Transiting through Sweden in Febuary

[Originally posted by Greenmobile]

Hi Jason,

Great trip you've got planned. As regards accommodation, there are plenty of "stugor" or small cabins/cottages available to rent for most of your route. Try the visitNorway site in english;

http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/Where-to-stay/Cottages/

Sounds like you have most of the cold weather planning sorted. Don't skimp on vehicle preparation, proper cold weather and Land Rovers requires a bit of work!
I'm sure some proper locals will be along shortly with more detailed help.

Cheers,

James

[Originally posted by Edfors]

Hello Jason, by the read it looks like you will be well prepared. We do similar trips with family including kids and infants without so many preparations as you have taken. Important to have a good serviced and well maintained vehicle, relative fresh fluids for coolant which can do -40*C or below, good brake and clutch fluid etc. Make sure you're not running out of fuel, don't wait too long to fill up or bring spare fuel. No point in carrying fuel from home either, as you go further north they will have a different diesel which is ready prepared to take lower temperatures.

Regarding winter tyres it's crucial you have tyres marked with the Alp peak and snowflake. Studs are of course good aid for stopping the vehicle. Are you carrying studded tyres or screw on studs? Remember maximum allowed protrusion is only 1.6 mm.

At the first weekend in February there will also be a LR meeting in the middle of Sweden, to be more precise it will be at the city of Sollefteå. But this is probably too early to suit your plans. http://goo.gl/maps/KfCJv

[Originally posted by spencer]

Hi,
A tip:
On the way back down south, if you long for nice offroad, I recommend you to take the old Sami roads for example from Alta at village Gargia - link 1 - further on to Suolovuopmi where is also good lodging - link 2. Cross the main road no 93 and continue direction Kautokeino same small sami road via the third link below.

If extremely snowy and/or windy do not follow this tip. If you get stuck with no PBL or Satphone you're in deep trouble.
We managed to drive here during the winter 2008-2009 - took us a full day using winch numerous occassions.
Bon voyage

Staffan Spencer
Email: s.s@telia.com

http://kart.finn.no/?lng=23.50012&lat=6 ... 8,r,Gargia

http://kart.finn.no/?lng=23.52858&lat=6 ... +fjellstue

http://kart.finn.no/?lng=23.52206&lat=6 ... erdefinert

[Originally posted by jasong4110]

Greenmobile skrev:Hi Jason,

Great trip you've got planned. As regards accommodation, there are plenty of "stugor" or small cabins/cottages available to rent for most of your route. Try the visitNorway site in english;

http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/Where-to-stay/Cottages/

Sounds like you have most of the cold weather planning sorted. Don't skimp on vehicle preparation, proper cold weather and Land Rovers requires a bit of work!
I'm sure some proper locals will be along shortly with more detailed help.

Cheers,

James

Thanks James,

I have seen the Visit Norway site, but there does not seem to be much info for our return journey through Sweden. We have been working on our trucks for months now making sure we have done all of the preparation we can.

Jason.

[Originally posted by jasong4110]

Edfors skrev:Hello Jason, by the read it looks like you will be well prepared. We do similar trips with family including kids and infants without so many preparations as you have taken. Important to have a good serviced and well maintained vehicle, relative fresh fluids for coolant which can do -40*C or below, good brake and clutch fluid etc. Make sure you're not running out of fuel, don't wait too long to fill up or bring spare fuel. No point in carrying fuel from home either, as you go further north they will have a different diesel which is ready prepared to take lower temperatures.

Regarding winter tyres it's crucial you have tyres marked with the Alp peak and snowflake. Studs are of course good aid for stopping the vehicle. Are you carrying studded tyres or screw on studs? Remember maximum allowed protrusion is only 1.6 mm.

At the first weekend in February there will also be a LR meeting in the middle of Sweden, to be more precise it will be at the city of Sollefteå. But this is probably too early to suit your plans. http://goo.gl/maps/KfCJv

Hi Patrick,

Unfortunately we will not be in Sweden until at lest the 12th Febuary so will miss that although it could have been good, all of us have at a minimum M&S tyres or winter tyres and everyone's are stud-able everyone has studs for them so it should be OK. We will be carrying Jerry Cans but don't intend to fill them until we get further up north.

As I said above everyone has been working on ensuring their trucks are up to the job we have all gone for 65% antifreeze changed fluids for fully synthetic oil where needed, and fresh brake and clutch fluid.

