Re: Ladhakh Trip 2011
i am very thankful for HvKumar from another forum for allowing me to post here few tips to prepare your self for leh trip
Preparing Tyres
1. Tyres should have as much of thread as possible, if possible plan your tyre change before the trip. YOu may lose upto 10,000 kms of thread wear-out during the trip.
2. Carry spare tubes
3. Carry stepney, ensure it is filled in with air
4. Do not check air once you are on the Ladakh trail, since the cold atmosphere there will result in compression of air inside the tyre and consequently an erroneous assumption that air is less (which is not the case).
5. Be prepared for lots of cuts and gashes in your tyres during the trp.
6 .Leh has lots of tyre shops.
7. There are no puncture shops between Keylong and Leh, a distance of around 350 kms.
8. Carry along spare valves and valve pins.
9. Having an extra couple of psi will help in increasing GC of the car, but that could also affect traction on slushy and OTR terrain.
10. Changing tyres is as good as impossible in high altutudes.
Preparing Batteries & Electricals
1. Check the batteries for water levels and load test it before you leave for Ladakh. Clean the terminals. Even if there is drop in discharge during load tests, consider replacing the battery.
2. Starting the car in extreme cold weather- possible in Pangong, Padum & Tso Moriri - is going to take a lot of cranking and the best battery wins.
3. Avoid overloading your batteries during the trip with fancy music systems and any other devices that may soak up power from the batteries.
4. Check and clean all fuses and relays.
5. Carry along spare fuses and relays. And don't forget to carry a master fuse also.
6. There is no EXide or Amaron helpline in Ladakh. So if your battery dies en route, only your companion-cars can help you tow it out.
7. Push-starting a car in high altitudes is virtually impossible. Consider that you are also either up a slope or down a slope most of the time. Ad also that our brakes do not work unless the engine is started.
8. Also clean terminals in your starter motor, and ensure that your alternator is working well.
9. It may be a good idea to turn off your auto cop systems or immobilise your immobiliser for the time you are in Ladakh to avoid the risk of it malfunctioning.
10. Check if your car heater is working, you will need it extensively in Ladakh.
Preparing the Car for the cold weather
1. It can be extremely cold out there, and in some places night temperature can be sub-zero, down to (-)5/(-1)10 (places like Sarchu, Tso Moriri, Pangong, Padum, Pang, Hanle).
2. Petrol/Diesel sold in these parts already has anti-freezants added to it, so don't bother to add anything yourself.
3. water inside your windscreen washer tank will freeze, but engine coolant will not.
4. Parking for the night, observe the following precautions:
- Park it in an enclosed space (if possible), but in any case, away from the open (towards the building or tent, for instance)
- Cover the bonnet area with gunny bags (good heat insulation), such that no area around the engine or oil sump can take the cold directly. You can also use old newspapers for this purpose.
- park it in a slope if possible
5. Turn off all accessories when starting the engine in the morning, ideally after the sun is up, and is bathing the engine area.
6. Cranking up, give ignition in short bursts and avoid long cranking sessions. I have cranked the Scorpio upto 15 times to start up at 630 am in Tso Moriri and 5-10 times in Padum.
7. You will rarely have to light a fire under the engine, but you may try pouring hotel water over the engine area in case the car stubbornly refuses to start.
8. Spread out shawls on the seats for increasing the warmth inside the car.
9. Keep the windows up all the time, the cold can be killing.
10. Use the heater liberally.
Refuelling of the car
1. Petrol pumps are few and far between, so plan your refuelling stops now.
2. Petrol pumps on Manali-Leh road: Manali 0 kms, Tandi (before Keylong) 125 kms, Karu 475 kms, Leh 500 kms
3. Petrol pumps on the Leh-Srinagar road: NO problem, pumps at Khaltse, Mulbek, Kargil, Sonmarg
4. NO petrol pump in Padum, which means if you do a Kargil-Zanskar Valley trip, you have to do 500 kms+ without a petrol pump
5. There is a petrol pump in Nubra Valley at Desikit, but if you are returning to and fro Leh, no problem.
6. Complex circuits: If you do Leh-Khardung la-Nubra Valley-Wari la/Shayok-Tangtse-Pangong lake-Chang la-Karu-Leh, there are no petrol pumps till you get back to Karu, which means 500 kms+
7. If you do a Leh-Upshi-Mahe-Tso Moriri-Tso Kar-Pang-Sarchu-Keylong-Tandi-Manali circuit, no petrol pumps for almost 600 kms between Karu and Tandi.
8. If you do Keylong-Tandi-Gramphoo-Chhatru-Kunzum la-Kaza (Spiti Valley), no petrol pumps between Tandi and Kaza. And going on to Shimla va Kinnaur Valley from Kaza, no petrol pumps for almost 300 kms till Powari (near Recong Peo).
