snow chains

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T

Tim Hobbs

Guest
Been contemplating getting a set for the Volvo, to keep in the boot.
They seem to go for about the 50 quid mark and might be a good
investment if this 'bad winter' we keep hearing about should actually
materialise.

So, will they actually work (i.e. improve my chances of getting home)
and is there a minimum amount of snow needed before they are useful?

I know the roads are likely to be blocked with stranded RAV4s
anyway...
--
Tim Hobbs
 
Tim Hobbs wrote:

> I know the roads are likely to be blocked with stranded RAV4s
> anyway...


You're not frightened of shifting them are you? You don't have to put
them back afterwards!
 
Tim Hobbs wrote:
> Been contemplating getting a set for the Volvo, to keep in the boot.
> They seem to go for about the 50 quid mark and might be a good
> investment if this 'bad winter' we keep hearing about should actually
> materialise.
>
> So, will they actually work (i.e. improve my chances of getting home)
> and is there a minimum amount of snow needed before they are useful?
>
> I know the roads are likely to be blocked with stranded RAV4s
> anyway...


We call 'em Chav 4's round here! I have never ever got stuck in the snow. I once drove a Sapphire
Cosworth 2WD all the way home from Leicster on the M1 in a horrific snowstorm. It was hairy as a mother
fecker, but the real testing part was the 12 hours it took me to get from Leeds to Braford, a total of 10
miles. All this was due to ****wits in BMW's that don't know how to drive in the dry let alone snow. I
never got stuck once. I did have tons of gear in the boot mind you! Anyone who know the locality will
know there is not one level road in or out of Bradford! The snow on the hill i lived at that time (It's
called Gaisby Lane, a VERY steep hill) was about a foot deep in drifts & I abandoned my car half in my
garden as the road was closed!!

To this day, i have no idea how the hell i got that car home, it was a feckin' mad night well known
around these parts! It was in 1995 i think. I reckon the LSD helped on the Cossie (I mean limited slip
diff, not a reference to halucinagenic drugs btw!)

Nige

--
Subaru WRX
Range Rover LSE (Bob)

'"gimme the f*ckin' money"


 
On Thu, 8 Dec 2005 22:01:28 -0000, "Nige"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Tim Hobbs wrote:
>> Been contemplating getting a set for the Volvo, to keep in the boot.
>> They seem to go for about the 50 quid mark and might be a good
>> investment if this 'bad winter' we keep hearing about should actually
>> materialise.
>>
>> So, will they actually work (i.e. improve my chances of getting home)
>> and is there a minimum amount of snow needed before they are useful?
>>
>> I know the roads are likely to be blocked with stranded RAV4s
>> anyway...

>
>We call 'em Chav 4's round here! I have never ever got stuck in the snow. I once drove a Sapphire
>Cosworth 2WD all the way home from Leicster on the M1 in a horrific snowstorm. It was hairy as a mother
>fecker, but the real testing part was the 12 hours it took me to get from Leeds to Braford, a total of 10
>miles. All this was due to ****wits in BMW's that don't know how to drive in the dry let alone snow. I
>never got stuck once. I did have tons of gear in the boot mind you! Anyone who know the locality will
>know there is not one level road in or out of Bradford! The snow on the hill i lived at that time (It's
>called Gaisby Lane, a VERY steep hill) was about a foot deep in drifts & I abandoned my car half in my
>garden as the road was closed!!
>
>To this day, i have no idea how the hell i got that car home, it was a feckin' mad night well known
>around these parts! It was in 1995 i think. I reckon the LSD helped on the Cossie (I mean limited slip
>diff, not a reference to halucinagenic drugs btw!)
>
>Nige
>
>--?
>Subaru WRX
>Range Rover LSE (Bob)
>
>'"gimme the f*ckin' money"
>


I've only been stuck once - in my Peugeot 205 years back. Dropped
sister off at a school do, got half-way home and realised that I'd
never get her home again in a couple of hours. Went back for her, but
got stuck half a mile from home on a steep hill, because bloke in
front of me managed to put his car sideways and block the road.

