Stuck in snow, winchless recovery

[patrickfinley]

I got my 100 stuck on the ice this weekend. I was up at 10k elevation in Taos New Mexico. I was pulling into a parking area and the front tires dropped into a soft patch of snow. The tires dropped down about 9 inches into an ice ditch. The rear tires where sitting on ice as well. I'm running Mich LTX MS tires. Anyway it just spun. Luckily there was a police officer right there with a tow strap and he pulled me out right away.

My question is this, do snow chains work well for recovery on a stuck vehicle? Also, has anyone ever used these additional traction mats? My weathertech floor mats where an option but I'd prefer not to tear them up unless it's a real emergency. If you've got chains, do you think either of these would help?

Cheap traction device - Anyone ever use this??
Amazon.com: Portable Tow Truck (black): Automotive

MaxTrax - seem good but very pricey.
Traction Specializers ft MAXTRAX Vehicle Extraction and Off Road Traction Devices

What else do people like in winchless self recovery from snow? In my kit currently I have an avalanche shovel, gloves and chains.

Then if someone else is around I have a 20' tow strap and D shackles.

 

[Yukon LX]

Maxtrax are pricey, but work GREAT. You can get some old pieces of carpet as well.

 

[pfran42]

Maxtrax are pricey, but work GREAT. You can get some old pieces of carpet as well.

I agree that Maxtrax work well. To me they are $200 over-priced especially when you consider that you can purchase a good winch on sale for $350.00.

- Sent from a very small supercomputer.

 

[patrickfinley]

Anyone try putting chains on once the vehicle is stuck in snow to gain traction?

 

[lexi4darin]

When the vehicle is stuck, putting on chains is too late. Usually you drive over the chains with some back and forth movements of the vehicle. If you're stuck already then usually it's too late. Typically you think of chains as a pre-stuck device.

Don't buy those snow mats. I didn't even look at them but save the money for snow tires instead. As well anyone in a jam can use their floor mats already in the truck or bring your old bath mats, area rugs, etc from your house. Instead of throwing those out, recycle them to your snow recovery gear; it saves you money, its good for the environment, and the wife will be happy to upgrade old mats/rugs in the house.

 

[saillaw]

I've seen the MaxTrax used several times in powdery sand, and they are ok if you are close to a hard spot. If you are not, you're either going to shoot them deep in the sand (twice I've seen people lose them because they got burried deep) or have to continue moving inches at a time.

An elastic recovery strap or a winch would be better in those cases, but I'd take the MaxTrax over nothing at all.

I'm not sure how they would do on ice, especially if the ice was on an incline.

Snow tires or chains are probably your best bet.

I got stuck on ice once in my 80, was at the bottom of a hill, I just waited for someone to come by and got a tow. they had snow tires and had no problem. I wonder though if deflating my tires might have helped? I've never tried that on ice.

 

[PAToyota]

As others have mentioned, you usually drive onto chains - which won't work once you are stuck. So you'd have to jack the vehicle up to try to put the chain around the tire. At that point, if you have a hi-lift - better to jack the vehicle up out of the ditch and then push it backwards - off the jack.

 

[patrickfinley]

When the vehicle is stuck, putting on chains is too late. Usually you drive over the chains with some back and forth movements of the vehicle. If you're stuck already then usually it's too late. Typically you think of chains as a pre-stuck device.

Don't buy those snow mats. I didn't even look at them but save the money for snow tires instead. As well anyone in a jam can use their floor mats already in the truck or bring your old bath mats, area rugs, etc from your house. Instead of throwing those out, recycle them to your snow recovery gear; it saves you money, its good for the environment, and the wife will be happy to upgrade old mats/rugs in the house.

Yup, that's what I was thinking, there is fitment needed with chains. My rear tires where on ice but clear, I was thinking as a last resort that I could do a loose fit with chains and perhaps that would have given me enough traction to pull the front tires out. I figured they would stick to the tire better than the traction mats.

I'd consider snow tires, but in places like New Mexico and the California Sierras the temps will be 60 F at the base of the mountain and 20 F at the top. Those snow tires are lousy performers at 60F.

Some old rolled up mats/carpet sound like a good thing to add to the gear. I like the idea of them being rolled up too. Those stiff traction mats seem like a pain to store in the vehicle.

 

[snobdds]

I don't know where you get your chains from, but mine you don't have to drive over them to get them on. There is just one long section where the latching device is, voided of any cross links. Most of the time that is the only time I chain up...when I'm stuck. It usually sucks to get out and do it, but it's possible.

