Seeing the disruption caused by recent heavy snow in West Sussex we wondered if Skoda might have supported a project to promote the Yeti as an environmentally friendly and helpful vehicles for use in rural communities.

Part of offering Yeti help in this way might have been with training courses to develop 4WD driving skills - particularly to deal with ice and snow and creating a Yeti owners team to do this.

Obviously not all people would be in a position of cover the costs of running their Yeti for significant mileages to benefit the community . Some way must be found to offer financial incentives for offering community help. Maybe magnetic vehicle displays showing the Yeti as a temporary community support vehicle with sponsorship by Skoda or tax or fuel concessions.

Insurance might be a problem if the Yeti was being used for off road training and community support - possibly Skoda could sort that one out!

We are therefore so so disappointed we have been sold a duck without webbed feet.

Without snow chains we do not think that the Yeti could safely provide such a community service

See My link

Vic

so disappointed we have been sold a duck without webbed feet.

Without snow chains we do not think that the Yeti could safely provide such a community service

See My link

Vic

Vic, I'm real interested in your disappointment in being sold a duck without web feet comment.

I've never had a set of snow chains and have yet to get stuck in any snow/ice and we get our fair share of it up here. OK fair enough I had to dig my Octy 4x4 out a few times over the last few years mostly due to body clearance but 2mins frenzied shovelling and job done. As for my Snow-monster it hasn't set a paw wrong.

Vic, I'm real interested in your disappointment in being sold a duck without web feet comment.

I've never had a set of snow chains and have yet to get stuck in any snow/ice and we get our fair share of it up here. OK fair enough I had to dig my Octy 4x4 out a few times over the last few years mostly due to body clearance but 2mins frenzied shovelling and job done. As for my Snow-monster it hasn't set a paw wrong.

Thanks for your input scunjee. You will have to make representations to the EC that snow chains are not needed for the Yeti and the legal requirement to have them for use in certain European countries is unfair.

The details on this are in the linked thread about snow chains and surely we should have the option to be able to fit snow chains or similar devices to comply with European legislation. By providing us with a 4WD vehicle to which snow chains cannot be added is indeed providing a vehicle that is akin to a duck without web feet and would result in our being prosecuted whilst abroad. Perhaps deal with that in the snow chain forum?

Returning to the community service concept...........

If we were to offer an essential community service the last thing we would want is people having to rescue us - we certainly feel that everything should be done to minimise this risk hence the suggestion of training opportunities and explanations about snow tyres, winter tyres and snow chains etc.

Vic

Seeing the disruption caused by recent heavy snow in West Sussex we wondered if Skoda might have supported a project to promote the Yeti as an environmentally friendly and helpful vehicles for use in rural communities.

Part of offering Yeti help in this way might have been with training courses to develop 4WD driving skills - particularly to deal with ice and snow and creating a Yeti owners team to do this.

Obviously not all people would be in a position of cover the costs of running their Yeti for significant mileages to benefit the community . Some way must be found to offer financial incentives for offering community help. Maybe magnetic vehicle displays showing the Yeti as a temporary community support vehicle with sponsorship by Skoda or tax or fuel concessions.

Insurance might be a problem if the Yeti was being used for off road training and community support - possibly Skoda could sort that one out!

We are therefore so so disappointed we have been sold a duck without webbed feet.

Without snow chains we do not think that the Yeti could safely provide such a community service

See My link

Vic

Maybe there is a little misunderstanding of the Yeti Character. Despite the name, which suggest a home in the Himalayas, she is a "softroader" intended for rodd use in good and inclement weather with a mild but capable off-road character. A Landrover Defender she is not.

Standard footwear for the Yeit is either 16 or 17 inch wheels with summer street tyres. It should be no surprise to anybody that these are not good or intended to suffice in the winter weather we have had. Common sense dictates that the Yeti - and any other vehicle - be shod with appropriate tyres for the season. For normal road use, a good set of winter wheels in standard sizes are more than good enough. If you intend to try some serious off-road work, then you need serious off-road tyres - big lugs of rubber that can dig and throw stuff - and if you want to use chains, a smaller tyre that leaves room for the chains.

I seriously doubt that chains are necessary in West Sussex - this winter or any other winter - unless you have a real need to go driving around in two foot drifts at length. In four foot of snow - forget it, Yeti or any other 4 wheeled vehicle. Specialized tracked vehicles are the only thing,

Chains are not required in any of the areas of Europe, except in some Alpine passes when signposted. People, who frequent the higher ski areas, make it a habit of having the chains in the ar, but rarely need to use them. However, they do change to wiinter tyres, as anything else is just irresponsible.

Now, I fail to see where the Yeti is any differnt from any other vehicle?

Geez, I ougt to spell check first. Sorry.

Edited 7 February, 201016 yr by Agerbundsen

Thanks for your input scunjee. You will have to make representations to the EC that snow chains are not needed for the Yeti and the legal requirement to have them for use in certain European countries is unfair.

