I got stuck in snow

[Garth]

Today I went for a spin down a section of road that isnt maintained in the winter.
Its been melting like crazy so I knew there wouldnt be much snow however what remained was hard and easy to walk on without breaking through. The big test was crossing the grader berm at the start so I figured if it stopped me then I wouldnt push my luck. I climbed right over it no problem because it was so hard packed and continued for about a quarter mile still in normal mode.
When I got to the end where it was a turnaround the snow was noticeably deeper so I went off-road mode and began swinging out to make a uturn.
The snow got deep and I broke through immediately and with little effort became high centered.
Was less than a mile from home so I walked back and got a shovel.
Dug it out and had to make a run at the grader berm because I had actually left deeper ruts and would have gotten stuck again. No air time but it was exciting. It doesnt look like much but the snow conditions were just right.
The last vehicle I used to go off roading in was an 81 F250 with a 300-6 and a 4speed so I really noticed a difference with this BS, the automatic drive train was not confidence inspiring and the engine power was a little too explosive lol.

 

[rugedraw]

Sucks you got stuck, but looks like fun!

 

[Garth]

Yes it was fun and a bit of practice using the modes, learning the capabilities and helped me figure out what type of shovel to look for. A shovel with a low angle and a long handle and heavy enough to break up ice snow and maybe able to cut roots as well.

 

[Frenchy906]

Yaaa any time I want to go play in the deep snow I take my 06 Dakota. It’s a v8 mated to a 6 speed manual. I fully understand the “not confidence inspiring” comment with this thing. I sometimes find myself thinking “I know it can do it, it just feels wrong”

 

[Garth]

This was close to mud bogging, not what Im into

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Having both a 2 door and the BS, you hit on both its biggest off-roading shortcomings that can’t be significantly altered. Ground clearance and ultra low gear ratio. It’s still a great vehicle but like Clint Eastwood once said, “A man needs to know his limitations”.

 

[incavulator]

Snow can present some interesting challenges depending on its physical state.

Annually, we travel to my friend's rustic cabin. A few of the guys have mildly modified JLs and JTs on big-ish tires. There have been years it's taken us hours to winch in to the cabin depending on snow depth and conditions. This year, it was so bad we had to snowmobile in.

We've had years where we have to winch in but have been able to drive out just due to changing temps and snow conditions.

When the snow is light and fluffy, chances are much better you can drive through it. When it's packable, or especially when there is a crusty layer on top that tires can occasionally break through but the rest of the vehicle can't, it's easy for the even the most capable rigs to get high centered.

 

[Rockboz]

Our BS came with Pirelli’s, the berm would have bogged them down.

 

[sajohnson]

Snow can present some interesting challenges depending on its physical state.

<Snip>

When the snow is light and fluffy, chances are much better you can drive through it. When it's packable, or especially when there is a crusty layer on top that tires can occasionally break through but the rest of the vehicle can't, it's easy for the even the most capable rigs to get high centered.

The crust is what we had to deal with a few weeks ago -- no high centering though. The snow wasn't quite deep enough for that -- maybe 7-8".

It was very cold (for MD -- single digits) so the snow was light & powdery. Somehow it developed a thick crust. The snowblower would not break through it and it was too cold to melt. After a week or so of highs below 20* we decided to try and drive out. Our lane is about 1/10 mile long. I locked the center and rear and we went for it. The BL did well until we hit the section of the lane with a ~20% grade. That was too much for the stock tires. The crust was essentially ice, and breaking through created berms in front of the tires.

We ended up backing down the grade and pulling forward 4-5 times, getting a little further each time until we made it to the top.

I have winter tires for all of our older vehicles, but since we're retired now and don't have to drive on any given day, and the snowblower usually has no problem, even with 2+ feet of snow, I never got winter tires for the BL.

In 41 years here I've never seen anything like that crust. We have had ice storms -- freezing rain on top of snow -- but this was unexpected.

 

[bushbunnie]

In my BS and my F150, I always carry a shovel, first aid kit, extra gas, tow rope and a fire extinguisher. I have only used the shovel for myself but have used the others many times for others.

 

[Dannyp56]

I've been looking for some snow to try but we haven't had any this year. We might try going up to the rim and see what's there.

 

[sajohnson]

I've been looking for some snow to try but we haven't had any this year. We might try going up to the rim and see what's there.

There's usually snow up there this time of year, right?

I know it's a lot cooler.

 

[Dannyp56]

There's usually snow up there this time of year, right?

I know it's a lot cooler.

Usually, we have snow down here in Star Valley by this time, The forest service usually closes the road in November. But it was 79 degrees here yesterday. Not sure about today.

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