The problem with the front end dropping into a hole is all the weight transfered to the front. The rear end has no real weight to it so...no weight = no traction. I always carry a bag of sand and add it to the rear for traction (just add a ton of it under each tire). Then I put any sort of tree branch or log behind the front tire, just to the spinning wheel, to trick it it has traction...providing power to the other wheel. Sometimes that combo will be enough to lurch it out.

 

[patrickfinley]

The problem with the front end dropping into a hole is all the weight transfered to the front. The rear end has no real weight to it so...no weight = no traction.

That was my issue with the rear tires, they just spun. My chains are the same as yours. I can put them on without moving the tire. However after they are installed I am supposed to move forward a little and re-tighten. Perhaps if the police officer wasn't there I should have asked my Dad to sit in the back and put a little weight on the rear.

I do also have a folding saw and hatchet. So I could have cut a little log if need be. Seems like I had most of the gear needed if the cop wasn't around. Well, that is except a winch.

 

[80t0ylc]

When the vehicle is stuck, putting on chains is too late. Usually you drive over the chains with some back and forth movements of the vehicle. If you're stuck already then usually it's too late. Typically you think of chains as a pre-stuck device..............

Obviously, you don't do much wheeling in snow, do you? One of the best strategies for snow - wheelin' is to save your chains for when you do get stuck. Then you put 'em on and do an immediate about face and don't go any deeper into trouble. If you have 2 sets, 1 for each axle, you can put one set on and keep the other in reserve to get you out of trouble.

One sure way to get in trouble when wheelin' in snow, is to play your best card and hope it's enough to get you through. One nice thing about having a winch. It usually will rescue you or some other rig that's got in trouble. However, don't underestimate peoples ability to get themselves into a real bind. I try to preach caution, as much as possible. Those who know just smile, those that haven't been stranded yet will usually just laugh and figure - "that'll never happen to me!" ---

 

[lexi4darin]

Obviously, you don't do much wheeling in snow, do you? One of the best stategeys for snow - wheelin' is to save your chains for when you do get stuck.

Obviously I don't and I can only be grateful that you have provided the most basic of 4x4'ing advice of not playing your trump card first on a 4x4 forum full of enthusiasts. :whoops:

To the OP - My advice stands. If you think it's founded or not, idk but judge for yourself. I spent most of my life owning a 4x4 and while it doesnt snow in my back yard, I've been driving to the snow on most weekends for 20-ish years during winters.

Save your money from the silly mats, tires will do more for you (would be my preference over chains as well as a first purchase), bring the easy and cheap household stuff (rugs, kitty liter, sand) so you can spend money elsewhere. A winch is great but if your doing a complete system with bumpers, gear, etc, I think you'll be in for more than ~$300. Chains are great but cost more than other options (depending on the type of chains/cables can be even more hassle after your stuck). And as to when to put the chains on, nothing trumps exp. When you know your tires aren't going to cut it, there's no point to waiting to put on chains. When you're stuck in a parking lot as you were, just drop down the rugs and be on your way in 5 minutes.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

I agree with 80t0ylc and snobdds, I've never had a problem with putting on chains once stuck. I carry strips of carpet, 4 sand bags, 1 or 2 bags of crushed gravel, an extra 100 ft of 3/8" cable, shovel, axe, saw and tire chains for Wyoming/ NW US winter travel . In Wyoming we can see 4 to 6 ft of drift snow in a matter of seconds on our roads (Jackson to Green River) . Just prepare yourself the best you can and if that doesn't work, hope that someone is on that same road eventually too.

 

[Mark W]

Saying that you should not put on your chains until you are stuck is just silly.

So is saying that you can not put them on after you are stuck.

You do not need to drive over chains to install them.




To answer your original question... you could have put your chains on to get unstuck. Once you know what you are doing it takes only a few minutes.

For parking lot stucks on ice like you describe, a bag of mixed sand and small gravel works wonders. Just sprinkle some under and ahead of the tires and drive right out. Nothing that needs to be picked up or cleaned up either.
Kitty litter is a poor choice... it crushes on hard ice and is less effective as it does... it get soft and soggy if it is wet and is worthless if it does.

Rugs and mats and the like can be more effective in deeper snow. IF you can get them into place and IF it is not too deep anyway.


Mark...

 

[patrickfinley]

I completely agree that if heading into potentially icy or deep snow it makes sense to put chains on before a problem arises.

