Latest posts for the topic "Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?"

Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:33:58 GMT

It is first tim to take a car to go to Vaujany for skiing. What do I have to prepare t0 drive to Vaujany? Do I need desperately snow chains? Please give me any advice. I am taking my small children there. Anybody knows road conditions during the winter? My visiting is between 19/12 - 26/12/2010. Thanks a lot.

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:40:46 GMT

yes you need chains, unless you have snow tyres,you can not drive in bad conditions without them

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 22:49:00 GMT

There's lots of information on the internet about driving abroad, rules, regulations, snow chains etc.

OH used his snow chains here last week to get to & from work & I used mine to get my car to the garage 3 miles away. Having seen how quickly roads can become treacherous, I wouldn't even think of not taking chains.

This is a useful site:-

http://driving.drive-alive.co.uk/winter_driving.htm

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:39:13 GMT

Actually Aero0707, today my OH has written a list of 'car' things to pack for our jouney to France just before Christmas, which may be of help. Some of this is always in the car anyway, but there are quite a few extras:-

Fire Extinguisher
WD40
Spare bulbs
Fluorescent jackets
Snow shovel
Gaffer tape
Beam benders
Screen wash
Antifreeze
Water & sponge or cloth
Oil
Snowchains
Gloves
Plastic bag/mat (to kneel on when attaching chains)
Basic tool kit
Sat Nav with French maps
French road atlas
Screen cover (frost protection)
Brush (for clearing car & skis)
Scraper
Torch
Head torch
Documents (driving licence, reg.document, insurance, breakdown cover).

His list of stuff to pack in his bag is considerably shorter :roll:

Is there anything he's forgotten?

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 06:16:27 GMT

A bag of salt.

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 06:23:48 GMT

What no wine gums ?
You can't do a long car journey without wine gums!!!!!

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 06:57:41 GMT

Salski wrote:Is there anything he's forgotten?

Spare batteries for the torches / anything else important.

Thanks Salski, I was about to write that list this morning! 8)

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 07:45:22 GMT

Keep the stuff you might need near the back of the boot, nothing worse than un packing luggage to find those gloves.
Also do practice with snow chains before you leave.
Actually, trying to work out how to put snow chains on at dusk, in the dirty snow, by the side of a road IS worse than hunting for gloves!

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:54:07 GMT

OldAndy wrote:Keep the stuff you might need near the back of the boot, nothing worse than un packing luggage to find those gloves.
Also do practice with snow chains before you leave.
Actually, trying to work out how to put snow chains on at dusk, in the dirty snow, by the side of a road IS worse than hunting for gloves!

Yep the old boy is right, practice a few times at home with the snow chains, better still train the wife to put them they have smaller arms and get round the back of the wheel better, so teach the wife, stay in a warm car and don't forget to thank her when she gets back in the car, and don't mention all the dirt up her jacket as it tends to put them off the next time.
It would take me ages to put them on Mrs W is an expert :thumbup:

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 09:00:39 GMT

Ian Wickham wrote:

OldAndy wrote:Keep the stuff you might need near the back of the boot, nothing worse than un packing luggage to find those gloves.
Also do practice with snow chains before you leave.
Actually, trying to work out how to put snow chains on at dusk, in the dirty snow, by the side of a road IS worse than hunting for gloves!

Yep the old boy is right, practice a few times at home with the snow chains, better still train the wife to put them they have smaller arms and get round the back of the wheel better, so teach the wife, stay in a warm car and don't forget to thank her when she gets back in the car, and don't mention all the dirt up her jacket as it tends to put them off the next time.
It would take me ages to put them on Mrs W is an expert :thumbup:

Ian has a really sensible idea - we should all learn!
teach the wife/OH/Girlfriend/child - anyone else possible really.
I have lost my helper now! 16yo boys hands are bigger than mine. I did well for a number of years by telling him I needed his help, but he has learnt that trick now :roll:

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:21:15 GMT

OldAndy wrote:What no wine gums ?
You can't do a long car journey without wine gums!!!!!

:lol: Wine gums are on the 'in car' list!

Sorry ... I missed the frirst aid kit off the 'car' list.

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:23:42 GMT

You dont NEED snowchains or winter tyres. But you'd be seriously daft if you didn't have either, and could find yourself in trouble without both.
Winter tyres work under 5c and give you more grip in wet, ice and snow.
If it snows, you'll find the police will close roads to tavellers not using snow chains, in which case you won't be able to go any further.

My advice travelling in the midst of winter would be fit winter tyres in the UK before you go, and get some snow chains to throw into the top of the boot. Practise putting them on before you go, as the first time will be the worst, probably.

Best of luck, have fun, be safe and say hi to ADH for me.

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 23:01:30 GMT

Remember the advice from Finn, after his drive-out last season. Finn suggested using neat screenwash. Nearly neat might be good enough. He used the recommended strengthy, and endured constantly stoppages to clean a streaky screen.

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 23:09:18 GMT

Dave's right, screenwash is SOOOOOOOOO important. Pay more for a better quality mix, and get a lower temp concentrate. Dont buy ready mixed screen wash, its not up to the job.
Halfords do a litre that mixes up to 20 times in average temps, or you can go 5:1 or 2:1 if needs be, and the bottles are not huge so you can carry a few in the car.
If you've got a VW Golf, and its below minus 2, dont try and clean your rear window or you'll end up needing a new bootlock.

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:56:04 GMT

Also; French law says that your car should be equipped for the weather conditions you are driving in.

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:43:30 GMT

I always use the-20 stuff and put it in neat, I have never had a frozen bottle even with temps down to -23.

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:11:39 GMT

On the continent you find ready mixed winter screen wash in 5 & 10 litre containers that operates down to -40 in most service stations so no problem there. Before you go empty your reservoir & refill it with with a neat or specfic concentration mix to at least -20.
We overlooked this last year & the journey was awful, once the wash lines were froze that was it.

Re:Do I need snow chains to go to Vaujany around Chrismas time?

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:17:14 GMT

I'd add a few audio books to the list. It's surprising how much faster the journey goes if you can listen to a couple of 2-hour books. Music CDs are OK but it can be hard to find something everyone likes and I find loud music distracting as a driver.