jeffreyhy

Is that guy fat enough to give the wheelchair sufficient traction?

Regards, JEff

Nutek

This is why people like Mrs. Hungry are so important. Someone is needed to hang off of the back.

WEBlue

LOL! But will Mr. H want her to hang off the back? Is it OK if his wife hitches a ride as opposed to pushing?

OK seriously now .... How about winter salt and grit? The garden centre here has got various stuff on sale. Once the snow is everywhere, do you salt your front steps? Do you carry sand in your car for emergencies?

Nutek

We have to salt our driveway if we are to have any chance to get up it (steep). we probably go through 2-300lb over the course of the winter.

Plus, our street is a "snow route", so on-street parking is banned... if we don't make it up that driveway, we face getting towed by the city. Like we got stuck on purpose. Grrr.

I used to throw a few bags into the back of the Miata sometimes, just to get some weight over the back wheels. Similar idea to using a Mrs. Hungry™ but probably easier to get the lid shut.

Mr Weeze

I'm sure you have some pictorial representations of a Mrs. Hungry™? You saving those for a slow day?

scrubbedexpat099

Plowing is hard on the vehicle, you need something with a substantial frame and heavy components to take the load.

I have certainly heard of people getting into it as they have truck, what they fail to realise is that in a few years they will have a knackered truck.

Bob

You want to grit it before the snow...or you'll end up with piles of ice.

As for sand in car, only if it's got a high CoG, for the weight....or you are out in the boonies and park on a hill and need extra traction. Other wise it's not really needed.

A folding shovel in the boot is handy, especially if you're out in the sticks. As is a folding broom, makes clearing the car a lot quicker than those naff little brushes.

WEBlue

Is this for the steps and walkway? Also the driveway? So people grit these when there's snow in the forecast?

Fantastic idea!! Where do you find these?

Beaverstate

Folding shovels are sold at camping goods stores, or army surplus.

Bob

Anywhere you are walking, you want gritted before the snow. It'll also help stop the ice forming.

If you do it after the snow, it's to late. The big problem isn't so much the snow, but once you clear it, the compacted stuff underneath ices up and/or any rain that pools around turning to ice if the snow melts during the day.

As for folding brooms/shovels. Locally, pretty much everywhere, Ocean State sell them the cheapest, but you can get them in Walmart, Target, Sears etc.

Camping stores will have better quality ones, but you tend to pay the price for it. I get a mediocre collapsible brush which is good for a few years, but buy it for a few bucks at the end of winter sale.

WEBlue

Our family started carrying kitty litter (for cats) in the back of our Ulysees after the giant snowstorm of 2003, which stranded motorists on the M11 in southern England for up to 15 hours. We lived not far from the motorway and some of my neighbours tramped out across the fields with flasks of tea and sandwiches for the worst cases.

After that event, the authorities were recommending carrying not only kitty litter and shovels, but bottled water, food supplies, hand-warmers, and blankets for every single passenger whenever snow was predicted! That was a bit of a heavy load to drive back & forth to work, school, errands, but a lot of us did it.

Bob

It is handy to have a blanket in the car during winter and if you're out in the sticks, to have a candle and match as it's a good source of warmth if you break down.

WEBlue

Another good idea! I guess the closed car will hold the heat of a candle well enough as long as it's lit....

I'm preparing my winter emergency car kit as we speak, so it's great to hear all these tips!

jeffreyhy

As long as the extra weight can be placed below the high CoG.

Regards, JEff

Nutek

I carry most of my extra weight just above the belt line.