| Author | Message | ||
     SSV (Susannah) Senior Member Username: Susannah Post Number: 657 Registered: 06-2002 |
Ok, so I have a steep and muddy driveway that is a little tight in even good weather, although, it's not very long. Yesterday, I drive out with fresh powder, no problems, I'm gleaming about my wonderful 4wd car and loving the snow. I returned home and a friend was following me in his CRV. I started up the driveway a little faster than my normal crawl but not exactly stomping the pedal. I get past the first portion and am almost to the point where it crests and flattens out (there is a tree root system there) and I start spinning. Rover holds the hill but won't go forward....I start to laugh. How can this be happening? I let it back up a little, and I spin some more. Now at this point, I know that I'm down to the layer of frozen mud below the snow and that is certainly not going to help. I back out of the driveway and pullover in front of the house to talk to my gloating friend. He says "want to try it in reverse?!" I challenge him that his car won't make it, and off he goes. The CRV crawled up with no slips...driving like on dry pavement. I got out and tried not to show my anger/confusion. I made comments about weight and tires, and he dismissed my 'excuses.' We finish our discussion and as he is starting to drive away, I decide I MUST try it again. I back up, put the CDL in hi and leave the auto trans in Drive. Hit the gas a little harder (and with more approach time) and drive right up. Here's my question: The first time I went up, I had the CDL in low and the gear in 2nd. Is that what made me slip? I went out again later in the evening and didn't even lock in the CDL and it went up fine (with no more snow to cover the tracks, still a mix of snow/ice/mud). Is it better to let the AWD do it's own thing in a situation like this? I remembered someone from MAR coaching me up a steep mud climb and they told me not to gear down but to the automatic do what it needed to do....does that make a difference? I'm sure weight is still a factor in comparing the little Honda's performance but STILL....was it just my mistake in gearing/choosing? I may never live this down. Please give me something SMART to share! | ||
| Bill Bettridge (Billb) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Billb Post Number: 1416 Registered: 02-2002 |
Yep - you would have been better off with just locking the center diff and driving up. No reason for low range on a minor slope. Also - third or drive is better when you don't want slippage - 2nd or 1st locks it in that gear and you get too much torque and subsequently wheelspin. Same reason for keeping it in high range. Bill | ||
| SSV (Susannah) Senior Member Username: Susannah Post Number: 658 Registered: 06-2002 |
Live and learn.... I have invited him to take that thing out next time we do some REAL off-roading! Just to clear my name! | ||
| Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) Moderator Username: Kyle Post Number: 588 Registered: 11-2002 |
Dont feel bad , it was no different hen a Freelander going up when you couldnt.. "Blow me" | ||
| SSV (Susannah) Senior Member Username: Susannah Post Number: 659 Registered: 06-2002 |
Kyle, I was thinking the same thing. In fact, I even said that.... | ||
| Aaron Richardet (Draaronr) Senior Member Username: Draaronr Post Number: 387 Registered: 09-2002 |
Correct me if I am wrong Kyle, but doesn't your wife drive a freelander, and if so do you speak from experience on your comment. I personally would not get a freelander due to the style of offroading done, I need the clearance, but overall I have found them to be quite capable in many average circumstances. | ||
| SSV (Susannah) Senior Member Username: Susannah Post Number: 660 Registered: 06-2002 |
Um, Aaron, that's Axel that has a wife and a Freelander. Check the photo gallery. And just to clarify, I really like them (Freebies) too...I want a 2004 actually, but I will never sell/substitute the Disco for it's capabilities. It's that ego/pride that goes along with a car you KNOW can do more! ;) | ||
| Sergei Rodionov (Uzbad) Senior Member Username: Uzbad Post Number: 282 Registered: 08-2003 |
Also it can be just matter of CRV's siping better. I.e tires type and pressure can play quite a role in that game. | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1283 Registered: 09-2002 |
Sus, don't mix CDL and range selector. They just happened to be controlled by the same lever on a Disco. | ||
| Enoch Snyder (Esnyder) Member Username: Esnyder Post Number: 100 Registered: 10-2002 |
That's what it sounds like you may have done. CDL low (not locked) doesn't help you much in a climbing situation. In fact, I don't use that option much except maybe in a LONG, steep decline on a road where I don't feel like riding my brakes, or towing something REALLY heavy. Locked in high or low is the way to go in your scenario, if it doesn't want to do it in open high mode. As someone above said, tires can make a huge difference. As for gearing up hill, as others have said, higher gears equal less wheel spin. Although occassionally I'll use 2nd gear in a hill climb if I'm trying to keep rpms up for more power, or to get more initial speed. C'mon, now, us Central Virginia types can't be letting a Honda push us around!!!!!! Other than that awkward moment, hope you're enjoying the snow!  Enoch | ||
| Enoch Snyder (Esnyder) Member Username: Esnyder Post Number: 101 Registered: 10-2002 |
