Planning a 4x4 Trip to the Snow

4×4 Snow Driving, When to go, Where to go, What to Take!

As four-wheel drivers, we tend to find ourselves gravitating toward an opportunity to experience every different type of terrain; mud, rock, sand… snow.

Snow, however, is limited in geography and even further limited by open roads and tracks which are all most commonly found in the Victorian High Country. So, for most Aussies, it’s a mission to get to. Add to that the unpredictable weather and you could travel 3500kms to find wet, chewed-up tracks and no snow at all.

But don’t be defeated, a 4×4 day trip to the snow is worth the effort. You have to be prepared and we’d like to share with you some tips and tricks for planning a trip to the snow in your 4WD.

4×4 Snow Driving, When to go, Where to go, What to Take!

As four-wheel drivers, we tend to find ourselves gravitating toward an opportunity to experience every different type of terrain; mud, rock, sand… snow.

But don’t be defeated, a 4×4 day trip to the snow is worth the effort. You have to be prepared and we’d like to share with you some tips and tricks for planning a trip to the snow in your 4WD.

WHEN TO GO?

Timing is everything. Snow season in the Victorian High Country is between June 1st (the first day of winter) and anywhere up until October. It’s very common to get snow very early in June, while the most consistent snowfall tends to happen from Mid-August to Mid-September.

If you’re travelling interstate, and need to plan ahead and organise time off, mid to late August would be a good time to plan for. However, if you’re within say 4-6 hours, and are more willing to drop everything and go, all you need to do is keep your eye on the weather forecast. And when you hear ‘snow falling to 800m’ (or lower) start packing!

WHERE TO GO?

As mentioned, the best time to go driving is when snow is predicted to fall below 800m, however, you want to ensure, for a good smattering of snowfall that you head to locations with tracks above 1000 – 1100 metres above sea level.

To find these locations, you can use printed or online maps. Hema Cloud online maps, as well as Newtracs are two great tools to locate 4×4 offroad tracks based on altitude levels. Both are accessible for free, and their maps showcase the altitude and have references to where the snowline is (1000m).

Newtracs offers a great feature, which showcases closed roads. It is important to understand that many 4×4 tracks and roads in the Victorian High Country are closed from after Queens Birthday (2^nd weekend of June) and up until Melbourne Cup Weekend (First Tuesday of November).

Popular areas to explore include (subject to access):

Mount Matlock
Mount Useful
Mount Toorongo
Mount Selma
Mount Howitt
No 3. Mount

VEHICLE SET UP & WHAT TO TAKE?

Now we’re talking mission critical information. Your vehicle set-up and what to take are really important aspects of driving 4×4 in snow.

4WD Vehicle Accessories

With snow, expect the unexpected. You can go out there with little to no snow at 1000m and come home with 20cm of snow at 800m. Conditions change quickly. Also, snow attracts tourists, lots of them, and the combination of 4WD visitors and a bit of sunshine, the snow in areas can melt quickly and the 4×4 snow tracks can fast become rutted and a bit challenging.

We recommend having the following on your 4WD vehicle:

All-Terrain Tyres
A good, quality, set of all-terrain tyres is important. In snow, you’ll want to let your tyre pressures down, even more than usual. Strong side walls and good tread are important. It’s common for sticks and branches to get covered in the snow, not to see them and drive straight over/into them.
A Suspension Lift
Suspension lift helps get the body of your vehicle clear of the snow. If the snow is deep or the ruts become deep, suspension (and slightly taller tyres) can give you some much-needed advantage.
Rated Recovery Points
‘She’ll be right, I won’t get stuck’ are seven of the naivest words ever spoken by experienced and novice 4WDers alike. Ensure your vehicle is fitted with rated recovery points for the sake of you, your vehicle and your recovery hero.
A Winch
It might sound overkill, but we do recommend that someone in the convoy has a winch. It is all too easy to end up sliding a bit off track while avoiding an obstacle or simply slightly misreading the road. And in icy conditions, a snatch strap isn’t always practical nor safe.
A UHF Radio
Whether it be a hard-mounted unit or a hand-held device. Radio communication, in freezing cold weather is invaluable. Important for chatter between vehicles, and in the event you might need help, to raise the alarm and call out to other vehicles in the area.

Other 4×4 Accessories

In addition to 4×4 accessories attached to your vehicle, there are some other key components, you probably shouldn’t leave home without!

