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Driving to Finland - advice on vehicle prep?
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DSL
Keeper of the wheelie bin 


Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73123

Ukraine 

Might be worth you sourcing a set of 19"ers for winter tyres, just gives you more options. You can never have too many wheels!! Mr. Green Mr. Green You should be able to get a cheap set off someone here or fleabay, either older style 19" HSE rims or FFRR rims, the latter can be bought for peanuts.

Re heated steering wheel, I had it 2degC colder than the pic below so very handy:

Click image to enlarge


PS up here we had weeks of weather where it got down to -20c and up to -12c to -15c and didn't have any starting issues, my D3 had a new battery fitted just before and SWMBO's D3 had a 15 month old battery. Saying that we did make sure both cars were either used daily or if not started and well warmed up & unfrozen.
   
Post #71671116th Nov 2010 1:43 pm
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2DISCO3ORNOT
 


Member Since: 27 Apr 2009
Location: at sea
Posts: 1209


Just visited your site Ben, very impresssive, Im no LR expert to offer advise but enjoy the trip none the less Thumbs Up
  
Post #71672016th Nov 2010 2:13 pm
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MrH
 


Member Since: 08 Aug 2007
Location: lost in the forest
Posts: 7754

United Kingdom 

bensaunders wrote:
I fear not ticking the heated steering wheel box will come back to haunt me! (And Mik, as I'm now poncing around in a white HSE with a fridge, LED lights and 20" wheels, it could well have been the latter Mr. Green)


You can retro-fit them - and even though you'll probably be wearing gloves I strongly recommend the heated steering wheel - it get warm enough to feel through thick gore-tex gloves which is great for when you suffer with cold fingers and gloves don't really work, as is the case for me Confused

You may be able to arrange through LR is to get sets of studded winter tyres on wheels out there at one of their dealers - no good getting them here as you'll have to transport them over there coz they're aren't legal in the warmer climates Laughing

If you're leaving the vehicles standing for several days I would be tempted to get an external battery boost system - just in case you come back and find both vehicles are flat.

Should you go for the Lightforce auxilliary driving lamps as JF Lux recommends (I would too for the same reason - filters) spend the extra for the Xenon/HID conversion kit. I would recommend only mounting them on the front of the vehicle - in snow/fog I found roofrack lights (even fog ones) caused too much glareback to be of use, in clear conditions with a clean screen there were great though.

Also take some spare heated washer nozzles - they don't cost the earth, take up a small amount of space, are easy to replace and well worth it as they're the most likely freezing point - provided that as mentioned above you have the appropriate fluid to stop it freezing solid in the reservoir and pipes Confused

As above - you're a luck swine, have fun, come back safe with loads of pictures to show us and make us even more jealous Laughing
 LRs are a fond memory, apart from the maintenance.  
Post #71674816th Nov 2010 2:58 pm
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Discodeeva
 


Member Since: 23 Aug 2009
Location: Swindon
Posts: 66

United Kingdom 2012 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 XS Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

Good luck Ben, all the best Thumbs Up
 discodeeva  
Post #71692016th Nov 2010 8:06 pm
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NJSS
 


Member Since: 06 May 2009
Location: Catherington, Hampshire.
Posts: 10841

United Kingdom 2016 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 Landmark LE Auto Waitomo GreyDiscovery 4

Retro fit heated steering wheel & consider remote switching of Fuel Burning Heater.

A couple of Lenser P7 or T7 torches might be useful.

Good luck.

NJSS
 Am I Gammon or Woke ? - I neither know nor care.

2016 Discovery 4 Landmark
2011 Mercedes Benz SL350 (R230)
1973 MG B GT V8 - 3.9L John Eales engine, 5 speed R380 gearbox, since 1975.
1959 MGA roadster - 1.9L Peter Burgess Engine - 5 speed gearbox
Past LRs - Multiple FFRs, Discos & a Series I - some petrol, some diesel,
none Electric or H2 fuel cell - yet.
There are 10 types of people in this world: Those who understand binary, and those who don’t. 
 
Post #71711317th Nov 2010 7:29 am
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Andrew Hebron
 


Member Since: 16 Jan 2009
Location: Teddington
Posts: 501

England 2007 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Manual Cairns BlueDiscovery 3

I've done some ice driving. I think there are 3 issues:

1. getting stuck
2. extreme cold/dark
3. leaving the car for weeks

Here's a brain dump which will probably teach you to suck eggs:

1. Getting stuck:
  • winter tyres you've already mentioned. Unless you are actively off-roading, I don't think you need studded, just some of those ultra-soft knobblies. I used them quite happily on the pure ice of a frozen lake Wink
  • extreme anti-freeze / washer fluid
  • snow shovels / tow straps or ropes - but make sure they're attached with a shackle otherwise you'll be cutting them every time you use them
  • if "just" stuck, then use the old "rocking" technique to compact the snow before reversing over it, rather than spinning the wheels
  • always travel with at least 2 vehicles
  • carry some spare fuel
  • disconnect the traction control and ABS for more fun

2. Extreme cold / dark
  • I have a feeling you know about this one; after living / camping out there, even a Disco without a heated steering wheel will feel like a sauna
  • I find a swivel / magnetic lamp that plugs into a 12v socket useful - sometimes you need light where your forward lamps aren't

3. Leaving the car for a few weeks
  • check the FBH works
  • have a spare (auxiliary?) battery


Have a good trip; I'm quite jealous with the driving bit, but you can keep the camping / walking bit!
 Andrew  
Post #71720117th Nov 2010 12:56 pm
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bensaunders
 


Member Since: 16 Nov 2010
Location: London, UK
Posts: 10

United Kingdom 2010 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 HSE Auto Alaska WhiteDiscovery 4

Brilliant - thanks Andrew. (And I used to have a 309, a 205 Gti and a 106 Rallye - brilliant little cars and I miss them all!)
  
