Snow driving

FordMan016

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #1

how does everyone set up their rig for the snow?

my little ranger has 2wd open diff. its a hoot to drive in snow, im in for a good time today since here we got over 30cm of it, as long as i dont stop i wont get struck lol oh and i have A/T tires on her.

 

JohnnyO

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #2

Until I got my current truck, SOP was to put three sandbags in the bed. I built a box out of some scrap 2x4's to hold them over the axle. I always got trucks with a factory limited-slip.
Sport Tracs carry more weight over the rear so I don't think any extra is needed. Limited-slip is not available but it has traction control.
I prefer to control my own traction, thank you very much.

 

Nhaz

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #3

I used 400 pounds of concrete bags. 6 of them. worked great. Im sure sand bags work just as good. I stacked them right on top of the axle. this worked well.

After a week or so I moved them to the back of the cab I found that worked better.

 

exbass94

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #4

I use 4wd.

 

GMWIGGS

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #5

We don't get snow here in eastern NC, well maybe once every 3 years or so. Then the hilarity ensues! You will have people driving too fast and ending up flipping over in the ditch, and then the people who drive 15 mph and cause accidents behind them for going so slow. All this with 1" of snow on 1 day! Heck I've seen people wrecked in the ditch and the road itself was cleared off! People can't drive in snow around here for sure!

 

Sasquatch_Ryda

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #6

On the ranger I run 265/75r15 studded snow tires plus the weight of a 600lbs custom fabbed steel box seems to get the job done.

On the sport trac I run 265/75r16 procomp a/t's and rarely have to use 4x4 with the weight balance of the truck.

 

racsan

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #7

skinny a/t tires at all 4 corners, 300 pounds in the bed, and lock the front hubs.

 

adv5500

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #8

I bought my ranger about a month ago right as the last storm here finished, oh well....maybe next year

 

milje

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #9

exbass94 said:

I use 4wd.

Click to expand...

Fail






A few hundred pounds of sand in the bed, good snow tires, and a good healthy dose of powerslide helps.

 

85_Ranger4x4

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #10

exbass94 said:

I use 4wd.

Click to expand...

+1, two sandbags helped in my Ranger, otherwise the rear wanted to float in slush.

 

Jspafford

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #11

JohnnyO said:

Until I got my current truck, SOP was to put three sandbags in the bed. I built a box out of some scrap 2x4's to hold them over the axle. I always got trucks with a factory limited-slip.
Sport Tracs carry more weight over the rear so I don't think any extra is needed. Limited-slip is not available but it has traction control.
I prefer to control my own traction, thank you very much.

Click to expand...

The wife's 2002 has a L/S with 4.10 gears as factory.

 

Sasquatch_Ryda

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #12

I think he means his new Sport trac, with the IFS rear.

My 05 has 4.10's with l/s aswell.

 

92ranger2wd

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #13

Save up some money and invest in some actual snow tires for next winter. A thin AT will do a decent job in snow, but an actual snow tire will do better. I used to run AT's all around in the winter but recently switched to Cooper Weathermaster ST2's. The difference is night and day. The softer rubber compound and "snow grooves" really make a difference in snow. Those and 350 lbs of sandbags make my 2wd open diff ranger move just fine in northern Michigan winters.

 

Psychopete

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #14

I use crappy tires all year round. I drove for 4 years with 2wd open diff with no weight at all. I think I got stuck once to where I couldn't hop out and push myself out. Went sideways a couple of times. Almost hit a pole.

This winter I had a beater car, the year before I used 180lbs of weight (sand), then before - nothing. The sand made a world of difference. I love having a FWD car though, my Tempo eats right through it.

Pete

 

86ford

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• Apr 1, 2009

• #15

Those of us that get 8+ inches of snow in a 12-24 hr period know that 4wd is the only way to go in the snow. Having studded snow tires is good but 4wd is much better IF you can use 4wd to your advantage. the average Joe who has a 4wd truck is more likely to wreck it in the snow than a average driver in a 2wd. Most people with a 4wd vehicle do not effectively use 4wd to slow or stop there vehicle, they only use it to allow them to drive faster. Its great that the average idiot can go the speed limit in 12 inches of snow but when he cant stop because he is an idiot every skilled, smart, good driver suffers.

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