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[Genem]

Tell him he can save himself some long walks home.  Just throw a couple strips of household carpet in back of his 4x4.  And add a bag of kitty litter if he's feeling generous.  Place the carpet strips in front of his spinning tires and let them pull the carpet in.  He'll have amazing traction for 3 feet, then repeat.  They'll dry quickly too, and they weigh nothing.

And that is exactly what we did for the two Czech couples in vans who had followed the same route. They needed to reverse 25 metres or so on an icey slope slick enough that it was hard to stand. Each application of the carpet treatment got them back a metre or so.  The Ford we recovered onto the track using my Tirfor winch, he was then able to move off under his own steam... 

As you can see, a tiny amount of snow a few days ago - but hard frost every night since and a couple of short rain-showers have reduced this gravel track ( a Forestry car-park) to something that would daunt Torvill and Dean...

[andyjb]

It's amazing how much extra cat litter suddenly get's bought when winter sets in with frost ice or snow.

[Dentman]

It's amazing how my comment that our village resembles a Victoria sandwich cake has run to 4 pages!!

[Grandadrob]

Is this rubbish .
I seem to remember someone telling me that if you spray tyre treads with de icer, it gives a short lived traction boost. 

[Dentman]

There's a product called "spray on snow chains " Useful 

[andyjb]

I've read about both those above products/methods. Think i'll carry some carpet though. Just hope the Mrs doesn't move the sofa.

[Robin]

There's a product called "spray on snow chains " Useful 

I once looked at installing that sort of kit for our euroboxes back in the late 80s- it was available in a spray can and an installed system with a tank, pump and nozzles.

In the end I decided to put the money towards snow tyres, which were actually cheaper and probably more reliable long-term.

[lightweightles]

We got SNOW..well it hailed and then snow git big flakes of snow for about 20 mins then stopped -20mins later gone , still bits of icy patches about but no snow but weather forecasters reckon more on the way ... lets hope it lasts more than 20mins ... cheers Les 

[Dentman]

Prayer to The SnowGod...This man needs SNOW!!   

[lightweightles]

Yes pleaeeeese .. thank you  .. cheers Les

[Nanuq]

In those pictures of the icy road and cars in the ditch... what I want to know is why there are no tire tracks on the edge where the gravel and grass are exposed?  That's where the only traction is.

That looks a lot like the road I drive to get to work in the morning, but mine is a 12% grade.  Hence the studded tires and the chains waiting in back.  Hint, carpet strips are great for kneeling on when chaining up.