In this particular situation it was a dirt road that had been plowed. Then it had gravel thrown on top. It was not a situation that warranted chains for a Land Cruiser or like vehicle with decent tires. I just happened to misread the end of the parking area and went 9" too far into an ice ditch.

I like the idea of carrying of gravel/sand!

 

[80t0ylc]

Saying that you should not put on your chains until you are stuck is just silly...............

I'm talking about wheelin', not traveling down a highway where there is traffic, cops, chain laws and other regulations. Or Alaska, where there's 6 ft of snow in your yard already. I'm talking about starting out from a valley where there's little or no snow & climbing up in elevation or following a trail into remote country where there is possibly no one else. You're just out for some fun and adventure, but you want to use some common sense. Sure if you have a winch mounted and there's timber around for winch points, go ahead and chain up ahead of time. But if chains and maybe a shovel and mats are all you have for recovery and you're by yourself, I'd hold them in reserve for getting turned around or backing out of trouble.

As for unplowed or snow packed parking lots, they can be an adventure all by themselves as the OP has discovered. What the ice and snow hides can sometimes cause hours of delay for the unprepared or single vehicle. Just 'cause it looks flat and smooth doesn't mean that's what it is underneath, specially if the wind's been blowing and the snow is powder (cold).

 

[crushers]

jack
snow shovel
bag of sand (or if you burn wood, ashes)
and a light foot on the throttle

carpet, i have had very little success with it.

true ice radials work wonders on ice and in deep snow.

 

[snobdds]

I'm talking about wheelin', not traveling down a highway where there is traffic, cops, chain laws and other regulations. Or Alaska, where there's 6 ft of snow in your yard already. I'm talking about starting out from a valley where there's little or no snow & climbing up in elevation or following a trail into remote country where there is possibly no one else. You're just out for some fun and adventure, but you want to use some common sense. Sure if you have a winch mounted and there's timber around for winch points, go ahead and chain up ahead of time. But if chains and maybe a shovel and mats are all you have for recovery and you're by yourself, I'd hold them in reserve for getting turned around or backing out of trouble.

As for unplowed or snow packed parking lots, they can be an adventure all by themselves as the OP has discovered. What the ice and snow hides can sometimes cause hours of delay for the unprepared or single vehicle. Just 'cause it looks flat and smooth doesn't mean that's what it is underneath, specially if the wind's been blowing and the snow is powder (cold).

I tend to agree that I only chain up when the time arises. It's not that hard to chain up and if I need chains, I need to rethink how far I am into the situation. I've seen guys with chains on thinking there invincible and get so stuck they're there for days getting the truck unstuck. Wheeling with chains on provides a false sense of security and has gotten many into situations they regret later.

The only time I chain up proactively is when I haul the camper out during elk hunting season if there is a lot of snow. It's only due to me not wanting to spin the tires and make ruts everywhere. Plus I don't have to get the RPM's up to clean the lugs out to get traction...I can just creep.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

Patrick,

Yesterday, I had to go out with my LC to recover a friend's Jeep, as he dove on to ice and then almost went over a 200ft drop with all of his family. Here is what I saw with both vehicles:

1. Chains can be helpful, even if you are already stuck, if you can get them onto the wheel enough to keep them from flopping around, as to damage something. We did this with his vehicle and it did help. We had to continuously check the chains to re-tighten, but they did the job. His front end was another matter. It kept trying to go over the edge. I had him strapped to the front end of mine and kept him on the "road".

2. I also brought along some Ice-Melt in case we needed to get out of a drift, not knowing exactly what we were getting into. Depending upon the ambient temp, this can help get you some traction.

3. Going out on a recovery - I chained up in mud, before we hit the ice and was very glad I did so. That said, most would wait to put the chains on until they started to slip. This is what my friend did and it almost cost them their lives if he had continued to slide. They were very lucky.

4. Both vehicles had chains only on the back end, so the front ends tended to slide around coming down off the mountain. With the 100, I do not have room for chains on the front, but given how solid the back was, it would have been nice. That brings up an important point: you tend to have more traction going up than coming down. Keep this in mind when wheeling as the drive down tends to be more dangerous than the drive up.

Be careful out there...

Jonathan

 

[patrickfinley]

Hey LCHardriver thanks for sharing your story. Good to hear your friend didn't go over the edge with his family.

BTW, Like me it looks like your tires are close to stock size for your 100. I'm stock and picked up these for the fronts. They are sub class "s" in thickness so they fit in tight areas.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HZA2ME/?tag=ihco-20
They aren't really off-roading chains, but they are better than nothing in the front. I've got 275 and there is clearance with the UCA.