arU4ic

So, my last post on off-roading was during our west coast dry season (In Nov) - yesterday, we hit the snowy (mostly icy) rubicon road leading to the staging area.

I had a rather shocking day:

There is a fairly steep slope at the beginning of the road leading to the Rubicon staging area. I had 3 adults, and another 150 lbs worth of kids. 5 lbs of air out - the car is bone-stock, OE Goodyears.

We went up this grade, and then on to the staging area (about a mile further) played with the kids, snowmen, sledding - fun, fun. Two hours later, turned around went back, saw a stack of rigs lined up at the bottom of this grade. Got lots of stares - I usually do, I always do the trail in a Q7 and am used to the looks - went down the grade, totally off the brake and gas peddles in 1st gear, made it back - zero drama.

We watched 7 rigs try the grade - 4 Jeep wranglers (all with custom lift parts), 1 Mitsubishi on a serious lift kit, 2 Tacomas and 1 4runner - only one Jeep made it up - we was clearly the best driver (CO plates). They all tried, started spinning, then started sliding and didn't stop for 200 yards till they slid to the bottom.

I got a LOT of questions... obviously... "how did you get up there?" I was kinda of a smart-***, getting even for years of dirty looks, "a computer is smarter than a transfer case".

I definitely had the heaviest "rig", 5000 lb+ to start, then 700 lbs of people, full tank of gas. I also stayed dead-steady on the gas, the Q7 barely slipped at all.

Crazy day - never seen anything like it... Quattro wins the day on Jan 1st 2019. And to think, I was VERY close to a 4runner this time around.

gsobol

Yep, you did all the things right and you had the help with the added weight. Situations like this are always a good example of a great gear helps a lot, but no substitution for driver skill.

BigKutta

Were you on all-season tires?

arU4ic

Yup - the Goodyears that came with the Q

BigKutta

Nice. Well done!

alk

arU4ic

Thanks GSO - maybe, but mostly I'm am old man that likes to take it easy.

arU4ic

Indeed, I definitely thought about most of these things:

- What is the condition of the road?
Ice, pretty solid but textured.
- Have other vehicles traversed it recently?
Not sure who was on it before, but saw no other vehicle up the trail until we came out.
- Is it exposed to sunlight?
Nope, overcast all day
- What is the air temperature?
19 (F) when we went in, 24 when we came out.
- What is the road surface temperature?
My Audi doesn't have that feature.
- Are the tires wet or dry?
Too cold for liquid water.
- Is they snow fresh?
Ice
- Is the snow layered (powder over ice or compressed snow)?
No snow. Ice.

Paul3.2A4avant

We took my wife's LR4 to an off-road course at a sand & gravel pit. Land Rover sponsored the event and set up the course through sand, hills, deep mud, wooded trails and big holes that tipped our vehicles onto 2 wheels at opposite corners. The newer vehicles with terrain response programs (sand mode, mud mode, grass mode, hill descent mode) all did great. It was the older vehicles such as Defenders that got stuck since they rely on just mechanical features like locking differentials and low gear. It was obvious how smart current traction control technology is.

Then again, there is no substitute for the correct tires, especially winter tires on snow & ice. I have never seen a Q7 or LR4 unable to get traction in winter, but then you realize it's all about braking and turning all that weight.

arU4ic

Interesting, not totally surprised, especially given this recent experience - yes tires are a huge, maybe a deciding factor.