Driving in snow.

[Xist]

I have lived in deserts almost exclusively since first obtaining my driver's license twenty-three years ago, and if I was not living in a desert, I probably was not driving. It did snow in Afghanistan. Hey, did you guys know that I drove Army trucks?!

Also the only experience that I have leaving hardball is Afghanistan.

Well, it snows up here. It snowed eight days ago and it is supposed to snow tonight and throughout tomorrow.

Eight of my clients live down dirt roads with hills and I am supposed to see four of them tomorrow. One canceled last week because someone already got stuck.

I have always heard that a smart driver with FWD can maintain traction better than a driver relying on A\4WD, but do you guys think that I will be okay with my old Honda?

I believe that most of you live where it snows, but I do not know how common it is to drive down dirt roads, and it does not seem like a great combination.

I guess that I will be ordering an E-Tool



What do you guys think?

Thanks! Have a great day!

[oil pan 4]

I see them in walmart in the camping section.
Julius Caesar said something to the effect of "no battle field implement has won more battles than the etool".

With snow it all depends on how deep it is most of all and if it's melting or not.

[redpoint5]

We've had long discussions about AWD several times before.

It doesn't help with braking or cornering, so it's really only useful for acceleration.

Tire choice or chains make all the difference in the world.

If you run out of ground clearance, you're probably going to get stuck.

I'd probably attempt the trek because adventure is my personality. A shovel is a good idea. I prefer a square-point, or a snow shovel to the Army one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxF8JazQFpA

[Xist]

Ground clearance is important on roads with deep snow?

Does anyone plow dirt roads anywhere?

I recently bought a square-nosed shovel for another project, so I was planning on keeping that in my car, at least until I bought the E-Tool, but the point about the square nose makes sense. Coleman sells a $10 folding shovel, but the only square folding shovel that I can find is $40 on Etsy, plus $10 to ship.

Who uses Etsy?
https://www.etsy.com/listing/6343470...sr_gallery-1-8

Should I carry a bag of kitty litter or is there something better?

Well, it is 0330, and it is still raining, although it is down to 36°. I took melatonin a couple of hours ago, but still feel completely awake, which is a problem, because I am supposed to be at a client's house in five hours.

I need to cut back on cat videos!

[Fat Charlie]

Get a real snow shovel. If it doesn't fit in your trunk, it'll fit in your backseat. Get the e-tool as well, because if you're on a dirt road things may have gotten a little too funky for the foot and a half wide plastic blade.

But for snow removal, use a tool actually designed for it. If you're trying to move a lot of snow with an e-tool, you may be better off walking.

[ksa8907]

Tread depth. If your tires are more like sleds than cleats, you're not going to have a good time.

[Daox]

My tip is to go for it. Take it easy, give yourself more time, and also to test your traction every once in a while until you get a feel for it. To do this I just mash the gas pedal here and there while going straight. It gives you an idea of the traction you have available. Do not swerve back and forth to test traction. But, test the conditions. You'll get used to it quickly enough and it won't even be an issue after that.

[oil pan 4]

Almost no one in maine has a paved drive way, almost everyone has their dirt road or drive way paved.

[Xist]

We have snow shovels, so I will grab one, and my square-nosed shovel.

The first family asked me to reschedule. It looks like we already have four inches of snow and it is still falling.

[redpoint5]

Getting close to the clearance of your car, no? The problem with a car when it runs out of clearance, it runs out everywhere since it's so flat underneath. You end up high centering on the snow and have to dig the whole thing out.

In a truck, you'll bury the differential, but the rest of the frame won't be resting on top of the snow. Much easier to dig out a differential than an entire car.