How to Drive a 4WD in the Snow?
Four-wheel drive helps you to get moving in the snow, but it’s your 4WD Snow Driving skills that helps you to stop. No matter how great the safety technology is in your 4×4 vehicle, it is no match for driver skill, experience or patience.
The Objective is to always maintain “Maximum Grip”.
Best practices for 4WD Driving in the snow is common sense. Look well ahead of your 4WD vehicle, avoid hard braking and keep the revs down to reduce the risk of wheelspin. Throttle control is important, back off the throttle before a corner and gently steer into it. Avoiding rapid or abrupt changes in direction. Reapply the throttle to straighten out. The stopping distance for vehicles on icy roads can be 10x the normal stopping distances, so leave a gap of 3-4 vehicle lengths between you and the vehicle in front.
Tips for 4WD Snow Driving …
Engage Four Wheel Drive! Sounds simple but don’t forget.
Carry chains and fit them when required.
Keep to the roads and tracks that are open to traffic.
Smooth steering inputs will give you better control..
Drive as if you have no brakes – use your gears.
Drive with lights on low beam.
Don’t travel when visibility is poor.
Very important: vehicles travelling uphill have right of way.
Park close to the banks and only where directed to.
Always leave your vehicle in gear.
Don’t us the handbrake – it can freeze on.
Lift the wiper blades off the windscreen – they can freeze on.
Be Patient, Be Alert, Watch out for other travelers and animals.
Preparing Your 4WD for a Snow Trip
- Get your 4WD Vehicle Serviced before your Big Adventure.
- Carry all necessary safety and recovery gear, including snow chains.
- Always drive on matching tyres and you need more than 1/3 original tread depth.
- Check all electrical connectors and wiring looms, from battery posts right through to the tail lights.
- Head lights are vital, for seeing and being seen. Make sure yours are functioning properly and that you have spare globes on board.
- Check your battery, a dud battery is not just inconvenient, it can be life threatening. If its 3years plus old, replace it.
- Carry a heavy-duty air compressor, tyre pressures are critical and something you might have to play with and re-inflate your tyres.
Do I need Snow Chains on a 4WD?
Regulations in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania require all vehicles to carry tyre chains in snow-affected areas. Mount Hotham in Victoria even specifies that these chains must be diamond-pattern
You need to check your owners’ 4WD manual to find out what type of snow chains can be fitted to your 4WD and if you need to fit out four or two wheels.
Do I need to use Alpine Diesel?
This is a mistake you only want to make once. Warm-climate city diesel in your tank is likely to plug your filter with wax crystals. Fill up with winter-grade fuel near the snow fields – it maybe more expensive but it’s formulated to reduce waxing.
How to Avoid a Frozen Cooling System
The remedy for avoiding frozen cooling systems is to use the correct coolant mixture as specified by the engine maker. Coolant mixes have finite lives and can lose their anti-freeze properties within a year. You may need to have the coolant system drained & refilled before your winter road trip adventure. For more information about 4WD Snow Driving and to have your 4WD correctly serviced before your Big Winter Trip.
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