow? I wanted to do this years ago when on route to Licola over the Howitt High Plains,, at 4am in the morning, blizzard conditions, the boys nearly bashed me up :D (squibs)
I've been looking at the camping they do over in Canada and the like ;) Might get me a tent and portable wood stove.

[Nicky]

We have done a few trips over the Jamieson Licola Road during the snow season.
You can apply for a permit thru Parks Victoria or whatever they are called this week.
They will usually ask how many vehicles are involved & what recovery precautions you have in place.
Every time we have been we have not used chains but this is in deep snow over gravel roads & airing down to sand like conditions.
In fact we went sailing past vehicles with chains as the chains tend to cut up the crust allowing your vehicle to sink down to the chassis.
Chains in Alpine areas are usually effective while driving over snow covered bitumen roads as the chains break thru to the bitumen allowing grip.
Snow mode is not good in deep snow believe it or not - I found this out the hard way - rock crawl or mud n ruts are the modes to use.
Snow mode is designed for light snow over bitumen or gravel.
I found over the years that my D2 albeit quite well modified was better in the snow than my D3 or D4 however this is further qualified as in deep snow.
The D2 with its big aired down tyres can get up on top of the snow!!

Ice in areas you would not consider dangerous is the real reason for chains on the front of your 4X4 and trying to predict ice will always make you undone.

[rocket scientist]

As I understand it, chains are only to be used on bitumen roads, and in the case of a 4x4, or an AWD, to be used on the front only if you only have one set of chains.
I've been up to Falls many times, and "most" times, they have said don't bother fitting any, just be careful.
I believe LR sell Disco specific chains, maybe ask a dealer.


On a side note, sorry Terry.


Pete, where are you going to camp in the snow? I wanted to do this years ago when on route to Licola over the Howitt High Plains,, at 4am in the morning, blizzard conditions, the boys nearly bashed me up :D (squibs)
I've been looking at the camping they do over in Canada and the like ;) Might get me a tent and portable wood stove.

Marcus, We are going to Hotham as part of Search &Survival training.
Stirling is a good place to camp if you don't mind a bit of a hike, as there are a few huts as a back up plan.

[chuck]

Chops

The LROCV does an annual camping in the snow, I think they even have a heated tent:D