Club 80-90 Forums

No its not Ringo, I feel its v. important, and we have ignored it at site events too often
As it happens, in slippy conds I do tend to stick the difflock on down hills, but never reasoned it through fully....

The forums for discussion so don't hold back if its a good point worth making

Using difflocks when decending a hill can also be a very dangerouse thing.
If the hill has any camber in it by locking ure diff this will cause locked axle to move accross the camber wich will result in being side ways on a hill.Not a good position to be in.As this is a diff lock can also be very handy in rotating the rear end around in a tight spot.
Instruction on finer points is very difficult as even syncros differ in off roading.One needs to know ure vehicle and its limits(and ures)and reactions well on mild stuff before venturing further.
Russel

The forums for discussion so don't hold back if its a good point worth making Smile

There ya go then...

As Russel points out, there are a lot of GREY areas, Landies often don't have transverse diff-locks, so less options to contend with.

But the failed ascent is the classic where a SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) can be taught and perhaps should be, we've all seen it done wrong!

One thing though - if it's that steep and that slippy you can't arrive at the bottom with some speed (and hence retain your steering) - perhaps it shouldn't be driven. Too often vehicles arrive at the bottom with locked or semi locked wheels and no steering... if there's a restriction/gap to slot into, you do need those wheels turning as you arrive.

As on the road, it's the steering wheel that'll save the day, not the brake pedal, or a judicious combination of them, but brakes alone will rarely save a really dire situation - despite being the natural response to danger

Ringo, so what did they say, demonstrate, teach on cross-slope driving, anything or nothing?

Very good point Russel - all our vehicles are different...

HarryMann wrote: Ringo, so what did they say, demonstrate, teach on cross-slope driving, anything or nothing?

From the two courses i have done i seem to remember the general gist here is to avoid it if at all possible. As with all things off road, route selection is key.
So if its unavoidable then choose the route with the least camber. (duh).

I'd be very interested to here what other people think off how to approach them.

I was told "you will bottle out before the vehicle will" and they were right - however, i have no intention of rolling a vehicle so dont want to push it too its limits like that.

Another thing that isnt done very well with some clubs - or just plain pay and play days, is recovery. Im not really talking about the techniques (i love a good recovery - loads to learn there) but the safety.
I've seen people stand next to recovery ropes during a recovery (and let their kids do it) and look at me gone out when i tell them to get the hell out of the way. People like this shouldnt be allowed anywhere near off road events.
On one occasion i recognised a very volatile situation with a chap insisting he new best (but not giving a thought at the amount of onlookers in danger) - I walked away as quickly as i could. Sure enough everything was fine and he thought looked great- but it would have been different if the japanese crap had rolled over onto a keen onlooker - or the tiny tree he was using had snapped and sent a tensioned rope off into the crowd.

I've seen recovery ropes snap - it happens all the time - some muppet always gets their ebay shackles out - theres always potential for it to go wrong. People dont think it will though - and its crazy...

Anyway, we are selling our Landy - and now i dont want to!

Ringo

That very recovery situation happened at SP3 with a LR group there too, and supposedly experienced marshal...

AND the cable did snap with onlookers well within range, some children in range too...

We were a bit , but fortunately it didn't hit anyone .

All good stuff (the off road driving advice). Anybody want to write this stuff up for the Wiki. Even better anyone want to do a few videos? That would be good to see.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hyiI5q_Q4ok

Not very educational But Fun!

Nice to see people enjoying their work!

If i did a video of my work you would be incredibly bored...

I enjoy it - but i just sit in front of one of these and get coffee every hour. In between that i take the mick out of anyone in the vacinity - or get abused.



Ringo