Don't drive off road in the winter without a winch.
Driving off road in the winter has its own unique challenges and rewards. Despite the cold, many off roaders enjoy the solitude and beauty of a winter excursion. Driving off road on snow and ice is a lot of fun, but you should be aware of several differences between trail riding in the summer and trail riding in the winter.
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When driving off road anytime, especially in winter, use common sense. Getting stuck in cold weather is a lot more dangerous and life-threatening than getting stuck in the warmer months of the year. Don’t take your safety, or the safety of those traveling with you, lightly.
Driving in Snow
Make sure you have a good gauge of how deep the snow is and how dense it is. If the snow has frozen and thawed several times, or the snow depth includes layers from several snowstorms, there may be differing densities in the snow. For example, a hard layer of snow may be crusted between two soft layers. This hard layer can make driving difficult. Also, remember that even though in the morning you may pass easily over a hard layer of snow on your way in, the afternoon sun can melt that top layer and make the return pass much more difficult.
Usually early season snow is easier to drive through than late season snow because there’s less snow (and densities) built up from snowstorms throughout the season. If the snow is too deep, your rig can easily get high centered. And if the snow is heavy and deep enough, even a good, solid recovery winch might have trouble pulling you out.
Don’t let too much snow pack under the rig. It can freeze the engine and clog the radiator. Snow bashing is hard on the rig, so take it easy when you’re trying to break through the trail. Drive forward slowly, back up, and repeat. Take turns breaking a trail with the other rigs in your group. It saves your rig from taking all the abuse, and it gives everybody a chance to get in on the fun.
Driving with Tire Chains
Use your discretion on when to use tire chains. If you can drive easily on top of a hard-crusted, deep drift, you might be better off without chains, which can churn up the top crust and sink you deeper into the drift. Chains work great in more shallow drifts, say up to 3 feet deep, where the bottom is hard enough to provide solid traction for the chains. Be extra careful when driving on icy rock faces with chains. You’ll have very little control on these surfaces.
Watch out for stumps, logs, roots, rocks, and other obstacles that are hidden under the snow. These can cause major damage, especially if you’re driving with chains. You can easily break an axle or hub, or worse.
Besides the precautions for winter off road driving, remember to follow other off road safety tips, such as traveling with other rigs, checking the weather before you leave, and leaving your travel plans with friends or family at home.