Jason.

[Originally posted by jasong4110]

spencer skrev:Hi,
A tip:
On the way back down south, if you long for nice offroad, I recommend you to take the old Sami roads for example from Alta at village Gargia - link 1 - further on to Suolovuopmi where is also good lodging - link 2. Cross the main road no 93 and continue direction Kautokeino same small sami road via the third link below.

If extremely snowy and/or windy do not follow this tip. If you get stuck with no PBL or Satphone you're in deep trouble.
We managed to drive here during the winter 2008-2009 - took us a full day using winch numerous occassions.
Bon voyage

Staffan Spencer
Email: s.s@telia.com

http://kart.finn.no/?lng=23.50012&lat=6 ... 8,r,Gargia

http://kart.finn.no/?lng=23.52858&lat=6 ... +fjellstue

http://kart.finn.no/?lng=23.52206&lat=6 ... erdefinert

Hi Spencer,

Thanks for the tips I will take a look at them.

Jason.

[Originally posted by Edfors]

Hope you will get some nice cold weather with lots of nordic lights then.

Regarding the studs, just of curiosity, are you putting on studs along your route? What kind of stud do you have then?

Regarding finding nice lanes through Sweden you can always program your GPS to select the shortest and smallest roads, works most of the time. Some small roads will have too deep snow to be able to drive in though, like over 60 cm deep snow is not possibly to make any useful progress in. Snow chains might be a better option than studs if you're after some nice untouched white lanes.

And many Mud Terrains despite marked M+S tyres are direct unsuitable in icy conditions, tyres with the snow flake symbol have a better rubber compound which will make all the difference. One of the absolutely best tyres is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta, and you can't tell by the looks of it but it is. http://www.nokiantyres.com/tyre?id=1689 ... itta+7+SUV

Accommodation is a bit more difficult up north there is probably somewhere in each little town but not in the smaller villages. Not many people live in each village. You may find some places to stay in from this site: http://www.visitsweden.com/sweden/Accom ... ion-guide/

I would plan my stays for each night at least a couple of days in advance and check if they open for the season and what times they're open. To bring a tipi tent with a wood stove is a good alternative otherwise, very Land Roverish as well.

[Originally posted by jasong4110]

Edfors skrev:Hope you will get some nice cold weather with lots of nordic lights then.

Regarding the studs, just of curiosity, are you putting on studs along your route? What kind of stud do you have then?

Regarding finding nice lanes through Sweden you can always program your GPS to select the shortest and smallest roads, works most of the time. Some small roads will have too deep snow to be able to drive in though, like over 60 cm deep snow is not possibly to make any useful progress in. Snow chains might be a better option than studs if you're after some nice untouched white lanes.

And many Mud Terrains despite marked M+S tyres are direct unsuitable in icy conditions, tyres with the snow flake symbol have a better rubber compound which will make all the difference. One of the absolutely best tyres is the Nokian Hakkapeliitta, and you can't tell by the looks of it but it is. http://www.nokiantyres.com/tyre?id=1689 ... itta+7+SUV

Accommodation is a bit more difficult up north there is probably somewhere in each little town but not in the smaller villages. Not many people live in each village. You may find some places to stay in from this site: http://www.visitsweden.com/sweden/Accom ... ion-guide/

I would plan my stays for each night at least a couple of days in advance and check if they open for the season and what times they're open. To bring a tipi tent with a wood stove is a good alternative otherwise, very Land Roverish as well.

Hi Patrick

We hadn't thought about any off roading but I was just going to put it to the group for consideration, although normal to you guys the conditions will seem like 'off road' for us!! We planned to stud the tyres when we need to on the route, the studs are from Norway not sure of the name but they are the type with carbide tips. We are prepared to sleep (in beds) in our trucks or in tents, and will be taking a wood stove but wanted to break up the camping with stays in lodges to enable showers etc. The difficulty we have is although we have made several plans we can not confirm when we will be somewhere as the weather will be the biggest factor as to how far we can travel each day.

Jason.

[Originally posted by skotten]

eeeey, nice one : )

I often get folks from back home stopping by, and loads have done this trip, even one guy solo in a lightweight! (PM me your phone and email address and I will forward them on to him and hook you guys up)

Soulds like its going to be a sweet adventure. Dont worry about anything, you guys have pretty much got the cars sorted by the look of it. Even if you guys get to Copenhagen and realize that you have forgotten something, I am literally 15 minutes across the bridge from copenhagen airport, and dont mind bringing spares or tools before you guys get on the boat.

