We just got our E about a month and half ago. Now we are trying to get it ready for some snowboarding trips this winter.
We got the Thule roof rack and want to get some winter tires and auxiliary lights.
Can anyone suggest a nice set up and where to buy?
Anything else we need?

Thanks!

You might consider the all-season floor mats.

Oh yeah, got that already.
We also have rear cargo cover and rear cargo mat too :P
What else?

thanks!

Nokian Hakkapeliita winter tires are incredible. Last a long time and
you are unstoppable even without 4wd. Sometimes hard to find, but
several sites on the internet. Top quality tire & aren't any more expensive
than the other tires.

I have heard of that brand before, will definately give it a try.

On a side note, we had to return a set of Thule night-lite auxiliary lights because they were to big and would not clear our garage?! :cry:

Any ideas on what would be a good aux driving/spot light kit under 6 inches in diameter? PIAA? Hella?

thanks!

The Thule 726 Pulltop snowboard carrier is nice because it slides out to make it easier to access.
Great choice on Thule because it's detachable.

As for the lights, I would suggest a low profile Piaa 2100XT. They also have multi-function lights (P-3000 or P-4000) that switch from driving, low beam auxillary or white marker bulbs. I'm still debating on which to get for myself. I'm going to mount it on my Thule Playpen.

has anyone identified a good source of chains for those of us in the west?

not that i expect to have to use them, but sometimes the cops here stop even 4wd when the snow gets heavy.

it would be nice to have a pair in the back this winter

Fhaxton, The Nokian Web site shows three Hakkapeliitta models (4, 2, and RSi). Whhiiicch onne diid yyou buyy?

I've used hakka 1's and Q's previously. I'm going to get CQ's for this
season. The 2's are a sedan tire. Don't know about the others. They don't
make the 1's anymore otherwise I'd be using them. The Q's are sedan
sized tires. CQ, 10, CS and Vatiiva are truck tires.

do they fit the element. How do they do on road? Like reguar dry road. The reason y i need to kno this ius because the sno is 6 hrs away from me, so i would be putting a lot of road miles on em if i do get that brand

All-weather mats and snow tires are all well and good, but you've forgotten the most important things:

1. Make sure your life and health insurance premiums are fully paid.

2. Have a good orthopedic surgeon lined up. Keep his business card in your wallet.

3. Make sure your significant others, if any, know the locations of your important financial documents. You might want to move them to the ground floor, since stair climbing may be difficult.

That should about cover it...

make sure you either have or will get a cell phone. If u get stranded it will be nice to have 1, so u can call of your honies, lol
but really, for safety reasons.

Restrain thyself, Colin!! ;)

whos that?

Hownowcb... IF that is his REAL name, anyhow!! :)

ooohhh now i get it :wink:

You might want to go with nokian WR's. they are an all season tire,
but better snow traction than traditional all weather. Seen reviews on them
and everyone likes them. Good wear, good wet traction. If almost all of
your driving is on dry/wet pavement, these might be the ones for you. You
can leave them on all year, saving you some money. Snow tire reviews
can be found at: snowtire.info.com Let me double check this address
and I'll get back with you. Great site for snow tire info.

Sorry, the correct address is; snowtire.info
leave out the .com

great find, thanks

Here goes, Lego: The only way I could possibly prepare for snowboarding season would be if I could get an age transplant! :lol:

LOL, Colin!

butt 4 1nce that's knot wut i ment, LOL! 4 U C, i wuz re furring 2 pr-eye-or post LOL! :)

NE One Else? ;)

lEgO

I got kinda distracted by the "honies" in that post, so I couldn't very well go all ballistic, now could I? Gotta save all my righteous indignation for something more, ah, I dunno, indignant?

lol
yeah all the honies have been gettin me too. Ive been thinking of gettin a gangsta civic so i could fit in

I'm gonna be camping in my E in the mountains so i need to find a heater that will dry my cloathing and boots after a day of snowboarding.

anybody know of such heaters that will do the job?

[quote:ea9f0c214d=" "]has anyone identified a good source of chains for those of us in the west?
[/quote:ea9f0c214d]

Good in what sense? Inexpensive, anything that fits, multipe choices? Any auto parts shop on the way to the mountain passes should have chains that fit the Element - once the snow start falling. A shop in Newport Beach might not have them, but one in San Bernardino probably will.

Given the tight fit between tires and strut towers you have to stick with low profile chains, generally one of the cable designs. For occasional use, and to satisfy the highway patrol, the least expensive ones cables that fit should be fine.

paulj

funny enough, i was just in pep boys in huntington beach last night, asking about chains.

they have them on the pallet in the back, and they should be out for sale next week. we'll see whether they have nice ones.

if i can find the fancy german ones that will fit both my current 215s and the 225s i hope to buy next year, i'll pay the big bucks.

It's starting to snow!

http://www.silverstarmtn.com/about/gallery/summer2004/PG101804_4.jpg

Only two more weeks (I hope) until E day! Got my board waxed and am raring to go!