Feb 1, 2011 North Texas Sleet

[Darkanion]

Prior to the sleet the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, area received Monday night / Tuesday morning, I had not experienced Subaru's AWD in wintry conditions..

I work from home. So, while most of the schools and a lot of businesses were closed for 3 or 4 days this week, I did not get any days off. So, I only had about 30-45 minutes per time out to first get used to how it acted at all and then learning how to misbehave a little.

Each time I went out, I recorded the trip. This video is from the 4th time out, when I had to go get some dog food for Anna.. Heck, I'll attach a video of her, too.

Anyway! I know these are nothing compared to what a lot of you folks have done. But, we don't get this type of weather a lot down here. So, AWD or not, I haven't had tons of "practice" time behind the wheel in this stuff.. :lol:

Me out playing (and regretting one decision) :
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu5aY8pGEsk"]YouTube - Feb 3, 2011 : Petsmart Trip[/ame]

My dog out playing in the snow :
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLTmQSjHK5g"]YouTube - Feb 4, 2011 : She's Awake Now[/ame]

 

[Rally]

What damage did you do to the car? Still, at least you had some fun in the mud and snow. I must admit that I hate driving in snowy/ice conditions. Not knowing if and when you have any grip is most unnerving. Fortunately, where I live it is not a problem, but should I venture into the mountains in winter black ice is always a concern.

 

[Darkanion]

What damage did you do to the car? Still, at least you had some fun in the mud and snow. I must admit that I hate driving in snowy/ice conditions. Not knowing if and when you have any grip is most unnerving. Fortunately, where I live it is not a problem, but should I venture into the mountains in winter black ice is always a concern.

So far, I haven't found any damage. Today is the first day we've gotten out of the 20's (for highs) all week. So, I haven't had a chance to get under it and look around. It still drove & rode fine. So, I suspect that all the noise was just from ice bouncing up against the bottom of the car, as I trudged through the mud & water.. I kind of kicked myself, though, for pushing my luck like that.

Your concern is understandable. I've been kind of wanting to go back to Colorado since some time in August. But, work prevented me from going until Winter had started. Until this week, there hadn't been a good opportunity to get out and see how the Outback would do in wintry conditions (here in Texas). So, I was going to wait until at least Spring before I went back to CO..

After seeing how the OB did the last few days, I'm not near as concerned as I was.

EDIT : I just looked under the car with a flashlight. I see a few places where you can tell something scraped the underside of the car.. The main place where dust/dirt is clear is what looks like a brace under the transmission. Pretty much everything else under there is dusty/dirty. So, no damage (that I can see). I still think I may be ordering some skid plates here soon.. Better safe than sorry!

 

[Rally]

Is it an auto? Might need sump guard for it as well. I remember driving solo in south west Tasmania, and found a muddy track I wanted to explore. It had been raining for a while so there were puddles and it was quite slippery. I got to a point where I had to stop and turn around. No one knew I was here, it was in a remote part of the state and if I became I bogged I would be in real trouble as it was also very cold. I wished there was another car with me. But to any further would have been stupid. Pity- it was a place worthy of a good look around

 

[Darkanion]

Is it an auto? Might need sump guard for it as well. I remember driving solo in south west Tasmania, and found a muddy track I wanted to explore. It had been raining for a while so there were puddles and it was quite slippery. I got to a point where I had to stop and turn around. No one knew I was here, it was in a remote part of the state and if I became I bogged I would be in real trouble as it was also very cold. I wished there was another car with me. But to any further would have been stupid. Pity- it was a place worthy of a good look around

Yeah, it's an automatic.. I've read that Primitive offers a setup that protects the engine, transmission, and rear-diff.. If that is true, I'll probably be ordering that setup here soon. Since I do like to go 'exploring' from time to time, there's no reason to risk damaging anything big & important under there!

I hear ya on being out where no one knows you are.. That's most of my road trips. I try to check in with different people each evening (when I can).. For the most part, though, I usually travel alone and only have a general idea of where I'm going on a particular day. So, telling someone "where to go looking for me if I don't check in" wouldn't work most of the time.

 

[dirtyRU]

very nice! the wifes grandmother lives in the Red Oak area, today she had about 3 diff pipes bust once everything thawed out.

 

[mr turbo]

Cool video's Darkanion.

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[carljwnc]

Sweet videos!!! Glad you got out there and had some fun. Looks like the dog was enjoying it too, dogs love snow!!!:ebiggrin:

 

[Darkanion]

very nice! the wifes grandmother lives in the Red Oak area, today she had about 3 diff pipes bust once everything thawed out.

