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optimistic
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# Posted: 10 Oct 2013 15:23
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I own a tiny 2003 outlander and my road to the cabin is 1500 ft of boulders, rocks, and mud. Not fair to even call it a road. After banging my outlander again and again I decided to upgrade to a real off road car. I will get either a 4runner or a nissan pathfinder.
I never road in deep snow, not even sure what is considered deep snow, but I was wondering - will I be able to get to my cabin with the car?? I saw some youtube clips of people driving in some crazy deep snow and I am not sure how the heck they do that but obviously I will be happy to drive instead of walk in... Just a random question.
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rayyy
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# Posted: 10 Oct 2013 16:51
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My 4x4 chevy truck is a must to get in and out of my cabin.
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PA_Bound
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# Posted: 10 Oct 2013 19:29
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My 4x4 F150 is a must for the road to my cabin in the winter also, but even it can get a little dicey as I'm really not setup for those conditions. So sometimes I still park out and walk the mile to my cabin. Getting stuck on the road would be no picnic.
Getting through snow depends on the type of snow it is (wet, heavy vs. dry, light) and how much clearance there is under the car. Even a 4x4 can get hung up if the clearance is low and the snow builds up and packs under the vehicle. Tires can make a difference also. A good 4x4 with off-road tires and a high clearance can tackle a lot. Put chains on all 4 tires and it can tackle even more. Also, with your driveway you may want to consider adding a winch to the front bumper. The only way to really know the limitations of your vehicle and your winter driving ability is to do it. Hopefully if you get hung up it won't be too far back in, and you'll have a neighbor who will pull you out for something like a case of beer (that's the going rate around my cabin).
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cabinbiscuits
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# Posted: 10 Oct 2013 21:07
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One thing you didn't mention in the original post was whether there is an incline/decline (slope) to your road.
In my case my camp Jeep ( a 97 Grand Cherokee with V8 engine) has 31" off road mud and snow tires with a 2 1/2" lift kit and a Lincoln Locker on the rear. The Jeep makes it up and down our steep (and I do mean steep) mountain trail in the dry and rain no problem. I tried it last winter in just a couple of inches of snow and got to the top of a hill at the first switchback before I lost traction and momentum and ended up off the trail stuck up against trees in the back and on the driver's side.
I had to leave it there until spring when i could get my truck up the trail to it in dry conditions and winch it back onto the road with a snatch block.
Just thought I'd mention slope since it can make a huge difference in ice and snow.
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optimistic
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2013 07:18 - Edited by: optimistic
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Interesting stuff. Yes 4x4 is definitely a must. I was told that if the snow packs in front of the car, higher than the bumber, you get stuck no matter what.. but I saw those video and they are really under snow. I guess we will see.
I wanted a 4runner but people seem to think they are priced in gold.. around here a 2004 is around 10k. I will go with a Pathfinder instead. The bulletproof R50 version (1998-2004 model). They have lift kits in case I need one but I will first test it out.
Biscuits - no slopes for me. Crazy story you have there. So you used the GC just for the cabin?
PA - I went the cheaper route on a winch. I got a Hi-Lift jack and it's recovery kit. Work like a winch but costs a lot less and could be used for other things.
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Dillio187
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2013 10:08
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it depends how open your driveway is too. Can you carry a decent amount of momentum down the whole thing (say 15-20 mph) or do you have to slow down for turns? These areas are where you're bound to get stuck.
As the others have mentioned, snow type affects it a lot. The heavy, wet snow is a bear to drive through, I burned my 4x4 half ton Chevy last spring in a heavy snowfall, it packed up under the engine and transfer case and high sided the whole thing. Luckily I had a snow shovel at the cabin to dig it out.
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hueyjazz
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2013 11:53
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Not only do I depend on 4WD during the winter but I always pack tire chains. I feel confortable up to one foot of snow but after that I'm taking chances. I'm very off the main road and it is a dirt and gravel road to access my cabin for about 1.5 miles with one short but steep hill included. I never travel in the winter without my chains, snow shovel , snatch sling and chain saw in the cab.
However, it is my dream to someday be snowed in at my cabin.
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Montanagirl
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2013 13:52
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A winch is a must have in my opinion. Also you can deflate your tires which will give you more traction. You will need a small aircompressor and just remember to air-up after you hit the main road.
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optimistic
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2013 15:21
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Montanagirl - that will be my winter purchase. Air compressor.
Dillio - I can't get such momentum. The road is crazy rocky and that will break my car in half unless I get crazy with lifts and massive tires.
Hueyjazz - interesting dream! ;)
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Montanagirl
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2013 19:54 - Edited by: Montanagirl
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I'm sure the folks at Warn would not recommend this use for their winch but we've found it useful for other things besides getting stuck. LOL.
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cabinbiscuits
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2013 22:15
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optimistic- Yes our Grand Cherokee is a camp only vehicle and it stays there year round. I bring the battery home in the winter time to put it on a trickle charger in my shop. The mice don't seem to miss the battery anyway.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2013 23:59 - Edited by: MtnDon
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Many newish SUV's have poor fender/suspension clearances which make most tire chains unmountable. Tirechain.com is a good source for info and chains. I needed spacers to get even the skinniest of cable chains to mount of the front of our Tacoma.
Snow could be called deep when it is deeper than the axle to earth clearance. IMO. If the bumper or undercarriage starts pushing snow that is bad news and something I prefer to deal with only when in a group. With winches on everyone.
