Thread: Are snow chains MANDATORY in NSW on 4WD

I beeped and waved on Friday afternoon at the few that were there - but no-one waved back......



I was in the missus Prado with the Trak Shak off of the back though!



BTW - trip report is at: Cabramurra – June 2011 | 4WD'ing – The family way

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Slightly off topic, when I was younger and competing in cross-country skiing events (even competed at inter-varsity, state and national level) and one of the reasons that I drove Range Rover, I would spend about 3 months on snow each year.

On one occasion staying at Smiggin's Hole, a Rolls Royce pulled into the car park with the entire outside of the rear wheel arch mangled just like it had been beaten with a million hammers. The owner had been told that he would need chains to get up the chalet, so he had his mechanic in Sydney fit them. Then he drove all the way down with the loose ends flailing away in both wheel arches. Some people have too much money and too little brain.

Obviously so do some mechanics

Used to regularly see cars heading back though Jindabyne towards Sydney with chains still on.

Martyn

Originally Posted by Bushie

Obviously so do some mechanics
Used to regularly see cars heading back though Jindabyne towards Sydney with chains still on.
Martyn

Maybe, but I can also imagine a conversation between the Rolls owner and his mechanic, with the mechanic losing the argument or giving up in frustration and fitting the chains as requested.

Snow chains needed to get here last Sunday 12th June at 1630hrs - Mt Pinnibar (1772m) in Disco II with 18psi tyre pressures and no centre diff lock.
Been there numerous times before but never with snow like this - absolutely magnificient and a little 'picadilly' at -7C.

I notice you have chains on the front. Is the Disco II different to DI as the manual says to fit to the rear only on the DI

Originally Posted by cookiesa

I notice you have chains on the front. Is the Disco II different to DI as the manual says to fit to the rear only on the DI

No different AFAIK - but I like to maintain my directional ability (aka steering) when conditions require the use of chains on a 4WD.

Was unaware of what manual says but have always used them this way (except when I had chains on both front and rear of an 88" and was following the snow cat around Smiggins and Perisher back in the late '60's) without a problem.

Of course, retensioned/adjusted after 100m or so, speed kept to a minimum and chains removed as soon as one is clear of the slippery stuff.

What the manual say and what I would recommend are two different things.
Front Wheels provide 50% of your drive, 70$ of your braking and close as dammit to 100% of your steering.
Where would you want the most traction?
I would put them on the rear only if I was going to be climbing straight up a hill, where most of the load is on the rear.....

Just my 2 bobs worth.

How does a D2 without CDL drive on ice any way - with chains on and those wheels having more grip would transfer drive to the rear.

Garry