Vic

Vic with your eloquent and cutting sarcasm surely you should be on a comedy forum...or go into politics.

I expressed a point of view, which apparently doesn't match with yours. This clearly marks me out as a transgressor of informed opinion by your esteemed and valued response. :p Puerile response???? aye, right it is, but there again this is a forum....firefights are a common and oft welcomed repose.

Help in the community.... for all those tricky moments in Sussex where there's an inch or 2 of snow on the deck why not go the whole hog and buy a Eurocopter, an EC135 should do the trick nicely in the right hands....incidentally there's no need for snowchains on one of them either. Failing that a defender or landcruiser is the only option for the 7days a year that challenge an average vehicles ability to overcome minor snow impedance in UK or you have to tackle some serious terrain whether yer north or south of Hadrian's Wall

Incomplete post deleted

Edited 7 February, 201016 yr by Y4YETI

Vic with your eloquent and cutting sarcasm surely you should be on a comedy forum...or go into politics.

I expressed a point of view, which apparently doesn't match with yours. This clearly marks me out as a transgressor of informed opinion by your esteemed and valued response. :p Puerile response???? aye, right it is, but there again this is a forum....firefights are a common and oft welcomed repose.

Help in the community.... for all those tricky moments in Sussex where there's an inch or 2 of snow on the deck why not go the whole hog and buy a Eurocopter, an EC135 should do the trick nicely in the right hands....incidentally there's no need for snowchains on one of them either. Failing that a defender or landcruiser is the only option for the 7days a year that challenge an average vehicles ability to overcome minor snow impedance in UK or you have to tackle some serious terrain whether yer north or south of Hadrian's Wall

Hmm are you trying to hijack this thread with discussion as to whether the Yeti is or is not an appropriate vehicle to try and offer a community service allowing for snow falls (even in West Sussex) of 23cm?

Seems you are saying NO!!!!

The Yeti is a softroader/crossover has been put forward as being a life style vehicle and has been put directly into the path of the Freelander which does have fairly good off road credentials and abilities. I agree that if one intends to use it off road, then to gain the best advantage, the correct fitments of appropriate off road tyres is best. I do not agree however that in order to fit snow chains that it is good design practice build a new vehicle from the onset knowing that a change of wheels is in order just to facilitate the fitments of chains. One can not buy the top spec cars with the appropriate size wheels that will facilitate fitting chains one has to buy additional wheels. If one takes Skoda by its word, instead of using ones own common sense, then one also has to buy additional wheels just to fit winter tyres. This has just got to be the joke of the decade or some sort of prolonged April Fool.

Does anyone know exactly what does come into contact first with snow chains on normal size wheels and tyres? Is it the bodywork, some part of the chassis or brake pipes? I presume this would at maximum deflection of the suspension. Is the problem to encountered on both front and back of the Yeti. I am wondering here what sort of modifications might allow easy use of chains.

Edited 7 February, 201016 yr by Anthony 1

We already have this in the East Riding, people in need have a number they can call for the local 4x4 club.

My link

Regards,

TP

<snip> Is the problem to encountered on both front and back of the Yeti. I am wondering here what sort of modifications might allow easy use of chains.

Manual quoted in my first post states snow chains must only be fitted to the front wheels

TP interesting link to Bridlington Community support but wonder if the 4 x 4 participants are supported financially - as mentioned in my OP some might like to participate but the costs of doing so in fuel and insurance could be a deterrent.

I was thinking of some input from Skoda if we were promoting the product

Vic

Edited 7 February, 201016 yr by Y4YETI

This community service idea is already quite common in 4x4 clubs. Do a google search for '"Rover rescue" and you'll find several land rover clubs doing it.

To be honest I don't think the yeti is really the ideal vehicle for it, it's not really an off road vehicle, more of a road vehicle with some off road ability.

Fitting of snow chains to only front wheels is not a good idea IMHO. They make a car unbalanced with totally different slip angles front to rear Do you know what the problem might be if they where fitted to the rears? What might come into contact? The Yeti has very poor articulation at the back so it surely can not be contact with the upper mudguard body area.

Fitting of snow chains to only front wheels is not a good idea IMHO. They make a car unbalanced with totally different slip angles front to rear Do you know what the problem might be if they where fitted to the rears? What might come into contact? The Yeti has very poor articulation at the back so it surely can not be contact with the upper mudguard body area.

Hi Anthony,

the latest owners manual 11.09 states you can fit chains to the rear as well but oddly to the standard road tyre only if I have read it correctly.

Think there's some correction required as I am sure there not saying put one size of wheels on the front for chains but another on the back. To me that's how it reads though at the moment.

Regards,

TP

Hi Anthony,

the latest owners manual 11.09 states you can fit chains to the rear as well but oddly to the standard road tyre only if I have read it correctly.

