Pskhaat
2005 Expedition Trophy Champion
After several days of snow and ice, when the skies cleared I took a fun 9.2 mile up & down mountain road to see how the UZJ100 does in the snow. It's normally nothing to write home about in any Cruiser. The route is here and is only 1800 total altitude delta:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=39+40%2725.88+,+-105+26%2741.03&daddr=39+38%2711.93+,+-105+23%2751.42&sll=39.654738,-105.421886&sspn=0.063702,0.11673&ie=UTF8&z=13&ll=39.655267,-105.4212&spn=0.063702,0.11673&om=1
What I found on my descent shocked me. The 100 is a completely different off-road animal to many 4WDs and previous Cruisers. On the steeper switchback turns (see North side of route) I very nearly went over the side of the road until I got a good feel of the 100, as the 100's rear end likes to slide out. More on why later.
To maintain any level of speed (I'm still talking very slow speeds here) and for those accustomed to winter driving, you almost need to delay corrective steering action during the slide turn in order to keep the 100 in it's intended track albeit at an angle, as early/natural correction will put you on the outside/falline track. I won't be brave enough to call this drifting, but in effect it is it's slight form.
The reason I believe the 100 has such an easy rear to break out is that in light braking, the rear calipers receive a greater bias of force. Hader braking will transition the force more to the front of the vehicle. This is accounted in this thread on another forum:
http://forum.ih8mud.com/showpost.php?p=1294481&postcount=1
The problem with winter ice+snow driving downhill is that if you don't fall in the perfect downhill gear which is very difficult for longer variably sloped hills, there is still some braking to be done. One dare not apply too much brake as to cause ABS enabling which will IMO hinder braking even further in these conditions plus the delay in ABS shutoff. There is control to be had in a locked wheel when you know when to use it. Digressing, but you still will be applying some sort of braking which often immediately precedes the turn especially if you are on an unfamiliar road or at night where turns may creep unexpectedly on you even in safe & conservative driving.
Since the rear brakes have the bias more during these winter conditions in addition the already less orthogonal rear weight due to the incline plus the forward suspension shift during slowing: IMO it potentially causes an unnecessary rear end slide during tight cornering.
My sister-in-law years ago complained of this in her Hundy, but I never gave her due credit until now. This is definetely something for which to watch out.
.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=39+40%2725.88+,+-105+26%2741.03&daddr=39+38%2711.93+,+-105+23%2751.42&sll=39.654738,-105.421886&sspn=0.063702,0.11673&ie=UTF8&z=13&ll=39.655267,-105.4212&spn=0.063702,0.11673&om=1
What I found on my descent shocked me. The 100 is a completely different off-road animal to many 4WDs and previous Cruisers. On the steeper switchback turns (see North side of route) I very nearly went over the side of the road until I got a good feel of the 100, as the 100's rear end likes to slide out. More on why later.
To maintain any level of speed (I'm still talking very slow speeds here) and for those accustomed to winter driving, you almost need to delay corrective steering action during the slide turn in order to keep the 100 in it's intended track albeit at an angle, as early/natural correction will put you on the outside/falline track. I won't be brave enough to call this drifting, but in effect it is it's slight form.
The reason I believe the 100 has such an easy rear to break out is that in light braking, the rear calipers receive a greater bias of force. Hader braking will transition the force more to the front of the vehicle. This is accounted in this thread on another forum:
http://forum.ih8mud.com/showpost.php?p=1294481&postcount=1
The problem with winter ice+snow driving downhill is that if you don't fall in the perfect downhill gear which is very difficult for longer variably sloped hills, there is still some braking to be done. One dare not apply too much brake as to cause ABS enabling which will IMO hinder braking even further in these conditions plus the delay in ABS shutoff. There is control to be had in a locked wheel when you know when to use it. Digressing, but you still will be applying some sort of braking which often immediately precedes the turn especially if you are on an unfamiliar road or at night where turns may creep unexpectedly on you even in safe & conservative driving.
Since the rear brakes have the bias more during these winter conditions in addition the already less orthogonal rear weight due to the incline plus the forward suspension shift during slowing: IMO it potentially causes an unnecessary rear end slide during tight cornering.
My sister-in-law years ago complained of this in her Hundy, but I never gave her due credit until now. This is definetely something for which to watch out.
.
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