Sorry to hear that about your wife's grandmother. We don't normally get THAT cold for THAT long.. I just read that we were below freezing for over 100 hours. They're saying it wasn't a record for below freezing temps, but it was in the top 10.. I'm just glad it finally warmed up some! :lol:

They are forecasting more snow for Wednesday.. But, that looks like it will be a more "normal" snow event for this area. One day below freezing with some snow, and the next day we'll thaw out!

Cool video's Darkanion.

Regards
Mr Turbo

Thanks! I still have more video to go through. If I find anything interesting, I'll add it!

Sweet videos!!! Glad you got out there and had some fun. Looks like the dog was enjoying it too, dogs love snow!!!:ebiggrin:

Thanks! I was glad we finally had some wintry weather down here, so I could see how the Subaru was going to act/react. I know I've read a lot about how great they are in less-than-desirable conditions. But, you just can't be sure of something until you try it for yourself!

Yeah, she loves the snow.. or even when it gets COLD the first time or two each year.. She doesn't like staying out in it, but she likes to get out and run it in! :lol:

 

[dirtyRU]

Ah, if i didn't know better, that looks like an old woodmaster shed you have out back! Is that correct? I used to be a sales rep for the company that bought out woodmaster.

 

[Darkanion]

Ah, if i didn't know better, that looks like an old woodmaster shed you have out back! Is that correct? I used to be a sales rep for the company that bought out woodmaster.

I'm not sure who the manufacturer is. I can tell it's pre-fabricated. But, it was already here when I bought the house and I haven't seem a name on it. I do need to do a little work on it, though, before summer hits..

 

[dirtyRU]

Ah i see. Usually the doors on those buildings (if it is a woodmaster) were the first thing to go. After about 3-5yrs, the doors would about rot off the hinges.

 

[Darkanion]

Ah i see. Usually the doors on those buildings (if it is a woodmaster) were the first thing to go. After about 3-5yrs, the doors would about rot off the hinges.

So far, the 2x4's on the doors seems to be the only wood that needs to be replaced. I guess I'll find out if there's more to it than that when I start taking those off..

 

[Barry]

I'm a town planner, so always interested to see how rear yards work in different places. Most of what I have seen of the US has either low wire mesh side / rear fences or is open. I see you have high paling fences as we do in Aus.
Not sure if the practice in the US changed or perhaps the open sort on larger blocks with palings on unit development where privacy is more crucial.

 

[dirtyRU]

It really depends on where you are. In neighborhoods that are built within the last 20-30yrs, you typically have the 6' privacy fence. Older neighborhoods tend to have a mixture (if any depending on how nice the 'hood is) of both as they weren't taken over by Home Owners Associations like many have now.

 

[Darkanion]

Barry, like Matt said, in the last 20 yrs or so, the taller so-called "privacy fences" have become a lot more popular, especially in-town..

 

[Rally]

I live in a new area- and all the fences are the same horrible shade of colourbond. I think the colour is called wheat- sort of a pale, dull yellowish colour. No imagination

 

[Barry]

I live in a new area- and all the fences are the same horrible shade of colourbond. I think the colour is called wheat- sort of a pale, dull yellowish colour. No imagination

Colourbond fences are horrible, they inevitably get 'dinged' and rattle, etc. Much less 'authentic' than corrugated galvanised iron (aka 'tin') lysaght 'Blue Orb' circa 1920.

Variation in fencing styles is interesting. e.g. in Queensland it is common to have gapped hardwood palings - just like in Vic / NSW, but without the overlapping paling - i.e. every second paling missing.

Often see U.S. fencing styles - or lack of fences - in movies. e.g. the 'chase' scene at the end of 'E.T.' or the discussion on the back step of the Aunts house between Peter Parker (aka Spider Man) and his (future) 'squeeze'.

Leafy 'up-town' suburbs (the ones with great, spreading street trees and art deco concrete street 'lantern' posts) always seem to have perfect front and rear yards open to all.

 

[Rally]

I prefer it to be a natural fence- lilli pilli's, wattles, etc, with the actual fence not visible.

 

[dirtyRU]

So far, the 2x4's on the doors seems to be the only wood that needs to be replaced. I guess I'll find out if there's more to it than that when I start taking those off..

When you do replace, instead of the standard 2x4's, use a product called SmartTrim. It's an LP product available at home depot or lowes. Comes pre-primed & you can pick it up in a 1"x4". Has a 50yr warranty against rotting/warping - same warranty as hardi-plank.