The Volvo isn't going to be good in snow though - wide low-profile
tyres with tight tread. The auto box will be a mixed blessing as
well. For 50 quid the chains might make the difference getting home
and not, or even blocking the road and getting out of the way.
--
Tim Hobbs
 
Tim Hobbs wrote:

>
> I've only been stuck once - in my Peugeot 205 years back. Dropped
> sister off at a school do, got half-way home and realised that I'd
> never get her home again in a couple of hours. Went back for her, but
> got stuck half a mile from home on a steep hill, because bloke in
> front of me managed to put his car sideways and block the road.
>
> The Volvo isn't going to be good in snow though - wide low-profile
> tyres with tight tread. The auto box will be a mixed blessing as
> well. For 50 quid the chains might make the difference getting home
> and not, or even blocking the road and getting out of the way.


The Cossie had very wide tyres (for it's day) but it wasn't too bad really. Nowadays, no-one under 25 has
driven in the snow. I used to take the cossie out for fun in the snow!! You can't beat a good old empty
car park & a mega powerful RWD car to learn how to correct oversteer! The really odd bit, is the Subaru
(basically a rally car with road going expectations) is nowhere near as good in the snow! It is a lot
better than the wifes Golf gti though (we aint even tried it yet, but you just know!)

--
Subaru WRX
Range Rover LSE (Bob)

'"gimme the f*ckin' money"


 
On or around Thu, 8 Dec 2005 22:01:28 -0000, "Nige"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>To this day, i have no idea how the hell i got that car home, it was a feckin' mad night well known
>around these parts! It was in 1995 i think. I reckon the LSD helped on the Cossie (I mean limited slip
>diff, not a reference to halucinagenic drugs btw!)


yeah, the XR4x4 had one of them, although technically it's a viscous
coupling not an LSD, and also in the centre diff. That and a 2/3:1/3
rear:front torque split makes it an amazing thing in the slippery.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"Remember that to change your mind and follow him who sets you right
is to be none the less free than you were before."
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180), from Meditations, VIII.16
 
In message <[email protected]>, Austin Shackles
<[email protected]> writes
>On or around Thu, 8 Dec 2005 22:01:28 -0000, "Nige"
><[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
>>To this day, i have no idea how the hell i got that car home, it was a
>>feckin' mad night well known
>>around these parts! It was in 1995 i think. I reckon the LSD helped on
>>the Cossie (I mean limited slip
>>diff, not a reference to halucinagenic drugs btw!)

>
>yeah, the XR4x4 had one of them, although technically it's a viscous
>coupling not an LSD, and also in the centre diff. That and a 2/3:1/3
>rear:front torque split makes it an amazing thing in the slippery.

One of the best cars I ever had in the snow was a Daf with belt drive.
The ratios to the rear wheels worked independently, so the slipping
wheel would be at its highest gearing whilst the gripping wheel was at
its lowest.
--
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting
 
On or around Fri, 9 Dec 2005 11:46:01 +0000, hugh <hugh@[127.0.0.1]>
enlightened us thusly:

>In message <[email protected]>, Austin Shackles
><[email protected]> writes
>>On or around Thu, 8 Dec 2005 22:01:28 -0000, "Nige"
>><[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>>
>>>To this day, i have no idea how the hell i got that car home, it was a
>>>feckin' mad night well known
>>>around these parts! It was in 1995 i think. I reckon the LSD helped on
>>>the Cossie (I mean limited slip
>>>diff, not a reference to halucinagenic drugs btw!)

>>
>>yeah, the XR4x4 had one of them, although technically it's a viscous
>>coupling not an LSD, and also in the centre diff. That and a 2/3:1/3
>>rear:front torque split makes it an amazing thing in the slippery.

>One of the best cars I ever had in the snow was a Daf with belt drive.
>The ratios to the rear wheels worked independently, so the slipping
>wheel would be at its highest gearing whilst the gripping wheel was at
>its lowest.


yeah, 's a pity about the daf. Ford produced a CVT thing recently using a
flexible steel belt, muhc tougher - I bet it doesn't have the simplicity of
the daf and the advantage you describe.

