[tsk1979]

This long weekend was a trip like never before. Going to a place and just sitting there in the woods. No drama, no passes, no mountain roads, no slush.
I didn't turn out as relaxed as planned.... but still more relaxed that our other trips

Day 1:
The Aim was to leave Delhi at 7am. But with Delhi entry sealed and all that checking around red fort, we decided to leave around 11, and were finally out of home around 11:30.
After more than a hour of madness on Delhi border, we finally crossed the Panipat flyover.
Wifey took over the wheel, and soon we were cruising quite fast.

Did a detour through the village roads too, with offroading and slush and worked out the 4x4 and the LSD, but no pictures. I was concentrating on not going into the paddy fields.
LSD is a potent weapon, and if you are not careful your vehicle will start pointing the wrong way in a jiffy.

It was evening that we again encountered madness at Kalka, with 1.5 hours in the jam.
Phew.
Finally in the evening we reached the cottage, to tired and drained.
Uphill in a traffic jam is really crazy!

Went to pinewood barog for dinner, and in the whole day I took just one picture


After that we just crashed on the bed....

...To Be Cont. after I finish processing pics today!

[anupmathur]

...To Be Cont. after I finish processing pics today!

Ah! Teasing at work again!

Why are gentlemen all engaged in 'adam-teasing' these days?!!


And, Tanveer, you are probably close to holding a Guinness record! ONE photo in a whole day of travelling??!! And that too the first trip in a smashing new 4X4 vehicle!

[tsk1979]

There is no time to take pictures when you are offroading
The rear was swing all over, thanks to the Limited slip and I was too scared to stop anywhere.

This trip was more about exploring the limits of the vehicle rather than photography, but there are some 15-20 pics which I will post by night

On the exploring part, I will describe the 3/4 km uphill ride in the rain on a slushy road with narrow hairpins requiring 3 point turns and 30 degree + inclines.

[hitanshu]

3 point turns, sounds like you took a palio up there

[tsk1979]

The Alarm was set for 8:30am, after all you are supposed to wake up at 8am on lazy holidays. But I was awake at 7:30 thanks to natures alarm.
The Tin roof made loud sounds as if the entire vanar sena had descended on it.
Well inspection revealed that it was just 4 monkeys, jumping on the roof and fighting.
with such cacophony it was impossible to sleep and we got out of bed, and watched Batman Part 1.
Now why didn't we go out?
Because it was pouring like anything.
Torrential rane meant even with umbrellas by the time we reached the parking we would be drenched.
Moreover the steps were very slippery, so it was time for sausages, egg and bread etc., etc.,
Finally around 1pm rain slowed down, and we decided to go for a short drive to a construction site where our family friend was building a small house.

Gave him a call and he tells us that we can come 1/4th the way up, and rest of the km will have to be walked.

Well good enough, and we took the loose stone road.
It was slippery, and the rear tires kept fighting for traction.
Soon we reached a sharp hairpin turn where a safari and SX4 were parked. In the loose mud deep tire marks suggested lot of wheelspin and drama.
It was 30 degree+ incline, and walking up was also going to be tough.
I just engaged 4L, and whoa, she took off in idle.
3 point turns? No problem.
the wheelspin was there, but I only had to gently tap the accelerator to get the truck moving.
Soon we were trudging up like a locomotive, and at the top, our friend was watching us very amused.
He had to get 2 people to help him get his bike to his house.

After tea and some snacks, it was time to click some pictures and we decided to visit barog heights.

To be cont... with pictures

[anupmathur]

The rear was swing all over, thanks to the Limited slip and I was too scared to stop anywhere.

I dare say you will NEVER really come to know about when and how much the LSD is contributing!
BTW, do you know that the Gypsy is a 'free' differential?! No LSD there.
In our travels, as we are not off-roadies but only tourers who want a go-as-you-please experience, LSD will hardly ever be called into play!

But.... let's not digress!
We Want The PHOTOS and the LOG!

[tsk1979]

Sirji, I used to offroad in gypsy. Its such a light vehicle that even open diffs will do.
But Safari wheis 2.2 Tonnes.
So while on the offroad tail I always tried to follow a path where atleast one rear wheel would stay on dry ground.
In the Gypsy I never had this tail swinging thing, but in safari as the wheel in slush looses traction completely the wheel on try ground starts moving.
Front diff is open, so the wheel in slush keeps on spinning,
As the dry wheel moves forward with wet wheel in slush the tail starts to swing.

Evening I process photos when I go home, here is a small teaser pic, hope you like it

[anupmathur]

I essentially agree with you.
There is actually nothing like the Gypsy.
My worst nightmare with the Scorpio is on steep downhill gradients.
Apply the brakes and almost nothing happens. The damn thing just slides/skids along under inertia!!
I even have doubts whether ABS would be able to overcome this very disturbing behaviour! LOL, by all rights, it SHOULD!

[tsk1979]

I essentially agree with you.
There is actually nothing like the Gypsy.
My worst nightmare with the Scorpio is on steep downhill gradients.
Apply the brakes and almost nothing happens. The damn thing just slides/skids along under inertia!!
I even have doubts whether ABS would be able to overcome this very disturbing behaviour! LOL, by all rights, it SHOULD!

For downhill I shifted to 4L and let her idle in second gear. It slowly crawled down the slippery slope.

[anupmathur]

For downhill I shifted to 4L and let her idle in second gear. It slowly crawled down the slippery slope.

Indeed that is what I have been doing when required. (Come down in the same gear that you went up). But not all Scorpios are 4WD. Imagine having to use brakes on gravel and steep downhill!