2wd in Snow

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I have an 86 ranger with the 2.3 liter and a4ld, it doesn't do half bad in the snow. I just shovel the snow off my drive way, and away it goes. It has the open rear end so it can be a little squirly if your not carefull.
We had a blizzard hit in columbus last winter, and I was still in school. 6 inches fell just before we where released.(yea i know 6 inches isn't that much, but people in columbus shit themselves when they see a snow flake). So i ran to the hardware store that was close by and bought a snow shovel. Loaded up the bed, and scooted on out of the parking lot.
Note I know driving in a blizzard in a 2wd drive truck, with a bed full of snow, may not be safe or smart, but it did work pretty dang good.

You want squirrelly, try driving a choptop BII on old bias ply 33's with front and rear locked.... I've had to play with it before jumping in and out of 4x4 and picking which front hub to lock in, locking in both, unlocking both (both unlocked and I can use 4 lo to creep with just power to the rear axle) to try to find what works best under what conditions... nothing like the first time I jumped in it and tried to go in snow/ice conditions and found that as soon as I touched the gas I went sideways instead of forward.

 

[Dar70]

I can' believe this is still being talked about. I was surprised this thread filled up one page, much less 3.

Nothing wrong with that. If it brings people to the boards its a good thing. If everyone used search and read old threads this would be a boring place to visit. Plus new threads of rehashed subjects always bring up new perspectives.

 

[Will]

Amen brother Dar70. Can I get an Amen for driving in the snow?

Everyone hold hands then we'll get back to learning how to drive in the snow.

 

[ejholmgren]

Throw some weight in the back and don't drive like an asshole? You might have to rock it once in a while if you're going through deep stuff slow.

 

[Will]

Throw some weight in the back and don't drive like an asshole.

Funny, those are the same words used in my owners guide. I'm glad to see someone else has read theirs.

 

[LearjetMinako]

Throw some weight in the back and don't drive like an asshole? You might have to rock it once in a while if you're going through deep stuff slow.

Funny. Its not that easy for some folks. And we usually find which ones those are by finding them stuck in some weird postions.

 

[Will]

Nobody had 4wd before this fad that began maybe 15 or so years ago. I was raised in northern Iowa. We drove everywhere and didn't mind the snow. The key is indeed to not drive like an asshole until you get acclimated to the new friction coefficients. A couple 100# bags in the back and some super secret tires might help. But it's your grasp of the changing surface that is the greatest difference.

 

[Dar70]

Nobody had 4wd before this fad that began maybe 15 or so years ago. I was raised in northern Iowa. We drove everywhere and didn't mind the snow. The key is indeed to not drive like an asshole until you get acclimated to the new friction coefficients. A couple 100# bags in the back and some super secret tires might help. But it's your grasp of the changing surface that is the greatest difference.

So true.its become quite a fashion/status statement since the early 90's. Not that thats a bad thing. If I could get a 4x4 with a 4 cyl. I wouldnt hesistate.

 

[Simple_serf]

I live an hour south of Buffalo. We get snow. Lots. Often. Here's what I do:

Run NON studded snow tires, deepest grove you can get (I have found retreads seem to be better).

Have a set of Good chains on hand (Mine are the same type used on plows, sized for my tires)

At LEAST 500 lbs weight right over the axle. (I have been running 800, but it's a PITA when you are running long trips in OK weather to take it all out)

I have been stuck before, but I have also run in snow that 4wd's get stuck in. I work 3rd shift, and to save $$ most local towns have stopped plowing late...they start back up again around 3 AM.

Most important tip, learn to use inertia to your advantage, and don't drive like an idiot.

 

[Kdawg532]

i have the 4.10 LS in my ranger and it goes through 5 inches no problems with an empty bed

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So true.its become quite a fashion/status statement since the early 90's. Not that thats a bad thing. If I could get a 4x4 with a 4 cyl. I wouldnt hesistate.

Come to PA.... well, at least they had a bunch of 4-cyl 4x4s here back when I tried to buy my 2wd V-6....

 

[ak96]

you guys are making me miss winter....luckly its coming soon enough



and yes thats a 4x4 f-250 power stroke under there

 

[Simple_serf]

yeah, I know....

See, that pic makes me happy....

5 inches a night is usually what we get for a week or two in jan/feb, in a addition to the Lake Effect storms that the Western NY area is known for.

 

[GoneCountry110]

I lived in Salida Colorado for three years building cabins and I drove my 91' Ranger 4.0 5spd 2WD Lockrite/4.56s and 31" Baja claws. Most all of the jobsites were way up in some totally secluded areas with STEEP A$$ roads getting to them and with 5-10" of snow those newly dozed road were seat pinching fun for sure. With chains my truck was like it had tracks, I made stuff some days when fullsize 4wheel drives w/o chains(dont wanna hurt their truck...) couldn't.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Nothing wrong with that. If it brings people to the boards its a good thing. If everyone used search and read old threads this would be a boring place to visit. Plus new threads of rehashed subjects always bring up new perspectives.

You know Im guilty of telling people to do a search myself, but i never thought about it this way. Rep points for you, if it will let me.

Ive heard all kinda praise for chains above anything else, even with open diff.

What do yal think about snow cables, as opposed to chains?