But the 4x4 ford system ought to be on Rangies and the like, IMHO - almost
makes traction control with all its complexity redundant. Presumably, you
could in theory have another VCD in the front end - although the ford
doesn't.

When I had the 110 with the BW transfer box and the VCD in it, I kept
meaning to fit a VCD in the back axle, presuming I could find one.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
In Touch: Get in touch with yourself by touching yourself.
If somebody is watching, stop touching yourself.
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.
 
Drove up to the top of the long mynd in snow in my Grannie estate once,
which was quite hairy. The auto box kept me from making any sudden
acceleration or deceleration.

On the other hand last Christmas my landie ran off the road in the snow.
Staying on the road has as much to do with the smoothness of your driving
technique as anything else. With an auto box and power steering it was not
difficult to pilot my grannie, whereas smooth is hardly the way you would
describe the throttle control, gearbox and steering of a series 3 or maybe I
am just getting old.


--
þT

L'autisme c'est moi

"Space folds, and folded space bends, and bent folded space contracts and
expands unevenly in every way unconcievable except to someone who does not
believe in the laws of mathematics"



"Nige" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Tim Hobbs wrote:
>>

> We call 'em Chav 4's round here! I have never ever got stuck in the snow.

I once drove a Sapphire
> Cosworth 2WD all the way home from Leicster on the M1 in a horrific

snowstorm. It was hairy as a mother
> fecker, but the real testing part was the 12 hours it took me to get from

Leeds to Braford, a total of 10
> miles. All this was due to ****wits in BMW's that don't know how to drive

in the dry let alone snow. I
> never got stuck once. I did have tons of gear in the boot mind you! Anyone

who know the locality will
> know there is not one level road in or out of Bradford! The snow on the

hill i lived at that time (It's
> called Gaisby Lane, a VERY steep hill) was about a foot deep in drifts & I

abandoned my car half in my
> garden as the road was closed!!
>
> To this day, i have no idea how the hell i got that car home, it was a

feckin' mad night well known
> around these parts! It was in 1995 i think. I reckon the LSD helped on the

Cossie (I mean limited slip
> diff, not a reference to halucinagenic drugs btw!)
>
> Nige
>
> --
> Subaru WRX
> Range Rover LSE (Bob)
>
> '"gimme the f*ckin' money"
>
>



 
hi tim .

snow chains are very good to keep in boot of car , or keep a pair on a
set of spare wheels/tyres, they work very well in any snow and in fact
some landy owners fit chains to theyre heavy treaded tyres in order to
obtain more grip in snow .

you only tend to use them on rear wheels if rear wheel driven , i am
not sure if they get fitted to front wheel drive cars but i would guess
they do .

can only drive up to max 20mph with them .

there are plenty of snow chains for sale on EBAY in the motoring
accessories section .

if they are cheap and you have a set in the boot, they could save the
day for you sometime.
after all they cost nothing to run or keep .

 
On 2005-12-08, Nige <[email protected]> wrote:

> I used to take the cossie out for fun in the snow!! You can't beat a
> good old empty car park & a mega powerful RWD car to learn how to
> correct oversteer!


When I were a lad I used to take my old 1.19 litre Opel Kadett into a
field and feck about. A friend of mine suggested we swap cars, he
then promptly doughnutted on a playing field in my car while I waved
at him from the sidelines to stop it, too late though, lots of
residents took my number! Never heard anything back though.

> The really odd bit, is the Subaru (basically a rally car
> with road going expectations)


Har har, the amount of Scooby owners who think that their car is the
same as the rally cars they see on telly is amazing.. There are no
shared parts, the cars aren't even built by Subaru. There is a
"production class" in rallying, which is almost never shown on telly,
but even those cars are heavily modified and aren't very similar to
the road cars. In Classic And Sports Car magazine there are
occasional auctions of Subaru or Mitsibushi etc WRC rally car parts
and they always have in very large letters "No road car parts
available" on them to stop the owners of the shopping trollies turning
up trying to buy bits, 'cos that's what was happening and then they
were moaning about the bits not fitting!