Susanna, are you sure this wasn't the CRV? hahahahahah (scroll down the page until you hit Lemon's Limo) I love search engines! LEMON'S LIMO http://www.truckworld.com/Readers-Rides/hondasuv.html Larry Lemon's Honda beast is blessed with "beaucoup" lift and tires to match. tires. Watch yourself when the Lemon comes - you may in for a squeeze! | ||
| EricV (Bender2033) Senior Member Username: Bender2033 Post Number: 298 Registered: 08-2002 |
SSV - I have a 97 CRV (well, actually its my wife's) and a 96 Disco. I usually drive the Disco, but late Sunday night while playing in the snow it just died. So, until I get it sorted out (hopefully its the fuel pump) I have been driving the CRV. While the CRV is great on the snowy roads I'd much prefer to be driving the Disco which can go thru just about any plow churl with ease. And it's much easier to pull someone out of a snowbank or a ditch with the Disco. | ||
| Will Cupp (W_cupp) Senior Member Username: W_cupp Post Number: 313 Registered: 07-2003 |
all this talk about fuel pumps... I think I am going to buy a back up | ||
| EricV (Bender2033) Senior Member Username: Bender2033 Post Number: 299 Registered: 08-2002 |
Will, Yea, I am *so* glad this didn't happen while we were on top of the mountain last month. That would've been a looong tow to the street. So, all in all I feel very lucky. We'll have to get another trip together in Feb. | ||
| Mark & Bev Preston (Markp) Senior Member Username: Markp Post Number: 255 Registered: 02-2002 |
SSV - You applied too much torque in a situation that did not demand it. All that torque just spun the wheels. No traction. I used to have a TR6 in the Midwest, known for some snow and mostly ice. The TR6 with Michelin Redlines was the best car I ever drove in snow. The 2498 straight six engine had big pistons and lots of torque for a 2500 lb car. Typically I would start in 2nd gear. On a icy snowy hill I would put it in 3rd or 4th gear and just let out the clutch at just above idle. That combination would roll the car forward without spinning the tires. Many times I would pass others stuck on steep icy hills. They would look at me, then the TR6, heads shaking while they laid sand in front of their tires. On ice and snow less is better. As you crest the hill let off the gas to a point that gives you just enough torque to finish the climb. Wheels that don't spin are wheels with traction. | ||
| SSV (Susannah) Senior Member Username: Susannah Post Number: 661 Registered: 06-2002 |
Wow, i'm gone for a few hours and everyone starts writing back! I didn't confuse the CDL gearing...I was locked in HI (yes, locked on the LEFT side) and chose to put it in LO the first time I went up. When it didn't work, I put it back in HI. Since then, I have left it in the open HI position (on the RIGHT) and just let her do her thing. I rarely use the low, open position of the transfer case...I think only once when I was descending a steep hill but didn't need the Centre Diff locked. So, I just made a wrong choice and have since figured it out! And I do think my tyres have a bit to do with it....they will need to be replaced soon. Enoch, I WISH that is what his car looked like...I might have felt better about it! HAHAHAHA! We need to get together sometime...Ivan's buying a RRC today. We are starting to collect! Eric, I agree that I wouldn't trade my Disco for anything...I feel so safe and sound even in this icy weather. I drove into a snow bank yesterday to allow a friend to get out on the sidewalk, and right back out. Doubt the CRV can do that as well! | ||
| gp (Garrett) Senior Member Username: Garrett Post Number: 2414 Registered: 10-2001 |
kyle married? haha. | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 710 Registered: 07-2002 |
I think we have pretty much estabilshed what SSV did wrong - Low gear is not good for most slippery conditions, it's best for getting you down hills, or going up a steep dry hill slowly or while towing heavy loads - I used to do the low-gear-any-time-I'm-off-road thing and in mud I was always slipping, but only once getting stuck. It really is easier in High gear on slippery stuff. Anyway, comparing CRV's to Freelanders, I doubt there is any comparison really when you throw in the ETC on a Freelander - unless I don't know what I am talking about and the new CRV's also have ETC?? | ||
| SSV (Susannah) Senior Member Username: Susannah Post Number: 671 Registered: 06-2002 |
I would assume as well that the CRV and Freelanders would not compete on the same level...atleast, I hope not. | ||
| Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) Moderator Username: Kyle Post Number: 603 Registered: 11-2002 |
On the same Level ? They are damn near the same car !!!! Hell , you better hope the CRV doesnt have low range. If it does its better.... "Blow me" | ||
| SSV (Susannah) Senior Member Username: Susannah Post Number: 675 Registered: 06-2002 |
Oh God. Good thing we bought a Range Rover instead of a new Freelander! Kyle, you're not married yet, right?! (want to make sure I'm passing on the correct information!) Your girlfriend drives the BAD ASS Disco from MD, right?! | ||
| Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) Moderator Username: Kyle Post Number: 609 Registered: 11-2002 |
That is correct , and her name is Heather... "Blow me" | ||
| SSV (Susannah) Senior Member Username: Susannah Post Number: 677 Registered: 06-2002 |
Cool. Look forward to meeting her (and you) someday...?! No more competing with CRVs for me...I won't make the same gearing mistake twice! |
