This is in relation to my Toyota Sienna 2004 LE Front Wheel Drive.

I have a hill to climb from one of my driveways. It's about 30 ft long and is black-top. The angle of incline is about 20-30 degrees...which makes for a hefty climb. The trouble is in winter, after I've ploughed the snow from my driveway, it will occassionally ice up.

The ice esentially stops me from being able to get out.

Should I use tire chains or would winter tires be able to get me out?

I know that I should break the ice up and maybe sand/salt the road, but sometimes, I just have to get out fast and it's a pain to have to do a lot of work in an emergency.

Thanks.

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All I ever really needed to know, I learned from watching Star Trek.

It seems to me that in that kind of weather you should have winter tires on all four anyway. They will help out some in snow because of the deeper wider grooves and hydrophilic compound. It's questionable whether they'll help in ice. Just get a cheapo set of extra wheels and put your winter tires on. It won't cost you any more in the long run since you'll have two sets of tires but only use them each half the time. They still won't give you close to the traction of snow chains but if they work for you then you don't have to go through the hassle of putting on and taking off tire chains. If you have a serious ice issue it is doubtful that anything other than chains will get you up the driveway.

Chains will work, but can chew up asphalt.

I think you will have to bite the bullet for the periodic ice-up, and face the fact that you should have sand/salt available for thoses areas when needed, and then apply it. "I have to get out fast" is a real problem, and you will have to figure out a way to minimize these events.

Davester gives good advice.

Incidently, backing up driveway hills with front wheel drive vehicles usually works better than going up forward. The vehicle weight is on the drive wheels, and more weight shifts to the "lower" wheels when ascending a slope.

This technique won't do anything for icy conditions. Only salt (if the temp is 20 F or higher) and/or sand will do the trick. Chains are not a quick solution.

Ah...that was my worry. I dont want to chew up my asphalt.

I can try backing up, but I figured that it would be easier to pull up rather than push.

Plus it's easier to see things going forward instead of reverse, but I'll give anything a try at least once.


I guess I'd better just invest in a good ice breaker. ;(

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All I ever really needed to know, I learned from watching Star Trek.

Another option - park at the bottom and walk up during the icy periods.

There are no easy solutions.

Ah, wisdon from the oldster who has probably fallen on his butt more than all of us combined. I mean that in a sincere way too.

Some people only learn the hard way. I am one of them.

I never thought of plan C, and you did. Your way is best BTW.

There is a very bad road near Puget Sound where I grew up, and people there trudge up the 1/3 mile long hill for weeks on end, as there really aren't any otpions (except the one guy who has a SnoCat, a real SnoCat that he breaks out for a few weeks a year. Everyone becomes his friend...)





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/26/2005 01:12AM by Racer X.