Post #71739517th Nov 2010 8:45 pm
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The Large One
 


Member Since: 20 Apr 2007
Location: Down the polytunnel
Posts: 6143

England 2009 Discovery 3 TDV6 XS Auto Stornoway GreyDiscovery 3

Ben
welcome to the forum
i'm sure you will find what your looking for on here as there is a massive amount of knowledge on this forum.
if you need anything for your Disco's then give me a shout (but i assume LR have got you covered) as a bona fide member of the forum you get the forum discount Mr. Green
 TLO has left the building.......
I no longer work for a Landrover Dealer


My little chilli sauce business http://www.thechillees.co.uk
if you would like to order anything just give me a shout 
 
Post #71743117th Nov 2010 9:36 pm
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DrLex
 


Member Since: 15 Jul 2005
Location: Ciderspace [Oi be in Zummerset]
Posts: 4863

Iceland 

Ben,
It may be worth dropping a note to a couple of the Finnish members - jsui & Parjan_fin have both posted recently, but the members' map should reveal a few more who may not be hibernating just yet.
 Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana

Member of Club Med Sucks 
 
Post #71744217th Nov 2010 9:53 pm
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Lasseliten
 


Member Since: 26 Apr 2008
Location: 63N
Posts: 2

Sweden 

One nice thing that may come handy is some sort of radio communication in the cars.
That way you can chatter all along the road and not worry about cellphone bills and have cool antennas on the roof.
You may also end up in a place without any coverage, even thou Finland probably have almost the whole country covered (http://www.mobileworldlive.com/coverage.asp).
  
Post #71823819th Nov 2010 7:40 pm
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ArcFro
 


Member Since: 30 Dec 2005
Location: Helsinki area
Posts: 74

Finland 

Welcome to Finland Ben! Very Happy

Having had D3 for four winter season by now, driven in all sorts of weather conditions (including -35 deg), I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Diesel is in northern part of Sweden and Finland by default is arctic grade (label to be found in pump) and will cope with local climate. Before first refuel of arctic grade you should have quite empty tank since already less than 5% of "summer quality" decreases significantly viscosity of diesel.

A and B roads are kept in good driving condition, you need chains only if you want to access unrated "forest roads".

Locals tend to have studded tyres on Discos but I'd be comcortable with any big manufacturers (Conti, GY, Michelin, Nokian) wintertyres. From personal experience I recommend to avoid all season tyres, you can survive with these but they require deep understanding of traction level / weight of vehicle.

Hope this helps in your preparations Ben. Hope you enjoy your stay in Finland!
  
Post #71839820th Nov 2010 6:29 am
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Ent
 


Member Since: 12 Oct 2007
Location: In the cack
Posts: 6488

Iraq 2011 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 XS Auto Fuji WhiteDiscovery 4

I think all bases have been covered already, just post up some
pictures when you get back you lucky lucky..........

BTW have you got a Jetboil PCS? Really handy bit of kit for making a hot drink or warming a ready meal up with.
 Club Exped trailer
Club Timed Climate
Club Flappy paddle steering wheel
Club 300bhp
Club Prospeed test pilot/lab rat
Club National Luna Stella conditioner 
 
Post #71840220th Nov 2010 7:52 am
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ad15
 


Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866

United Kingdom 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Manual Tonga GreenDiscovery 3

is it worth covering the grill with a shield? we used to do it to stop the engine bay freezing,, also helped with the radiator.


bad explanation there,,, we used to clip a sheet of cardboard in front of the grill when it was REALLY cold..

anybody else do that?

Embarassed wrong ben
 one wife.......livid  
Post #71842420th Nov 2010 9:10 am
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ad15
 


Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: up that tree
Posts: 4866

United Kingdom 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Manual Tonga GreenDiscovery 3

ben,, is your D4 white? parked in the multi story at the ski show?

on the same floor as all the other RR LR.. we were parked next to you..

looked very 8)
 one wife.......livid  
Post #71843720th Nov 2010 10:17 am
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DrLex
 


Member Since: 15 Jul 2005
Location: Ciderspace [Oi be in Zummerset]
Posts: 4863

Iceland 

ad15 wrote:
[...]

anybody else do that?

[...]


Almost every Series/Deafener owner in the depths of winter round here, but usually a feed sack. You're supposed to have it warmer in the Duchy.
 Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana

Member of Club Med Sucks 
 
Post #71846420th Nov 2010 11:22 am
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