Your Comprehensive Guide to Driving in the Mountains during Snow

Before you set out to reach the summit of your choice, here are some of the precautions that will help you have a safe drive over the hills during winter and snow. Before we discuss the issues you would have to face, here are a few of the pieces of equipment that you should carry with you.

Here are a few pieces of equipment that would help you drive easily over the mountains and in case of emergencies and issues.

• A portable air pump
• A tyre repair kit
• Car lifting Jack
• A toolkit
• Warm clothes and warmers in case you are travelling to cold places.
• Edibles.

We recommend that if you want to really experience the thrill of driving in snow, you drive until Manali and rent a local 4x4 vehicle for the further stretch of roads that are fully covered with snow and a 4x4 vehicle would become necessary. Here are a few checks that you should always conduct before going out on a trip or an adventure by car.

A breakdown can spoil your spirit for adventure and hence a pre-trip checkup of the vehicle is a must. You can take your vehicle to the nearest service centre for the same or do it yourself. Here are a few of the necessary checks that would help you travel seamlessly without any breakdowns or issues.

Necessary Checks and Inspections 

• Check the engine oil levels. Instructions on how to do this are always in your car’s user manual. If the engine oil levels are lower than necessary, always refill with the same grade as was used earlier.
• Similarly, check the coolant and break reservoir fluid levels. If they are low, refill the reservoir tank with the right grade of brake oil and coolant.
• Check the other essential items that are necessary for regular driving.
• Check the headlights to ensure that night drives in the mountains do not become an issue.
• Check your rear as well as front wipers, to ensure that you can keep your windscreen clear in all conditions.
• Check your tyres. If any of your tyres have been worn beyond the necessary levels, then replace them, as they might slip during snow. These are necessary precautions for driving on snow-covered roads.
• Stay on your side of the road, and keep a distance of about a vehicle between the vehicle you are following and yourself. This is to ensure that if the car in front of you stops at an incline, it has enough space for a restart.
• Always stay under the speed limit.
• If you are travelling above Manali to places like Khardungla and Spiti, ensure that you reserve a full tank of petrol, as petrol stations in such places could be scarce.
• When driving along windy roads of the mountains ensure that you let traffic that wants to overtake you with safety by pulling to a side when the road allows.
• Never try to pass a vehicle in a long turn. 
• If you plan to stop to witness the beauty around you, ensure that you stop at the side of the road, pull up the parking brake, and put a substantial rock behind the wheels of your vehicle.

Saving yourself from  Excessive Break wear.

Break wear is a common issue that travellers face while driving in the mountains, hence we would recommend that you carry a pair of extra break shoes in case you face a similar situation. And further You can also use Engine braking to ensure that the vehicle keeps itself in the right speed.  Before you drive along a long downhill path shift to a lower gear. This would allow you to drive the car slowly without any issues and would also save on brake pad wear and tear. This would keep your vehicle in the right speed without any issues.

If you are driving an automatic car, you can shift your vehicle into L or 2 mode so that the vehicle can maintain its speed and save on brake pads. Once you are at ground level, shift back to the optimum gear to ensure that your car drives the right way.

Using GPS signals as well as Maps for travelling

Whenever you plan to travel along the mountains, beware that in certain areas, internet connectivity and network might be erratic; whatever region you travel to, ensure that you download offline Google Maps of the area. These would help you even if the network reception of the place is not up to the mark. No matter which mountain range you drive to, having a little knowledge of your vehicle limits and the information about the routes would help you travel safely without any issues or problems.

Using Snow Chains

If you are planning to take your vehicle in extremely snow-clad areas and want good traction then snow chains are a must-have. They would enable you to easily travel without any issues and problems and provide enough traction to get through inclines, turns and declines. Getting your tyres ready with a snow chains is a process itself as you would have to do it before entering the snow-covered area directly as they reduce the speed of your vehicle on roads to less than 60kmph.

To fix the chain on the tyres, you would have to lay them flat, drive towards their centre, and hook the two ends of the chains together after stopping. This would allow you to easily drive and gain traction on black ice and snow surfaces.

If in case you have been planning such a trip but don’t have a vehicle of your own to travel around we would recommend that you rent cars from RenTrip. We provide top-of-the-line well, well-maintained vehicles and bikes on rent for all your travelling needs. Our extensive fleet of vehicles throughout India await your arrival. Plan a trip without worrying about the hassles of maintaining a vehicle. Stop worrying about the hassles of servicing the vehicle or other aspects just rent and drive and reach the summits of your dream with ease without any challenges or issues. Contact us today and leave for the trip of your dreams with ease without any problems.