Snow Run details

[McJeep]

Do I see chains on a certain Toyota?!

Were the results similar to that snow run up behind sooke a few years back?

Looks like a funner day than Wayne and I had - mind you, we DID make it up as far as duncan ... in my dodge on a parts run "Hopefully we've got things dialed and I'll be lookin for company for a break in run next weekend

Rob

[chet]

uh ya the chains kinda worked for the first bit then Glenn dug in and decided to become a premanent fixture on the hill. It took 2 hours to get him out.

[McJeep]

wussypup said:

a few more pics at

Hey Steve - I think yer camera's broke ... everybody has the same licence plate number in yer pics

[chet]

haha never saw that! thats alot of photo editing! I think we came up with a new plate from running up there though.

FUsnowmobilers! Little long but it works!

[RebelRob]

Good idea, Chet!

This one goes out to the especially belligerent bugger in the camo snowsuit... - Yeah, baybee! ;D

[Duff]

I would not paint all snowmobilers with the same brush as we get that ourselves. I would however point out that some of them should go back and read the code of ethics taken straight from their website. Particularly points #1 and 8.

[McJeep]

Holy crow - Chet and Chris pretty much fill that little sammi up to capacity don't they? You 2 musta bin shoulder to shoulder! ;D

[Glenn]

"uh ya the chains kinda worked for the first bit then Glenn dug in and decided to become a premanent fixture on the hill. It took 2 hours to get him out."

Trail progress ...

The chains worked awesome. The downside was I needed a lot of momentum and speed to keep going, but this put me way ahead of the pack, as they had to creep up the trail. I got so far ahead I waited several times for the convoy to catch up. I was concerned that if I got too far ahead and I got stuck -- I might be on my own. I was getting no reports on the CB, and one snowmobiler said the pack was at least 2 clicks back and stopped with everyone out of their vehicles. Not good – I thought! The point where I got stuck was on a bit of a steep pitch, which bounced the truck into the downhill side of the trial into the ditch on the right, getting high centered in the process.

Stuck report ...

Don't forget that that 2 hours included getting Ian, Shane and Steve unstuck at least once each (destroying a perfectly good recovery equipment -ha-ha - in the process- my recovery strap), as well as some mechanical repair to the PTO winch (shear pin sheared leaving a fully tensioned winch line to contend with) The snow at this point was at least 30-36" deep (measured with a snow-stick by the one and only sane snowmobiler we encountered that was not frothing at the mouth). At this point I was high centered with 4 wheels spinning without contact with the snow. On the downhill side, driver’s side, my entire leg broke the snow through several times with no ground contact underneath.

Chain report ....

The lighter higher flotation vehicles would not benefit from chains, since they do not have to compress much snow to support the vehicle. I think heavier vehicles (e.g. diesel+PTO), benefit from chains because after compressing the snow they allow the front wheels to rapidly claw forward over the much deeper compression ridge, as compared to a higher flotation footprint. Its is kind of like driving out of a continuous deep small hole or running mud at higher speeds, as compared to crawling. Needs lots of horsepower, like sand. The chains were throwing snow at least 10' on either side of the truck, would make great video - especially on fresh powder! Had I chains on the back, I would probably not have bounced to the low side of the trail and may not have got stuck - but who knows- stuff happens. I took the chains off on the descent, because braking downhill with chains only on the front in a corner will cause the rear-end to whip around in a flash -- done that - its frightening. The traction ratio between front and rear axles is maybe 3:1. That is why it’s advised to run two sets on 4-wheel drive, front and back. If they are run only on the back the truck looses steering and braking, only on the front - the truck wants to fish-tail, which is dangerous downhill.

[chet]

ya I think all 4 wheels chained up would be the ticket. What are your plans for a beefed up shear pin glenn? different material? I never saw the shear pin what material is it made from?

Also don't think we are blaming you for blovking the trail. it happens to all of us. Hell I blocked wipeout for a while with a blown winch too!!!

[Growly]

duff said:

I would not paint all snowmobilers with the same brush as we get that ourselves. .

Thank you! and I agree that they have a much easier time getting around,but I do know that they are very protective of the areas they play in because of the small amount of time they have to do it.

[McJeep]

Zactly, exactly the same deal that we face with wheeling - all the more reason we "should" be on the same side. Sounds like Camo needs an attitude adjustment

[Glenn]

Chet - I am going to try a 5/16" grade 8 bolt. The original is like 3/16" or a the metric equivalent. Here is a situation where a 10 cent part fails -- and causes a ton of work plus unloading the winch line - not a typical kinda Toyota thang ...

[RebelRob]

Don't forget, though, that relatively soft metal shear pins are the fuse - if that's not the thing that breaks first under load, it's bound to be something a lot more expensive (U-joint$, gear$, what-have-you), difficulty in getting at it when you're up to your ears in snow notwithstanding. For our tractor's PTO, I always kept a mitt full of pins handy, thereby saving the expensive stuff for when it was convenient to upgrade or replace.

[chet]

if its 3/16" now try 1/4" or maybe a higher grade of 3/16" . I think some testing is in order! You could always drill the center out of a high grade bolt to weaken it a bit if its too strong.

[alstick]

Hey I had fun getting stuck with everyone on the weekend sorry I couldn't bring the snow Jeep down as it would have been the ticket to pull everyone out.

In the snow flotation is the key - and not spinning the tires. We dig at times even with the big trucks but we stop asap and use the back of the hole to rock forward to get beyond the hole - or we drive back and forth before a tough spot to pack a section then giver' to get past the tough spot. That snow was really slick with the warm day - bad no matter what. "S@%t snow" we call it.

We rarely use our winches and actually very few of the snow wheelers have them - they would rather not have the extra 50-100 lbs out front like that - me I have a winch but have never used it snow wheeling. We use those really bungee tug straps and take a run at the stuck truck - most times - one tug is enough.

None of us use chains they are useless unless you are on ice or can reach dirt impossible with 6 feet of snow - but everyone has a hi lift - we can hold a 6000lb truck up with a tug strap on soft snow and a hi-lift. Mostly needed to put tires back on when we throw one off - or to pack snow under a tire to fill a hole. We run under 2psi at all times.

Anyway - I am glad I came out and caught up with everyone - sorry we buggered off but Dave got a call to come into work - the pumps went out at Shawnigan Beach estates and he had to run up there with his pumper truck.

for fun a shot of the CJ in the snow - now I just need to fix the engine!!!!!! this shot is more than 6 feet of snow.

[chet]

it was good to see you Al, Tell Dave if he wants to come out wheelin with us more often to e-mail me or Rob Mcf

[RebelRob]

Yah - it was good to meet him and his son Nick - looked they they had lotsa fun too!

[alstick]

I will hook him up with your numbers. Dave was the guy who got me into wheeling back in 1990 or so and I went to school with him. He came back from England and bought a 1988 Chevy long box. After the first trip or two I went and bought a 1989 Chevy step side and we did a lot of exploring with those. From there a buddy bought a 1982 Toyota with 31 BFG A/T's and ran circles around us. It wasn't long and I bought the Jeep and we really started wheeling. Dave's Chevy turned into a Ford Ranger, 31's etc... Family made the two seater disappear, but he didn't wheel it much.
He got the Rubicon this past summer and has been asking me about lifts. The stock tires are just about gone now so a lift and 35's should be on by summer. I think he said he paid 20G for that Rubicon with 70,000k's not to bad for a locked and ready Jeep.
Al

[Ken]

It looked like blood coming from the cut ends of that strap in the picture. Scarry!