The question we're all anxious to know. So far we haven't tested the approach, departure and breakover angles. But we have been in deep snow and steep icy gravel logging roads. In winter, these roads get worse the higher up you go, so over time you get to see which vehicles make it how far.
So far, others have made it as far as we have, but no one has made it farther. Yesterday, the "test" was an uphill road with about 40cm of hard icy snow, with deep ruts for tire tracks. This was at the GV's clearance limit, with the rear control arms dragging occasionally. I found the suspension, though now independent at the back, was pretty good at maintaining ride height so I didn't hit the bottom when the tires went down through lower spots. It seemed pretty stiff.
Some of the ruts were polished ice, and I could see the slippage indicator lighting up. But I never came close to slowing down from lack of traction.
After I went as far as I dared, since I was alone and had forgotten my shovel, I parked with the only other vehicle to make it that far, a Toyota 4wd pickup. I had absolutely no problem turning around. On the way up, I had also passed a group of people shovelling a vehicle stuck with two wheels in one of the ruts, and the other side in the deep snow. I was able to just drive around them with two wheels in one rut and the other two in the deeper snow. Though there was some slewing around as the wheels resisted climbing out of the ruts. Later in the day, there was a full-size Ford 4x4 pickup, plus a Tucson that had made it as far as I did. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed to see the Tucson there
On the way down, I found the rear control arms didn't touch. Either because the vehicle was now tipped forward on the suspension, or because the Tucson had shaved off the snow with its lower control arms. I tried the lowest gear in the low range, and found it allowed a really crawling-slow speed. However, there was no way to keep it in 2nd gear, and although it would stay in 3rd, that was too fast for the conditions. So I had to use the brakes to keep the speed down.
My avatar is a shot from yesterday, and if you click on my id, there's another.
So far, others have made it as far as we have, but no one has made it farther. Yesterday, the "test" was an uphill road with about 40cm of hard icy snow, with deep ruts for tire tracks. This was at the GV's clearance limit, with the rear control arms dragging occasionally. I found the suspension, though now independent at the back, was pretty good at maintaining ride height so I didn't hit the bottom when the tires went down through lower spots. It seemed pretty stiff.
Some of the ruts were polished ice, and I could see the slippage indicator lighting up. But I never came close to slowing down from lack of traction.
After I went as far as I dared, since I was alone and had forgotten my shovel, I parked with the only other vehicle to make it that far, a Toyota 4wd pickup. I had absolutely no problem turning around. On the way up, I had also passed a group of people shovelling a vehicle stuck with two wheels in one of the ruts, and the other side in the deep snow. I was able to just drive around them with two wheels in one rut and the other two in the deeper snow. Though there was some slewing around as the wheels resisted climbing out of the ruts. Later in the day, there was a full-size Ford 4x4 pickup, plus a Tucson that had made it as far as I did. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed to see the Tucson there
On the way down, I found the rear control arms didn't touch. Either because the vehicle was now tipped forward on the suspension, or because the Tucson had shaved off the snow with its lower control arms. I tried the lowest gear in the low range, and found it allowed a really crawling-slow speed. However, there was no way to keep it in 2nd gear, and although it would stay in 3rd, that was too fast for the conditions. So I had to use the brakes to keep the speed down.
My avatar is a shot from yesterday, and if you click on my id, there's another.