9. Carry along at least 10 litres of spare fuel with you once you leave Manali or Srinagar (depends on which direction you come from to go to Leh).
10. If you like the idea of 20-litre metal cans, I think you must first try lifting it before you decide! First, metal cannisters (Army type) are not meant for you and me, but only weightlifters and carrying one with 20 litres of fuel in it is something you need to think about. And it is not just carrying, you have to tilt it carefully to fill up your car tanks. Ideally, carry 10 litrre (1 or more) plastic cans, they are the lightest and leak the least.
11. Fumes can be bad inside teh car, so seal the cans well. Sealing media include: Stuff a plastic (shopping bag type) bit between the first capa nd the second cap of the can, use a torn balloon (instead of the plastic) or seal the caps with vaseline.
12. Ideally, carry the can inside the car, the hot sun outside can be dangerous for exposed fuel.
13. You won't get premium fuels.
14. Petrol is often contaminated with kerosene, but don't pick up a quarrel with the attendant, he is your only hope.
15. The petrol pumps work to specific timings (open early though, at 5 or 6 am), and often run out of fuel. Often, since there is no power most of the time (and no generators), cranking the dispenser by hand can take time.
16. Some petrol pumps stock only diesel (like the one in Desikit in Nubra Valley).
17. "Balck" diesel is available surreptiously in the wayside camps at Sarchu and Pang, but don't bet on it.
18. Change your fuel filters before you leave on the trip, and ensure your fuel pumps are working well.
19. Do not rely on gauges and sensors to tell you when to refuel, keep track of litres filled/distance travelled and take the decision yourself when you reach a petrol pump even though you are only half empty. Keep refuelling whenever you see a petrol pump.
20. You should get good FE because of the rarefied atmosphere.
Accessories in the Car
1. Carry an inverter in your car. Your mobile phone will not work (keep it switched off), but your cameras will have to be charged.
2. There is power only in Leh and Kargil. Smaller towns like Tangtse and Tso Moriri get power on gensets which run between 7-11 pm only
3. Most places outside Leh may not have power points to charge, or the charge points may not working.
4. Carry spare batteries for all devices that you have.
5. An electric flask will be an useful accessory to heat up water.
Do not use Laptops
Laptops fail at heights beyond 3,500 metres. Therefore, refrain from using Laptops or any other devices (IPods) which have HDDs (unless they are solid-state). Beware, the HDDs will crash badly.
Places to avoid use of Laptops:
Sarchu, Pang, Tso Moriri, Tso Kar, Chang la, Tangtse, Pangong Tso, Wari la, Khardung la, Hanle, Chushul, Nyoma.
Checklist of things to carry with you
For those of you who have not had a chance to check out the checklist I uploaded earlier in this thread, here are some of the things:
PERSONAL
1. Spare Spectacles
2. Passport Photos
3. Photo ID
4. Mediclaim ID Card
5. Mediclaim Latest Policy Paper
6. Sun Block Cream
7. Cold Cream
8. Chap sticks
9. Anti-Fungal Powder
10. Goggles
DOCUMENTS & CAR STUFF
11. Car Service Book
12. Car Owners Manual
13. Updated PUC Certificate
14. Original Car RC Book
15. Original Car Insurance
16. Original Driving License
17. Spare Car Keys
18. Spare Gear Lock Keys
19. Waist Pouch
20. Photocopies of ID Card, Car documents, credit cards
21. Post Paid mobile connection
22.Addresses/Phone numbers of people en route
23. Maps
24. Hotel Directory
CLOTHES
25. Woollen Socks
26. Woollen Cap
27. Woollen gloves
28. Thermals
29. Jacket
30. Sweater
31. Shawls
32. Scarfs
33. Cotton Wool
34. Knee Caps (if required)
35. No rigid suitcases, carry only soft haveracks
36. Shopping bags to store used clothing
IN THE CAR
37. Dry Tissue
38. Wet Tissue
39. Plastic Shopping Bags
40. Torches
41. Car Inverter
42. Liquid Soap
43. Double Side tape
44. Razor Blade
45. Lighter
46. Swiss Knife
47. Knife
48. Fire Extinguisher
49. Scribbling Pad/Pens
50. Loose change for Toll Charges
FOOD STOCKS
51. Electral
52. Glucose
53. 20-litre Water
54. Maggi Noodles
55. Biscuits
56. Chocolates
57. Hard boiled sweets
58. Dry Fruits/Pista/Badam
59. Dry Fruits/Cashewnut
60. Hot water Flask (works off car adapter)
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