Recovery Gear
In addition to a winch, 4WD recovery boards are really valuable to provide firm ground amongst otherwise slick slop if your 4WD becomes immobile. At minimum, you’ll want a basic recovery kit if you need to get a friend out of trouble or a more comprehensive recovery kit for self recovery.
A Shovel
A shovel is one of THE most important recovery tools. Clearing snow, dirt, mud, and debris from in front of your tyres – cutting a clear unobstructed path, can make a recovery 10 times easier. Do yourself a favour, pack a shovel.
Tyre Deflator & Compressor
Letting your tyres down when going off-road is a no brainer, and on snow, it is really important. It’s not good enough to just guess, you want your tyres at the right pressure, and a good tyre deflator will allow you to adjust your tyre pressures both quickly and accurately. And at the end of the day, it is also just as critical, to pump your tyres back up. Ensure you have a reliable compressor, to get your tyres back to high-way pressures for a safe drive home.
Snow Chains
In all Australian alpine snow resorts (and the roads leading to), carrying snow chains is mandatory, and when instructed must be fitted to your vehicle. Even outside of these specific areas, it can be a great idea to have appropriately sized 4×4 snow chains. Snow chains improve your traction if the tread on standard tyres fill with snow and mud.
Chainsaw
Snow comes with a weather pattern synonymous with storms and high winds. It is also heavy, accumulating on trees and pushing them over. It is highly recommended to carry a chainsaw amongst your group, with a fresh chain, some extra fuel and the tools to service it. This is also another reason having a winch on your vehicle is very valuable.
*chainsaws are prohibited for use in most National Parks.
Ample Food and Water & Fresh Warm Clothes
This really goes for any 4WDing trip. Always pack amble food and water. Have enough water for 2 – 3days, always keep some additional food in your car, and for your snow trip. Take additional clean, dry clothes (and a towel). In the instance something does go wrong, you want to be prepared.
Kids and a Toboggan (Kids optional)
4WDing trips are great for the family, skip the cues at the ski fields, pick up a toboggan from the local hardware store, and find your own slopes. Just remember that these fields aren’t maintained, so be sure to thoroughly check for dangerous rocks, sticks, cliff edges, etc.
A Friend
4×4 driving in snow is great fun. Share the experience, but also, share the challenge. Snow driving is remote and unpredictable. Having someone with you to help when needed, will make the experience that much more enjoyable.

5 TOP SNOW DRIVING TIPS

TELL PEOPLE WHERE YOU ARE GOING
When going off-road, ALWAYS, tell someone where you are going. During a trip to the snow, we recommend letting someone know where you are going, and when you expect to be home. If you don’t come home, at least someone knows where you were heading.
HIGH RANGE 4WD
The snow is an experience all in itself, you don’t need to be doing gnarly 4WD snow tracks to enjoy it. Main roads and fire trails provide great access to snow. Where possible, keep your vehicle in high-range 4WD, the acceleration with be smoother off the slippery surface providing your better traction. Note. If there is snow and ice on a bitumen road, it is okay to be in 4WD.
LOWER YOUR TYRES – MORE
Snow is slippery, with not a great deal of traction. Treat it much like sand, and go that little bit lower on your tyre pressures. With good all-terrain tyres in a fairly standard size, you could likely comfortably run your pressures between 14 – 16psi. But remember, lower tyre pressures equals lower speed. If you hit something hard and fast with low tyre pressures, you are far more likely to pop the tyre off the bead – and changing a tyre is not fun in the snow.
KEEP TO THE TRACKS
When snow falls, the ground looks like the magic lush playgrounds, like rolling sand hills at Portland Sand Dune; reality check, it’s not. Away from the tracks, under those perfectly flowing mounds of snow are rocks, ruts, tree stumps, etc. Not to mention, perfectly good vegetation! Keep to the tracks, protect the land and your car.
YOU’VE GOT A DIFF-LOCK, USE IT!
Pretty much every dual cab ute, and most wagons these days come with a rear diff-lock. In slippery, low traction surfaces, (like snow) it can be easy to lose all the drive at the back of your car thanks to a wheel that is on a really slick surface. With your diff-lock engaged, you’ve got a greater chance of maintaining forward momentum with the guarantee that both your rear wheels are putting in equal effort to keep you moving!Land Cruiser owners: When you’re off-road on anything other than a smooth dirt road, turn on your centre diff-lock. It will make the world of difference to handling and traction!