NW WA Meet / BS Thread

All this talk about straps and shovels...

#1 thing in the snow... TIRE PRESSURE.

You'll spend all day getting stuck if you have anything over 5psi in your tires..

I know a lot of you were "aired down" but 10-15psi and 35psi are essentially the same thing in snow or sand. You have to get low enough so your sidewalls will really squish and form to the snow. Snow is soft, your tires need to be softer. And you'll stay on top of the snow, instead of sinking. I always run 5psi or lower. Saturday I was at 2psi. I know a lot of you were worried about loosing a bead. That simply won't happen at mach 3MPH lol. I do a lot of snow wheelin', I've never lost a bead.

Another key thing is TRACTION. If you break it, no more forward momentum. Once you break traction, let off the gas and let the tires bite again. A heavy foot and spinning tires will get you no where fast.

If those 2 things fail... then pull out the strap and shovel. I always bring them, but I can count maybe 3 times I've ever had to dig out of the snow. I also carry a ratchet strap and a can of starting fluid. If you do lose a bead, it can be set about 30 seconds.

 

Another key thing, as redieexileex said... a compressor. Don't air down if you can't air up. Usually as a group more then a few will have a compressor, but the 12v units take about 4-5 min per tire from 5psi back to 35psi, and thats with a good heavy duty compressor. The smaller ones take even longer. Sharing is caring, but you'll be standing around a long time if you're waiting to borrow one. Then once that guys done hes got to wait another 20 min for you to wrap it up. Don't be that guy lol plus its key in every offroad situation, not just the snow.

 

Everything you said about air pressure is spot on. To speak to Sean's point about lockers in the snow, the only time I have really effectively used my locker in the snow was when I was climbing an off-camber hill, and my rear tires were able to sit against the side of hill once the rear kicked out against it.

And this post is the reason I always carry 2 little cheapies with me:

 

Always willing to lend a hand and share some knowledge.... I asked several about tire pressure, and suggested to go lower but didn't want to press the issue since it was my first time meeting all of you. Didn't want to be the guy that shows up and tries telling people how to drive, what psi they should be at, what they should have for lunch.. lol no one likes that guy haha

Ive used my hi lift in the snow by shoving some limbs and stuff under the base. Sunk a little buy did the trick. They sell a wider base for the soft stuff, but never felt I really needed to spend the money. One could easily be made out of scrap steel. A fire extinguisher is also key, have one mounted in front of the drivers seat. My valve covers used to leak on to my headers before I put my new motor in, if the heater was on sometimes it would blow smoke into the cab... always thought I'd be using the extinguisher at some point. Now I have a new motor and all new gaskets, so I feel much safer.

 

Ive had the smittybilt version for over a year now... same pump different branding. I love it. I had the smaller version of the super flow, this one is way faster at airing up 35s!

 

Haha, way to support the family business
Double

 

Fire extinguishers is a whole topic too - I keep two in my rig. I keep a B-C on the drivers side so that I can put out my own vehicles fires, since it is a different compound that cleans up easier and is relatively safer for electronics, etc. I keep an A-B-C one on the passenger side that I would use in all other scenarios.

 

I keep one in my tool box, should probably move it & mount it on the rear side panel of the driver side. That seems to be a spot where it won't get in the way/is easily accessible


I more so keep it back there for other people, not myself..

 

Just to push the the extremes... I also think about how I would access things if the truck were flopped on its side, upside down, etc

 

Im on the hunt for a compressor after this last meet, looking at this one:
http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-...aspx?t_c=18&t_s=190&t_pt=100437&t_pn=V/A30033

 

ok thanks

 

thanks for the link! ill probably order that one this week

 

The one I had before was the smaller version of the super flow... viair supposed to be good, but they seem priced a little high. The one you've got and the one I've got are the exact same, just different companies slapping their sticker on it. I found them cheaper online but wanted to get my hands on it that day so I picked mine up at 4wheel parts for $199 + I bought the life time warranty smittybilt offers for $40. Smittybilt also had a co2 tank for like $200, half the price of a powertank. They fill a lot faster than a 12v pump, you can run air tools off it, and will seat a bead without using starting fluid and a lighter. But you got to deal with having it refilled when it gets low. Depending how often you use it you could get away with once or twice every year. Co2 is cheap at welding supply stores.


just read the description for the super flow from the link you posted... it says it inflates a 37" tire in under 2 min and a car tire in under 16 second. By "inflates" do they mean from no air to some air? lol It takes easily 4-5min per tire for me and I'm only on 35s.

 

I just my parents for one as a present for the holidays... along with a Factory55 ProLink & Fairlead Those should help aid in snowy recovery efforts

 

I agree!

 

I'm don't really care if it takes 5min a tire I can't justify a co2 one I like the simpleness of just plugging it to your battery and letting it do it's thing

 

So how is everyone feeling about a snow run out HWY 2? Not really sure what direction everyone is coming from... or is everyone set on heading out I 90 again? I know its more central for those of you that are south of Seattle and a little easier to get to, but the options are pretty limited west of the pass due to the many locked gates...

Tonga Ridge is a couple miles east of Skykomish up FS 68 to 6830, with tons of side roads off of 6830 to explore, assuming we managed to make it to the end with time to spare, which is doubtful. Peak elevation is about 4500-4600' with some side roads climbing to about 4800'. I was trying to get a screenshot of the area on my computer since the google maps on there still has the terrain layer so I could post a picture of the area but couldn't figure it out...

I'm game for whatever is easiest to include everyone else, just trying to throw out other suggestions of areas I'm familiar with. Last couple times I've been up 6830 there were no locked gates to be found so I don't think we'd run into any surprises. Forcast looks like there isn't going to be much new snow before then, so it shouldn't be much deeper than Saturday.

 

I'm game for HWY 2
Better than finding a bunch of locked gates

 

Cool idea. I'll have to look into adding a can of starting fluid to my arsenal and learning how to use it in such a situation.

Also good advice about tire pressure. I've never taken it below 15 but that's about to change.

 

Fuck, people. I thought I was on top of it by carrying a fire extinguisher. Now I have to admit I don't have a clue what type it is. Thanks Sean

Good advice.