There are a couple of Expats on the Landrovernet forum that now live in Norway, super nice blokes, and everytime I have hit Norway, they have offered a bed to sleep in, which of course I will do as well!.

If the proverbial S hits the fan, we are far more concentrated in the south of course, but there is normally someone nearby that talks great english and have somewhere dry to drop a box or whatever. Typically the swedes are quite a reserved bunch, but I have found that not to be the case at all with the LR owners!, very approachable and always willing to help.

Here are a couple of links to road webcams, so you can see how far the winter is along here already : )

http://trafikinfo.trafikverket.se/LIT/# ... iken/Karta (click on vaglagskameror)
http://www.webkameraerinorge.com/map/

Finally, spend money on clothes and sleeping bags. Keep your wet gear seperate from your dry, and remember to keep drinking water when it starts to get cold and you guys are digging yourself out. Never work too hard that you sweat, and never warm your frozen hands on a fire, you wont feel yourself burning them.

[Originally posted by jasong4110]

skotten skrev:eeeey, nice one : )

I often get folks from back home stopping by, and loads have done this trip, even one guy solo in a lightweight! (PM me your phone and email address and I will forward them on to him and hook you guys up)

Soulds like its going to be a sweet adventure. Dont worry about anything, you guys have pretty much got the cars sorted by the look of it. Even if you guys get to Copenhagen and realize that you have forgotten something, I am literally 15 minutes across the bridge from copenhagen airport, and dont mind bringing spares or tools before you guys get on the boat.

There are a couple of Expats on the Landrovernet forum that now live in Norway, super nice blokes, and everytime I have hit Norway, they have offered a bed to sleep in, which of course I will do as well!.

If the proverbial S hits the fan, we are far more concentrated in the south of course, but there is normally someone nearby that talks great english and have somewhere dry to drop a box or whatever. Typically the swedes are quite a reserved bunch, but I have found that not to be the case at all with the LR owners!, very approachable and always willing to help.

Here are a couple of links to road webcams, so you can see how far the winter is along here already : )

http://trafikinfo.trafikverket.se/LIT/# ... iken/Karta (click on vaglagskameror)
http://www.webkameraerinorge.com/map/

Finally, spend money on clothes and sleeping bags. Keep your wet gear seperate from your dry, and remember to keep drinking water when it starts to get cold and you guys are digging yourself out. Never work too hard that you sweat, and never warm your frozen hands on a fire, you wont feel yourself burning them.

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the reply, I will continue to post up our prep on here, I have finalised the route now so after we have reviewed it at the weekend I will post it up here for people to have a look. Everyone is now sorted out with the correct tyres, and truck prep is going well.

I think we all have good personal equipment, 3 of us are ex-military and understand the importance of looking after your equipment as it looks after you... We have also benefited from Nordic training so understand the risks and the do's and dont's.

A saying in the military and for this trip is 'failure to prepare is preparing to fail', and we are not prepared to fail!!

I have been contact by several people from the Norwegian LR forum, offering us places to stay if things go wrong and numbers to call if we need help.

As you say the Land Rover community is a small one but a very helpful and friendly one.

Jason.

[Originally posted by jasong4110]

Well we had a shakedown test this weekend, things worked really well the evening was cold by UK standards -6 I put the heater on for 1/2 an hour before we went to sleep all of the insulation worked very well. When we woke up the truck was 4 degrees inside so had really retained the heat so I am really confident that we have ticked that box and will be well prepared.

I also fitted my ARB bumper to the truck so ready for the crazy wildlife.

Jason.

[Originally posted by Edfors]

Well done! -16*C this morning, here just north of Stockholm. Welcome

[Originally posted by Shogo]

Sounds like a nice trip !

I would really recommend to spend some coin on a swedish spec military tent with a stove. Much nicer than to sleep in a car (and lets the car dry up during the cold dry nights instead of getting soaked). They can also double as a sauna if one is persistent enough

Something like this.
http://translate.google.com/translate?s ... temid%3D73

[Originally posted by Edfors]

A comment to Shogo's tent tips, the price don't translate with google and would be around £450