hows your bx in the snow

[Defender110]

Oooh! I like those?

[mat_fenwick]

Something interesting I noticed whilst towing the BX out of a snowbank on our track regarding 4x4 traction (I had steered the BX pointing downhill out of the way so it wasn't blocking the track, but as the front was buried in snow it meant the only way out was to be towed up quite a steep incline).
NB With Land Rovers of that era you have permanent 4wd with a centre diff to allow road use. Off road for most traction I tend to lock the centre diff, so at least one wheel on each axle has to turn (in this configuration it is mechanically the same as a vehicle with switchable 4wd such as most pickups and the like).
However with the diff lock engaged and trying to pull straight back I didn’t have enough traction and had 2 wheels spinning. Also, if I turned the steering to one side (to point across the track to lessen the gradient) I had the same problem.
But, I figured that by turning the wheels with the centre diff lock on, it would mean that a wheel had to slip to prevent transmission wind up. I therefore took it out of diff lock, turned the wheels hard right and was able to drive out no problems! Moral being that maybe diff lock isn’t always best unless you are travelling in a straight line...

[kiwi]

Regularly have to tow people out of difficulty. Could not begin to do that in the BX.

Disagree there it depends on location, location, location and I found myself in that situation couple years back where the BX with chains ended up pulling a 4wd without chains out of a sticky situation.

The BX most certainly isnt better, even if it was equiped with chains.

Never said it was or would say it was it comes down to the Driver.

Also, i dont agree with you that most 4x4 drivers dont know how to drive their vehicles. The majority do.

Sorry I can not find enough of those icons to use.

Townie + 4x4= Recreational Vehicle and bullet proof attitude.

Why do people really buy 4wds? The answer because they are told they are the safest vehicles to drive on the road and will get them out of trouble. Yet the majority of them have never been driven off road mud let alone snow.

Dont care what you say it comes down to experiance in driving in adverse condition i.e Snow and being able to adapt and also know the limit of your ability and the vehicle. Sadly a trait missing in most 4wd owners no matter male or female. Mat sounds like he has figured that part out?

[scarecrow]

...and 4x4's are safer at the expense of smaller cars due to the mass ratio in any collision between them. I hate town 4x4's - there's no place for them around town and soon enough they will have to be regulated with owners having to prove they need such vehicles.

Well, in my World, anyway

[docchevron]

I have the usual Uniroyal tyres, no winter specials, and didn't get stuck, ieven some fairly shite conditions.
RWD was useless, and it was almost certainly the only time I'll overtake a Porxche Cockster in a 21 year old pink BX at pace whilst it ground to a halt in the kerb.

That said, driving the Manitou in ice, snow, cow shit, whatever pisses all over a landy or any other 4x4 I've ever driven!
Albeit having masses of weight and tyres that cost £2K each probably helps..

[mat_fenwick]

Interesting comments I heard from my father in law earlier this year whilst helping in the car park (aka muddy field) of some show or other. Many people (of both sexes) appeared not to know that in some cases they actually had to engage 4wd or centre diff lock to help with traction...

Don't know for certain, but I'd wager that those with 'agricultural' 4x4s i.e. chosen for function, not fashion) would be more likely to get the best out of their vehicles rather than the soft roader brigade.

[kiwi]

Don't know for certain, but I'd wager that those with 'agricultural' 4x4s i.e. chosen for function, not fashion) would be more likely to get the best out of their vehicles rather than the soft roader brigade.

I will double that wager because I know that for a fact having to endure every winter the "I got a 4wd look at me on the way to the ski areas".

And I will say it again the more you drive in the snow the more experiance and confidence in the vehicle you have to use in those conditions. First couple of days each winter I am treading carefully and the first slide is the point that wakes up up for the rest of the season. The sooner you get your confidence the safer it seems to get. Maybe I missed used the word safe there but you get what I mean I hope?

