Shane and I headed out to Tonga Ridge on a mission to find snow. Mission accomplished!

When we reached the airdown spot there was 2-3 inches on the ground. So I predicted a foot of snow up top....................I was way off





It looks like Shane was driving a snow plow.






Here is my snow plow imitation









Stuck 2 of 5 for me.........




Shane's Rob impersonation...........and stuck 2 of 2.

 

looks like heavy wet snow- a PITA compaired to powder!

looks like fun!

 

It was powder when we started in the morning but turned to cement by late afternoon.

 

It wasn't too heavy, we got up there early enough that the sun hadn't hit it yet. Good thing too as we got fresh tracks and on the way down were met by about a dozen other wheelers. I had to stifle a laugh when one of them asked me if we were the ones who broke trail. At the deepest point we found it was covering my 35s.

 

Example of the consistency...

 

GRNTACO thats awesome man.

Hey do you guys have any mods or features to drive through that deep of snow?
Any technique?

 

I think it's mostly technique. Knowing when to back off the gas and when to get on it.

The lockers do help, but it's a different technique. And they can get you in trouble in snow too.

 

manual or auto?

 

Manual.

 

one of your pics is now the backgound on my work comp! Those yotas are freakin' sweet! (I am a sucker for snow also)

Whats your opinion on using your lockers in the snow? I have never had one before so....

 

I have the one of me digging the snow out from under my truck as my background.

I would not recommend lockers in the snow unless you have an idea of what they are capable of (bad and good). The picture of me digging is a (bad) locker caused stuck. The road under the snow sloped that direction, towards the cliff, and with all 4 tire spinning gravity took over. They are fun to use in the forest playing around but I would not recommend them on the road at any speed in the snow, slush or ice.

 

I was running open front and rear most of the day, rear locked on some of the flats, and both locked only when needed to keep forward momentum on the uphill sections. Selectable lockers are your best friend in snow.

 

hmmm - I guess its something I'll mess around w/ in a ski area parking lot or something - unsuspecting parking attendants beware!

 

That would be a good idea.

The best thing for snow driving is lower tire pressure and some weight in the bed.

 

Ben whats the elevation up there? it looks like they got a lot of snow for october. And they probably have A LOT more today, since its been snowing all day in the mountains.

 

We were close to 4400' at the top of the ridge. Most of the roads are between 3800' and 4200'.

 

It's pretty rare we see much if any powder snow- that sure looks fun! Looks almost like sand blowing away from the tires...

I run spools front and rear. Deep snow is fun (over 10" or so seems to kinda stabilize the rig), any kind of off camber sucks, and ice is totally un-fun. I run tires down about 4 to 6 PSI, try to get up on top and float if possible- the crawler gears seem to help easing the truck up on the snow. Last year we ran up on top of 30+ inches and only cut ruts about 8" deep- way cool until ya break thru. Then it's shovel time...build a ramp, crawl back on top...

Definately gotta know your limits. Lockers help a great deal- in 2x4 low, I've just rolled on by guys stuck in open 4x4's. They tend to be kinda upset when ya drive around'm with only the back tires spinnin'.

 

Awsome scenery! Most of that snow must have been the outcome of the two storms that hit us on the west coast.

 

ooohhh....preettyyy

 

heheheheh Watch that edge, it kinda sneaks up on you.