Slopes - Off Road

[DRTYFN]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by f5fstop:
Maybe it is just me, but I easily understand what Manny implied in his first post. Then again, I don't believe in personal attacks.. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Because you're a pacifist girl.

[RasterMaster]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by sfox:
You did notice that this died like 6 months ago right?



S </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Seth,

Threads have a way of coming back....

http://elcova.com/groupee/forums/a/t...5496038174/p/3

Start at the last post and work up!

[Zing]

I use my gut. At first I was going up and down slopes with healthy reluctance until I got a better feel. A couple things I learned. Keep an eye on the contours in the road and try to keep the vehicle steady with minimal rocking and dipping in holes. Stay in control by concentrating on the path you intend for your tires to take 10-20 feet in front of you, as opposed to not anticipating the exact path the tires will go. Also when going down steep slopes particularly short ones, the less brake the better so long as you are in control. I remember going down a very steep slope and the first time I braked and almost go to rolling sideways. Very uncomfortable. After watching another guy I tried it and it was so much easier with no break and some speed.

[Mike97ZJ]

It is very unerving at first, going up and down very steep hills. Especially going up, where all you can see is your hood and the sky. In this case, if the terrain is uneven, you need to be able to rely on your spotter. On the really steep stuff, you should always be in first gear, low range. That will give you the most engine braking and allow you to stay off of your brakes.

Same thing with off camber trails. It always feels so much worse than it is, because it's an unatural postion to be in. It always seems to feel worse when the driver's side is downhill, too. One tip is to fight the temptation to cock your head to the side to compensate for the angle. All that does is screw up your perception of the angle even more.

Also, if you DO get into the situation where a rollover is emminent, steer downhill and hit the gas, if possible. That might just save you from going over.

[Arizona Hummerboy]

The Hummer is the most awesome vehicle I have every had. They will go anywere and do just about anything you need them to do.
I have had my H2 so far over on it side that my buddy my able to write is name in the dirt and pick rocks off of the ground. As for me driving I had the seat sucked up my ass on that trip.
I have also driven down steep slopes, all I could see was blue sky in front of me, I had a spoter on the hill to tell me how to break over the top of the hill, he was watching my front end and getting me in the best line to take. When I broke over the hill I was able to put my back right tire in the air about 4 feet in the air. I got a good picture of that.

Just go out and do some 4 wheeling and get used to the fill of the rig, it will do all the work for you on the trail.
And if you can go with a group of 4 wheelers, then go. Just remember there is allways safty in numbers.

[Steve R]

My all-time favorite approach is to travel with other Hummers and let a couple of them go first!!!

Not only can you see the lines and realize what your in for....but once a couple of them go...then you know, being that you've got the same vehicle, that you too can make it.

As for doing scary stuff while on your own: not advisable!!!!

I've been to a practice track and played with taking sideslopes that scare ya. I've also been up some pretty steep hills and after doing all this I returned to a nearby hill where there is a trail that runs straight up the front. I never really messed with that trail....but after all the practice and stuff...that hill looked pretty mellow and I went right up it!

In other words.....practice and you know you can do, and don't exceed that while traversing new and unknown obstacles.

[Manny]

Paragon,

All I said was you should not rely on gauges to tell you when it safe without factoring all the factors involved.

One more time, my point is not that gauges are bad, but that relying on gauges to tell you what is safe without the other information is bad. Kind of like relying on your speedometer to tell you what speed is safe, and assuming that if the manufactuere says 55 is safe you can travel at that speed regardless of the road, weather, and traffic.

None of my facts are wrong; I never said anything close to what you refer to below in regards to 45 degree angles, etc. If I am guilty of one thing it was saying that most clinometers marketed for 4x4 use stop well short of 45 degrees - some do, obviously.

Have I ever exceeded the minumum working load angles of the Hummer according to AM General while off-roading? Yes. Those ratings are for a vehicle at fully loaded GVWR. My truck has a reinforced rollcage for extra protection, because in the sport of off-roading, it is not uncommon for a serious wheeler to push a vehicle right to the limits of its capabilities - which is sometimes beyond manufacturer recommendations.

As far as my experience goes, I can certainly provide you with a lengthy resume of offroad experiences in Hummer vehicles.

If you have other issues with me personally, please feel free to email me privately; I am not particularly interested in entertaining your other personal attacks and emotionally driven criticisms publicly.

-Manny




<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by PARAGON:

...Since you are the off-road editor for a supposed Hummer magazine, don't you at least feel you have an inherent responsibility to have the facts straight before you spout your obvious ignorance.

...Please provide us with where the Hummer H1 has the ability to traverse an off-camber situation that is well past 45 degrees (according to your comment).

...You are obviously telling us that since Hummer provides that the H1 has a safe off-camber ability of 22 degrees, that H1s can actually easily double that number without fear of rollover.

...You talk as if you have no experience on the trail what-so-ever.


...As I asked before, how is having more information available a bad thing? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Buckeye Hummer]

I have those but after you continually bury them at 45 it's no fun.

[Manny]

You should not rely on gauges while performing steep ascents, descents, or sideslopes.

The specs from a manufacturer on slopes are based on a smooth regular surface with predictable and consistent friction coefficients - not reality. A gauge will not help you, because the limits will vary greatly based on the surface, and irregularities on that surface. One small rock or dip under the right tire can change the position of your truck from the equivalent of a 30% grade to a 40% grade in an instant.

I am in the process of writing an article for the Spring '05 issue of Ultimate Hummers Magazine on steep ascents and descents; I won't be addressing sideslopes specifically, but many of the concepts still apply - specifically, I talk about identifying the fall line of the slope, staying off the brake if possible, and only left-foot braking as necessary.

Always have an escape route planned, and if you have doubts about the slope - stay off of it!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by R2:
The H2 can do 35 degrees side slopes. You must have a some sort of guage at those levels. Never trust your gut when conditions get severe. know how to trust your guages.

Also notable is the question of weight.

R2

Front Locker, Stealth winch, 37" Super Swampers SSR,low center of gravity = Ultimate H2
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Zing]

Mike that if very good advice on your last point on rollover. Once I felt I was going to tip and my instinct was to hit the brake, which would increase the risk of tipping.

[Hum2]

I have been at 27 degrees side slope and 37 degrees vertical (yes degrees not percent)...both were very uncomfortable and I would suggest not going there often. H2 specs are around 18 degrees side slope, 27 degrees vertical. Any glitch could cause a roll.

Ric

OMAHOG/IHOG
Hum2@cox.net

[JJ]

thanks guys
walking the path sure makes a lot of sense
and PhilD thanks for the clarification of angle versus % grade that is a very important distinction.

JJ

[PARAGON]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Manny:
You should not rely on gauges while performing steep ascents, descents, or sideslopes. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>You can't be serious, can you? I guess the military, state highway departments, forestry workers all are dumb to rely on their inclinometers, clinometers, slope indicators, etc.

I guess their training in using the instruments to help in maitaining safety and not relying on their "pucker factor" is a bad idea to you. Come on, maybe the common idiot will roll his vehicle because he doesn't understand what he is doing but since when is the average person at a disadvantage due to accurate and reliable information like what a gauge would be providing?

Some people are scared at a 15 degree side slope and others wouldn't realize that they are at a dangerous 35-40 degree slope, so how why should one not rely on the accurate information from a gauge. It is likened to telling a pilot not to rely on his gauges.