Jeeping
Jeeping, or off-road driving in large SUVs, is a favorite activity for real men. Off-roading in mountainous conditions is even more exciting, as the typical impassable mud is combined with a challenging landscape, steep descents, and insurmountable climbs. Winter jeeping is particularly difficult, especially when it comes to snowy mountains. Not everyone knows how to perfectly prepare their vehicle for a winter march through snowy off-road, and this is exactly what we will discuss now. Since winter preparation of the vehicle is a complex task that takes more than one day, we will cover only the most important points that every driver should know.
Therefore, the most crucial aspect of winter preparation for a jeep is the tires, no matter how cliché this statement may sound. And the hardest part for any jeeper will likely be the renunciation of their fancy, multi-tread off-road mud tires, which every self-respecting jeep enthusiast takes pride in.
Forget about your powerful "tractor" tires – in the mountains on snow, they are simply useless. Your fancy traction tires will have nothing to grip onto, and your speed even on municipal highways will drop to a minimum – you will tire out before you even reach real off-road. For snowy winter conditions in mountainous areas, you need a real winter tire with a specially adapted compound that handles both loose snow off-road and the slushy mess of urban highways, and especially the snow-covered mountain terrain. To tackle particularly difficult obstacles, it will be enough to slightly deflate the tires, and you will conquer the stubborn snow cover just as easily as you managed with "muddy" tires in autumn slush. Additionally, in the mountains, chains are simply necessary – without them, it’s not worth venturing onto even the slightest slopes, or you risk losing control.
Remember, the winter chill in the foothills is nothing like the cold in the metropolis. You must be prepared for your iron steed to be coated in ice, your hands to stick to the metal body in the air, and the heater in the cabin to struggle against the cold that the air ducts draw in from outside.
That’s why the second main topic after purchasing winter tires and chains is protection against frost – for both you and your vehicle. In the mountains, independent cabin heaters and engine block heaters are simply necessary – an expensive luxury that will, however, protect you from slowly freezing in a stalled vehicle. If your jeep runs on diesel, you also need to worry about heating the fuel filter, sedimenter, and lines. Trust me, it’s much better to splurge on all these accessories and not use them than to save money and end up a victim of their absence. One more small tip – before heading into the mountains, load all your prepared luggage and gear into the vehicle, and take a short drive around the city – for example, go to your dacha or to the nearest hill to go sledding. Any small deficiencies will reveal themselves immediately, and you will surely know what you lack for complete confidence in your abilities on winter off-road.
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