I can remember an interview with Colin McRae where he said that the
car he was driving at the time shared just 13 parts with the road car,
and they were the lights and the dashboard to make the external and
in-car shots look like the road-going car. Personally I think it's a
monumental con, but it works well and sells cars. WRC rules for the
top of the line cars state that the car has to look like the road car
and that's it. They're built from the ground up for rallying with not
even a thought about the design of the road car they're pretending to
be, and made by dedicated car building teams with some small input
from the road car manufacturer, mostly money though.

Ditto Touring Cars BTW, feck all to do with the road-going cars, all
custom made race cars by dedicated racing companies with look-alike
bodyshells on. Not keen on it but it keeps the money coming in at the
sake of any pretence of honesty. It's the same in pretty much all
top-of-the line racing, I'm a Lotus Esprit fan but their GT racing
Esprit was a dedicated machine built from scratch, bore no resemblance
mechanically to the road-going car, which in my experience is probably
for the best! (looks mornfully at pile of parts in corner of garage)

Oops, sorry for the rant, it's a pet subject of mine ;-)

> is nowhere near as good in the snow! It is a lot better than the
> wifes Golf gti though (we aint even tried it yet, but you just
> know!)


Front-wheel drive sucks monumentally in the snow, although I got out
of a bind once when I'd gone down a hill into a trough in my Audi and
couldn't get back out, so I turned it around and reversed up the hill,
worked a treat!

--
For every expert, there is an equal but opposite expert
 
On or around Fri, 9 Dec 2005 22:57:21 +0000, Ian Rawlings
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Front-wheel drive sucks monumentally in the snow, although I got out
>of a bind once when I'd gone down a hill into a trough in my Audi and
>couldn't get back out, so I turned it around and reversed up the hill,
>worked a treat!


also diesel ones work better, nice heavy engine to give more grip on the
driving wheels.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; and
therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee"
John Donne (1571? - 1631) Devotions, XVII
 
On 2005-12-10, Austin Shackles <[email protected]> wrote:

> also diesel ones work better, nice heavy engine to give more grip on the
> driving wheels.


That's what mine is. A fat bloke on the bonnet would help too, but
sadly I was driving.

If I do much driving in the coming weeks I reckon a few bags of grit
in the boot will be in order.. Throw 'em on the bonnet, and if that
doesn't work, throw 'em on the road! Driving the Landy is probably a
better bet though.

--
For every expert, there is an equal but opposite expert
 
On Fri, 9 Dec 2005 22:57:21 +0000, Ian Rawlings wrote:

> I turned it around and reversed up the hill, worked a treat!


That old trick. In the days of yor when cars had serious troubles
going up hills, unlike to day, reversing up was common practice as
reverse was (is?) the lowest ratio gear in the box.

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail



 
....and Ian Rawlings spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...

>
> Front-wheel drive sucks monumentally in the snow...


I beg to differ slightly - the best car I ever had in snow (Landies
excepted) was a 2CV Citroen. Totally unstoppable. Low power, light weight
and driving wheels of massive diameter and narrow width helped, I think.
Plus, if you dyked it, you could just lift it out and carry on. Almost.

--
Rich
==============================
Disco 300 Tdi auto
S2a 88" SW
Tiggrr (V8 trialler)


 
On or around Sat, 10 Dec 2005 13:12:03 -0000, "Richard Brookman"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>...and Ian Rawlings spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>
>>
>> Front-wheel drive sucks monumentally in the snow...

>
>I beg to differ slightly - the best car I ever had in snow (Landies
>excepted) was a 2CV Citroen. Totally unstoppable. Low power, light weight
>and driving wheels of massive diameter and narrow width helped, I think.
>Plus, if you dyked it, you could just lift it out and carry on. Almost.


2CVs are amazingly successful in the slippery. it's the big narrow tyres,
mostly, helped by the light weight as you say.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then
something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination -
we learned to talk." Pink Floyd (1994)
 

"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On or around Sat, 10 Dec 2005 13:12:03 -0000, "Richard Brookman"
> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
> >...and Ian Rawlings spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
> >
> >>
> >> Front-wheel drive sucks monumentally in the snow...

