SNOW DRIVING 101

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR A SUCCESSFUL WEEKEND ON THE WHITE POWDER

- DAN EVERETT

WHEN IT comes to varied terrains, Australia has to be darn close to first place the world over. There are not too many places out there where you can experience 50°C days in the desert, freezing alpine blizzards, and pristine sub-tropical sand islands all within a few days of driving. Each terrain not only requires an entirely different skill set and mentality to tackle, they also require vastly different vehicle preparation to get the most out of them. A temperature range of nearly 60°C is no laughing matter.

Whether it’s a quick reminder for the southern states, or a 101 intro to snow wheeling for our northern brothers and sisters, we’re looking at a quick hit list of everything you need to not only survive the snow this winter, but thrive.

GET THE RIG READY

MOST OF us tend to think of mechanical contraptions as generally infallible; they either work or they don’t. After all, when was the last time you thought about the operating temperature range of your toaster? But your 4x4 is a little different, especially as it ages. The difference between -5°C and 25°C will have a drastic effect on the viscosity or thickness of your engine’s oil; the colder it is, the thicker the oil, and as a result the engine becomes harder to turn over, requiring significantly more oomph from the battery to get it fired up.

VARIED TERRAIN

Be prepared for changing conditions; over a 100m stretch of track you can go from a light dusting to axle-deep snow.