Had my brother round yesterday, after a weekend camping at Eskdale Campsite he set off home in his Volvo XC60, with a weekends worth of camping gear in it he headed back across Wrynose and Hardknott pass and home

He said the weather was torrential rain and sections of the road were like waterfalls, then he told me of his mishap

There is a section on there which is a S shape very steep section and he approached it and went up in 2nd, only to stall the car when he had to down shift, trying to start on the hill he just couldn't get any grip at all and just wheel spun, trying to dip the clutch to gain traction just made it smell, so he had to reverse and take a run up in first to the top, which he also got the DSC kicking in

he then uttered the immortal words "I wish I had a 4x4 like yours then"

He also said anybody who was planning a camping trip in the area, then you should consider the camping ground that the forum member "Eskdale" owns "Eskdale Camping and Caravan Club site" said it was a great location, great facilities and a pub just down the road. I don't think they accept caravans though due to access down the narrow roads but worth it if your the type to sleep on the floor under canvas  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

"Eskdale Camping and Caravan Club site"

Great name for a site that doesn't take caravans - are you sure its not owned by CG  MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

tenet wrote:

"Eskdale Camping and Caravan Club site"

Great name for a site that doesn't take caravans - are you sure its not owned by CG

Still laughing - prolly for the rest of the day too! Freelander 1 TD4 HSE - gone, 2 weeks after the Cat.Converter!
Freelander 2 TD4 SE Auto MY08 - Santorini black

 Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I recall many years ago my knackered old Triumph Herald coping admirably on both Hardknott & Wrynose passes in attrocious conditions in winter during the night and fully loaded. Just kept going even with a creaking half shaft. A recent trip in the FL2 was a breeze. I have seen modern powerful cars give up and go back down never having reached the summit - perhaps more to do with the driver than the vehicle!?. Some satnavs direct people over the passes whan it is sometomes much quicker to go round the long way, but not nearly as much fun! - 2007(57) XS Auto, Rimini Red, Alpaca Leather.
- GCS Hawke - Sports, BRG, Vulcan 2.1 inj'. My toy - built it myself in 2001.

tenet wrote:

"Eskdale Camping and Caravan Club site"

Great name for a site that doesn't take caravans - are you sure its not owned by CG

Isn't that the ssame as having a tow-bar - but not owning a caravan  2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

I let the vaners enter the camp site but then recommend a very easy van friendly route back to Ambleside, then I take a chair, a cold beer and a camera to Wrynose pass

Driving across the passes in fl2 is a bit dodgy as you cannot see the road ahead in some extra twisty sections due to the bonnet, I closed my eyes and used the force. Going off the road in some places would mean serious destruction if not death
never had that problem on the passes in normal cars At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

chicken george wrote:

I let the vaners enter the camp site but then recommend a very easy van friendly route back to Ambleside, then I take a chair, a cold beer and a camera to Wrynose pass

Driving across the passes in fl2 is a bit dodgy as you cannot see the road ahead in some extra twisty sections due to the bonnet, I closed my eyes and used the force. Going off the road in some places would mean serious destruction if not death
never had that problem on the passes on my tractor

 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

yes I think it's more to do with the driver...............some people wouldn't manage in any vehicle !!

Iain

iain cooper wrote:

yes I think it's more to do with the driver...............some people wouldn't manage in any vehicle !!

Iain

Never mind vehicle - some people would struggle on foot  2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

when i was coming back over when i was there i was following a really old VW Bettle with foreign plates on, really really struggled up some of the hills, also seen a massive VW LT35 High Top van going over it, you know the type 10years past scrapage held together with ban the bomb stickers and odd paint, driver with dirty matted hair, trying to pass them off as dreadlocks Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Daves got a LT35 was well as the disco and Fl2  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

I been court on that part of the hill a few times in front wheel drive cars ( lots of Tyre smoke and made it away) Fl2 has had no such trouble.

I did see a 205 Drive a round 110 land rover up the Kirkstone pass in the snow a few years back
(hard packed snow 2" inches deep, 110 normal tires , 205 Snow chains on the front wheels made the 110 look silly ) Things would be different across a muddy field I would hope !

Last edited by jp on 19th Jul 2011 9:44 pm. Edited 1 time in total

The instructor on the LR day told me that HDC also provides hill assist or something like that, which means if HDC is switched on and you are trying to pull away on a very steep hill, the car will not roll back when the foot brake is released. You can therefore take off nice and steady with no mass panic about putting your foot down before rolling backwards.

Something else the Volvo doesn't have I assume  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Lol. We have our own weather system in Cumbria!
Talking of winter.. Kirkstone, honnister, and whinlatter passes will keep you entertained when it snows!