[mike22861]

My BX 4x4 Gti has been absolutely astounding in the snow it has laughed at Subarus "what's ABS you have TORSEN diffs and Diff lock" i even passed a stuck mitsubishi shogun while going up a 1 in 3 out of Grosmont. I cannot praise the little car enough always starts first touch and never got stuck why don't they make a modern version of this

[mike22861]

I notice from a previous post someone querying landrover type vehicles I have a Landrover as well as i drive 40 miles over the North Yorkshire Moors to work. In light snow or ice the BX is far better much safer due to its much smaller mass if it gets away on you it much easier to recover than a 2.5 tonne landrover on the other hand when youre setting off over the moors and it a blizzard the Landrover will always make it so it is horses for courses heavy snow landrover light snow /ice BX and yes i use my landrover about 40% off road it isn't a Chelsea tractor

[kiwi]

Might as well drag this picture out again



The mighty Hilux 4wd rescues the muppet Subaru

While BX owner slips passed and takes pictures

[Mothman]

Nice piccy, but the Hilux would have you away in deeper snow


Andy

[kiwi]

but the Hilux would have you away in deeper snow


Andy

Ahh well thats where the common mistake is made about snow driving

Snow has a moisture content that determines if it is soft and fluffy, ice crystals or heavy and wet. How any vehicle will handle snow conditions is determined by that variable as well as the depth.

You are more likely to forge a path through dry snow than heavier wet snow. As the snow compacts the level of grip changes and how the driver interprets that determines the chances of becoming motionless aka stuck.

I think this has been said a dozen times the DRIVER is the weak link, In other words the DRIVER will be the one who gets stuck and over estimates the ability of his/her vehicle.

Point being how far your BX gets in the snow is determined by the driver.

[Mothman]

So you have never been stuck in the snow? Ever?

Sounds like your BX is an exceptional car and that you are an exceptional driver.

Us mere mortals with simple 4x4s just cant seem to cope with the white stuff.
Oh, and by the way, i have never got stuck in the snow either, at least not in my 4x4 which i drive just like a normal car, and i dont have chains or chunky winter tyres.
You obviously have more snow than us here in the UK and that does make you more practiced than us, that i do not doubt but please dont tar every 4x4 driver with the same brush. Some of us here in the UK do actually know how to use them and the all whom i saw driving them in the last lot of snow here were doing ok.
As i said before, i didnt see any abandoned 4x4s here, only 2wds without chunky tyres and chains.Most people in this country dont carry chains as we dont usually have need to and that is probably why we have such problems in the snow here.

I agree with you that experience in snow driving and type of snow really do make a difference and wouldnt it be better to emphasise your skills at it rather than implying the BX is a supercar in it.
As i have said before, i would never again go out in my BX in snow as it dosnt compare with My L200, just dosnt compare at all and it dosnt need a great deal of experience to drive it. You just get in it, put it in 4wd and drive it anywhere you want.
Now, driving too fast in one in snow, that is another matter and ile bet thats why they do come a cropper but hey, i have seem so many boy racers doing it in 2wd vehicles who really should know better but alas they dont and end up in the hedge.

You may be an excellent snow driver, of this i have no doubt, i expect you could do as well in any 2wd vehicle suitably booted but you dont have to be so good in a 4x4. I dont tear around in it, nor do i make every trip a challenge to get where ime going, i just get in and get there every time.
However, i know my limits too, if its too deep i dont go out in it, thats the only thing that stops me. Neither can i be arsed with changing to winter tyres nor putting chains on. I suppose ime lucky to have a 4x4 thats all.
Its also very useful in other situations, muddy fields and offroad farm tracks, places where i often have to go and no 2wd would make it.

Andy

[kiwi]

Pull ya head in will ya!

The Post was "Hows your BX in the snow" well we all answered and yes my BXs (plural) have pretty darn good over the years in the snow of the UK, French Alps, Pyrennes and NZ.

They say practice makes perfect well still got a long way to go and every winter you got to have one slide to wake you up. I do it in 30-45 seater buses which you simple do not want to get stuck on a mountain access road, and yes 4wds are the biggest pain in the rear going when they are the cause of mayhem. Never said I have not been stuck but I wont put myself in that position either!

Yes I have a lot of experiance driving snow one the reason I got my winter job here was because of experiance back in the UK and that ability to drive in the white stuff confined to a small area here on the North Island every winter. Every winter June to October we venture into the level where snow is found. You dont play around on a mountain road in the snow and ice you learn very quickly not to.

I make no apology for saying my BX is great to drive in the snow because it is and I like it in the snow! It could be better and that where the driver comes in! Flick a set of chains on it and she is a beast!

Yep I am a proud BX owner and I enjoy driving it no matter the conditions.

[Stinkwheel]

Only one thing to say really on this, no 2wd car is great in the snow, i personally feel my BX is quite good in the snow, the reason being, manual steering and the narrowest tyres available on them. Always helps.

Which is why i usually drive a 2CV in the snow.