21
SNOW
(1)
‘
The problem isn’t the snow, but the ice under it
’ [21].
(2)
Starting: clear off the accumulated snow. Clear the exhaust pipe [24]. Put
sand or cat litter on the road if necessary [24]. Take flashlight, blankets etc.
(3)
Use chains on wheels. Some suggest putting them on the front wheels so that
steering is better. Leave the tyres at normal pressure [23]. If you are not using
4WD, or driving uphill or towing then the chains should go on the driving
wheels, which for Delica are the rear [25]. (For front-wheel drive cars, the
chains should always go on the front wheels, as this is where the propulsion
and the steering takes place.)
(4)
Use 4WD.
(5)
Try 4H to start with.
(6)
Can change to ALT gearbox mode.
(7)
Lights on so others can see you.
(8)
Drive slowly.
(9)
Don’t accelerate around corners [24] or the vehicle will skid.
(10)
Test the brakes before you need them [24]. Some Delicas have ABS and this
produces a hammering sensation, which is normal.
(11)
Coast over particularly slippery looking surfaces [24].
(12)
Don’t brake when sliding [22]. Turn into the skid if it happens [23].
(13)
Don’t accelerate harder when slipping uphill [22].
(14)
Lightly loaded trailers skid easily [22].
(15)
Leave a large following distance [22].
(16)
Off-road driving in snow requires additional considerations, e.g. see [23, 25].
6.4
Recovery
Once stuck:
•
First try to reverse out [20].
•
Deflate tyres further if possible (min 70 kPa or 10 psi),
•
Dig ramps in front and behind each wheel and try to drive out.
•
Try repeated forwards and backwards [21].
•
Dig out a space for the differential (if necessary).
•
Add sticks, stones, clothing etc. to provide better traction. Fit snow chain if
possible. Steel ladders are useful in sand.
•
Jack the vehicle up (not always possible) and fill in the holes under the
wheels.
•
Remove payload from vehicle [25].
Carry a towing rope/strap as a precaution, so that others can help you out.
•
With a conventional rope or wire rope, take up the slack gradually to prevent
damage to the mounting points.
•
With a semi-elastic strap (see Figure 21) the method is to start moving with a
slack strap. This gives a greater pull-out force. Technically, the kinetic energy
of the towing vehicle is converted into pull out force. The strap is therefore
superior to a rope for recovery.