> >
> >I beg to differ slightly - the best car I ever had in snow (Landies
> >excepted) was a 2CV Citroen. Totally unstoppable. Low power, light

weight
> >and driving wheels of massive diameter and narrow width helped, I think.
> >Plus, if you dyked it, you could just lift it out and carry on. Almost.

>
> 2CVs are amazingly successful in the slippery. it's the big narrow tyres,
> mostly, helped by the light weight as you say.
> --
> Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
> "For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then
> something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination -
> we learned to talk." Pink Floyd (1994)


Failed to get up a hill in the snow in a Mk2 Escort once. No weight so no
grip. Reversed to the bottom and shovelled the boot full of snow. On the
second attempt it climbed about 3/4 of the hill as opposed to about 1/4 of
it on the 1st attempt. Reversed to the bottom and shovelled the back seats
full of snow as well, successfully climbed the hill with that lot in. Theres
always a solution if think laterally!



Gerald




 
On or around Sat, 10 Dec 2005 16:45:59 -0000, "Idris"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>
>"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On or around Sat, 10 Dec 2005 13:12:03 -0000, "Richard Brookman"
>> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>>
>> >...and Ian Rawlings spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>> >
>> >>
>> >> Front-wheel drive sucks monumentally in the snow...
>> >
>> >I beg to differ slightly - the best car I ever had in snow (Landies
>> >excepted) was a 2CV Citroen. Totally unstoppable. Low power, light

>weight
>> >and driving wheels of massive diameter and narrow width helped, I think.
>> >Plus, if you dyked it, you could just lift it out and carry on. Almost.

>>
>> 2CVs are amazingly successful in the slippery. it's the big narrow tyres,
>> mostly, helped by the light weight as you say.
>> --
>> Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
>> "For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then
>> something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination -
>> we learned to talk." Pink Floyd (1994)

>
>Failed to get up a hill in the snow in a Mk2 Escort once. No weight so no
>grip. Reversed to the bottom and shovelled the boot full of snow. On the
>second attempt it climbed about 3/4 of the hill as opposed to about 1/4 of
>it on the 1st attempt. Reversed to the bottom and shovelled the back seats
>full of snow as well, successfully climbed the hill with that lot in. Theres
>always a solution if think laterally!


I take it you weren't planning on carrying rear seat passengers any time
soon?
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Appearances: You don't really need make-up. Celebrate your authentic
face by frightening people in the street.
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.
 

"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On or around Sat, 10 Dec 2005 16:45:59 -0000, "Idris"
> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
> >
> >"Austin Shackles" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
> >> On or around Sat, 10 Dec 2005 13:12:03 -0000, "Richard Brookman"
> >> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
> >>
> >> >...and Ian Rawlings spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> Front-wheel drive sucks monumentally in the snow...
> >> >
> >> >I beg to differ slightly - the best car I ever had in snow (Landies
> >> >excepted) was a 2CV Citroen. Totally unstoppable. Low power, light

> >weight
> >> >and driving wheels of massive diameter and narrow width helped, I

think.
> >> >Plus, if you dyked it, you could just lift it out and carry on.

Almost.
> >>
> >> 2CVs are amazingly successful in the slippery. it's the big narrow

tyres,
> >> mostly, helped by the light weight as you say.
> >> --
> >> Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
> >> "For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then
> >> something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination -
> >> we learned to talk." Pink Floyd (1994)

> >
> >Failed to get up a hill in the snow in a Mk2 Escort once. No weight so no
> >grip. Reversed to the bottom and shovelled the boot full of snow. On the
> >second attempt it climbed about 3/4 of the hill as opposed to about 1/4

of
> >it on the 1st attempt. Reversed to the bottom and shovelled the back

seats
> >full of snow as well, successfully climbed the hill with that lot in.

Theres
> >always a solution if think laterally!

>
> I take it you weren't planning on carrying rear seat passengers any time
> soon?
> --
> Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
> Appearances: You don't really need make-up. Celebrate your authentic
> face by frightening people in the street.
> from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.


Did even take the stuff out again, just waited for the thaw!
It was Treview hill.

Gerald


 
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