Also, IMO, a locking diff that can be on or off, not always "on" is best. Always locked diffs can be especially bad on sidehills, even mild side slopes. A "lincoln" locker can be cheap and useful on a country only driver. But I learned the hard way to hate them on side slopes.
Winches; only as good as the anchor you have to connect the hook end to.
We have 4WD, Mud Terrain tires, rear locker, winch, chains for front and rear, shovels.... And snowshoes.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2013 01:52
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If the trail to your cabin has a lot of boulders, I wouldn't want to drive it when it's all snow covered. I have enough trouble on a good gravel road with steady slope covered with ice, I wouldn't want to worry about hitting hidden rocks. Just a thought.
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MJW
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2013 10:29
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Quoting: hueyjazz it is my dream to someday be snowed in at my cabin.
I am really looking forward to this very same thing this year!
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cabinbiscuits
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2013 14:07 - Edited by: cabinbiscuits
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MtnDon- You still need a front locker, a tube chassis, a pre-runner suspension,bead lock rims, and a roof mounted snow 
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leonk
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2013 19:25
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you received a lot of good advice.
I second the use of chains, makes a world of a difference.
I own 2 4runners - 1996 that I practically keep around in hopes of using it when I finally buy some land  and newer model that replaced the old one few years ago.
One thing that didn't get mentioned is how frequently you drive to your cabin. If you 'beat' down the trail once in a while it may be OK depending on the amount of snow in between visits. If you there once after 3 months of winter and 4' of snow - forget abut it ;)
The most important piece of gear in all that is the driver ;)
A friend of mine used to pull smallish SUV through mud with a 'come-along'
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2013 20:41
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Quoting: cabinbiscuits MtnDon- You still need a front locker, a tube chassis, a pre-runner suspension,bead lock rims, and a roof mounted snow mobile
Previous 4x4 had a front locker; they can be very handy. It's on the wish list as is a little lift and some taller tires. But that means new gears too, so that's a ways off. Been lucky to never roll a tire off the rim. That is another maybe.... last I knew they weren't actually street legal. Is that still true? But who's looking.
snowmobile on the roof ..... 
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cabinbiscuits
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2013 22:48
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MtnDon- I think whether bead locks are legal would be a matter of state law. In PA where I am they are ok, can't speak for other states.
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Bevis
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2013 23:12
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Florida they are ok...run recentered H1's on my Jeep.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2013 23:15
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Got my curiosity up... Did a Google...
http://www.liftlaws.com/are_beadlocks_street_legal.htm
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optimistic
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2013 09:42
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googled what beadlocks are... main thing I found was that they allow a tire to be mounted without the need for air pressure... So I assume the reason they are mentioned here is because you can then drop the pressure on the tires so much that they will act as almost flat pancakes - gliding over the snow?
Or am I getting this all wrong?
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2013 11:43
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That is the general idea of beadlocks. They were developed by people who like to do serious rock crawling with their 4WD. With a large tire it is common to run the tire pressures down in the 10 psi range. When I was doing that stuff I would run my 35's down to 8 psi. At low pressures like that it is possible to have the tire bead to rim seal break and the tire deflate. That can be very bad when at a severe angle / tilt. Hence beadlocks were born.
My own experience in snow has been that depending on floatation to keep you moving does not always work. I have dropped through the snow several times when trying to float. Then the shovels come out. Having company with a winch is good too.
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bronco_ed
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# Posted: 24 Oct 2013 17:22 - Edited by: bronco_ed
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I will get a chance to use the Bronco in the snow this year
lockers front and rear...
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 24 Oct 2013 18:23
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Just be aware that when both wheels on the same axle are on a slippery surface an engaged locker can move you sideways more than for or aft. They tend to "screw" towards the low side on sidehills unless one tire can't slip sideways, like in a good rut. That's why I don't like Detroits and Lock-Rites.
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creeky
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# Posted: 24 Oct 2013 19:17
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a buddy of mine showed me a trick for driving in deep snow. basically it's slow and gentle does it. you want to keep the tires up on top of the snow. like snow shoes. packing the snow as you go. gets you a couple of extra inches.
but really. just wanted to say. nice bronco. wow.
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rayyy
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# Posted: 25 Oct 2013 16:54 - Edited by: rayyy
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40 years of my phone ringing at 2 AM with a voice saying,,,Rayyy,,,it's time to plow de snowwww!!!It is getting olllllld
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bronco_ed
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# Posted: 27 Oct 2013 20:10
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Very tricky with locker in rear end on street for,snow & ice (even rain with 2wd) but... when both front and rear are used (4x4) it "feels" like you can go through anything.
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optimistic
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# Posted: 27 Oct 2013 20:22
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Well... got a new car (used but still).
2008 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4x4. Just took it upstate to the land, activated the 4x4 LO, and took it in... Didn't touch with the belly so no need to lift! very happy with this car. It is like new and drives like a dream. Cargo space is sooooo handy. No more keeping my generator, tools, wood, bags, and so on in the trunk and back seat like some kind of nomad. My tires are very big... I forgot the size (will tell tomorrow) I want to say 265/75/17 but I will double check tomorrow.
I will find out about the diff locks..
So what is the verdict on taking down PSI for snow floating?
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optimistic
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# Posted: 31 Oct 2013 12:46
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Any thoughts?
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 31 Oct 2013 13:25
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I don't. My past experience has been that sometimes you float until you slow down, then sink. And who knows how deep the snow is then? If I found myself stuck in snow then I might try airing down.
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