Think there's some correction required as I am sure there not saying put one size of wheels on the front for chains but another on the back. To me that's how it reads though at the moment.

Regards,

TP

Thanks TP,

It may be another of those translation errors that will take some time to sort. I suppose that the German manuals will give more accurate reading.

I really do not understand the UK importers attitude at all. Throughout,the brochures have been numerous inaccuracies regarding all sorts of things, it might be a bit much for one to expect that the manuals and handbooks might be any different.

Do you know if the German manuals are in PDF format TP? PDF is a bit more laborious to translate into English using he translator machinery.

Do you know if the German manuals are in PDF format TP? PDF is a bit more laborious to translate into English using he translator machinery.

Not come across the Manual in German as yet, the Skoda web site appears to default to English (computer wizardry stuff no doubt) but if I do will let you know.

Regards,

TP

THe system the OP mentions is already there, it is called the National 4x4 Response ;

http://www.4x4response.info/

This comprises of local autonomous Groups through out the country, who make themselves available to do this sort of thing. The Yeti 4x4 would be more than suitable for the type of jobs i do in the Freelander, which is typically taking Care Workers and District Nurse out to clients in the snow. You would need to check with your insurance company whether they will cover you do do "voluntary work" for which you are paid just to cover your fuel costs, but most now do so. Certainly my Policy from LV=Frizzells actually states this on the doument. All the Groups are required to have Public Liability insurance, but here in Wales we are also covered under the Local Authority cover for non-vehicle insurance when on a call-out.

I have been a member for over 3 years and have found it good fun.

Help in the community.... for all those tricky moments in Sussex where there's an inch or 2 of snow on the deck why not go the whole hog and buy a Eurocopter.

I lol'd and milk came out my nose. Sheer genius.

THe system the OP mentions is already there, it is called the National 4x4 Response ;

http://www.4x4response.info/

This comprises of local autonomous Groups through out the country, who make themselves available to do this sort of thing. The Yeti 4x4 would be more than suitable for the type of jobs i do in the Freelander, which is typically taking Care Workers and District Nurse out to clients in the snow. You would need to check with your insurance company whether they will cover you do do "voluntary work" for which you are paid just to cover your fuel costs, but most now do so. Certainly my Policy from LV=Frizzells actually states this on the doument. All the Groups are required to have Public Liability insurance, but here in Wales we are also covered under the Local Authority cover for non-vehicle insurance when on a call-out.

I have been a member for over 3 years and have found it good fun.

Thanks I have found our local group for South East England http://www.southeast4x4response.co.uk/forum/index.php

Obviously funds are needed to develop and reimburse the participants in these schemes and it might be appropriate for Skoda to offer some sponsorship if the Yeti could be shown as capable of meeting the needs of the group. I see that training mentioned in my OP is covered by the Groups. Would Skoda sponsor the training of Yeti owners to prove their product can match the real monsters!!!!

It would possibly be worth asking, but I somehow doubt it, as Skoda would probably not be the most popular vehicle to the members. Most of them run quite highly modified stuff, although I find it great fun to turn up in my Freelander and still get to places they never expect me to!!

It would possibly be worth asking, but I somehow doubt it, as Skoda would probably not be the most popular vehicle to the members. Most of them run quite highly modified stuff, although I find it great fun to turn up in my Freelander and still get to places they never expect me to!!

Even more so if you performed the same task in a Yeti Graham!

Help in the community.... for all those tricky moments in Sussex where there's an inch or 2 of snow on the deck why not go the whole hog and buy a Eurocopter, an EC135 should do the trick nicely in the right hands....incidentally there's no need for snowchains on one of them either. Failing that a defender or landcruiser is the only option for the 7days a year that challenge an average vehicles ability to overcome minor snow impedance in UK or you have to tackle some serious terrain whether yer north or south of Hadrian's Wall

Eurocopter - no way - they're French! Pah! Hughes 500 for me.... .

Ah, so that's why the Eurocopter can fly backwards so well !

Eurocopter - no way - they're French! Pah! Hughes 500 for me.... .

Ah, so that's why the Eurocopter can fly backwards so well !

Nah the hughes is fer midgets, and the backwards thing....hmmmm grain o truth there

What about one o them osprey tilt rotor thingies?

Nah the hughes is fer midgets, and the backwards thing....hmmmm grain o truth there

What about one o them osprey tilt rotor thingies?

Hovercraft - might be tough getting it there! Snowmobiles might do.

Enjoy your cheap laughs whilst the Gulf Stream slows and weather changes in the UK!!!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article520013.ece

Shame on those hijacking this thread with nonsense instead of offering help.

OK guess like many others I needed to change my vehicle and thought I would have regard to the evidence supported by our current experiences that UK could be facing more severe winters in the future.

Was I was to some extent misguided in selecting the Yeti Elegant to deal with 20 cm of snow and ice using snow chains or spiders?

Edited 8 February, 201016 yr by Y4YETI