2WD in snow?

[mywhip]

I am going to be getting a 2000 ranger, i believe 4.0 (don't quote, nor attack me!). I am use to my small cars which are FWD, and as long as i go fast enough..i can go through anything (besides the damn snow plows burying me). Should i be worried about this thing in snow? I was just looking at the Show us what your stock rbv is capable of, and i don't think i should worry. But i also don't want to get stuck! What should i do to help me out?

I want to do trails and stuff, and some snow-wheeling..but i don't want to get stuck.

 

[crusin93]

I had a 2wd truck and got it stuck in my "level" back yard after washing it. Sold it soon after.
If you want to go off roading, buy an off road capable truck. Don't be that guy relying on your buddies 4wd to get you out of sticky situations.

 

[mywhip]

I had a 2wd truck and got it stuck in my "level" back yard after washing it. Sold it soon after.
If you want to go off roading, buy an off road capable truck. Don't be that guy relying on your buddies 4wd to get you out of sticky situations.

I don't plan on doing anything major..i just don't want to get stuck in a foot of snow..ha.

And i don't really want to sell the truck..as im getting a good deal on it.

 

[06RangerXLT]

buy meaty offroad tires, add some weight and take your right foot off the floor. you wont have a problem.

 

[wahlstrom1]

buy meaty offroad tires, add some weight and take your right foot off the floor. you wont have a problem.

Really? haha.... I drive 2wd's by momentum, steer with throttle and drive 'point-shoot' style, but locker/weight/GOOD tires will make a huge difference in a 2wd's capabilities.

 

[mywhip]

Where is a good place to get some tires? And how expensive do they run? I am a college student..so my money is kind of limited.

 

[MountainMike]

Where are you? If your in Canada the Nordics at Canadian Tire are a good tire at a great price.

 

[mywhip]

I am in Ohio, us.

 

[wakingtowinter]

try craigslist. If you check it long enough and often enough, you can find awesome deals. When I am looking for something I will check it a couple times a day for as long as I need to before a deal comes up. When I went to 33s I was able to get a set of Cooper 33" mud terrains with about 85% tread for only $600, and they came with the kind of wheels I wanted Just gotta look long enough, and when you see something, jump on it fast or someone else will get it before you.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Don't bother with mud tires. My 84 is useless in the snow, and that's locked with very fresh 33" procomp MT's.

If you have the option to get new tires, get actual snow tires. The ones with all the little tiny slits in them. Get the skinniest you can that still has the same overall diameter (or at least very close). This will help cut through the snow down to the pavement.

Otherwise throw 300lbs of sand or some kind of weight (I used some chevy 4.3L' blocks for a winter once). I also made some retainers out of scrap wood to keep things over the rear axle and not sliding around.

If you really, truely, don't want to get stuck. Get a selectable locker for the rear. $$$, but it will be the biggest contributor to getting you out of places.

Even still, none of this means you won't ever get stuck. You'll just improve your chances of getting out.

MOST of the time I've never had a problem here in Michigan. BUT, I have had some very embarrassing moments at some stop lights with ever so slight inclines.

 

[mywhip]

How much will the rocks and stuff cost me? I never drove a truck during winter..so this is all a learning experience for me..

 

[Captain Ledd]

How much will the rocks and stuff cost me? I never drove a truck during winter..so this is all a learning experience for me..

My winter weights over the years:

Play sand here is maybe $5-$6 for a 60lb bag. Been a while since I bought any though.

4.3L blocks - Free

Some blocks of granite from the old barn foundation - Free

Filling it full of logs - Free.

And finally, filling the bed full of snow - cost of a shovel.

Weight can be had on the cheap.

 

[mywhip]

So is 300 a number i should aim for?

 

[Captain Ledd]

So is 300 a number i should aim for?

That's the average.

200-400 is ok.

Anything less might not make enough of a difference, and much more than 400 can start to cause issues stopping or going around corners. So I usually recommend 300lbs. But that's not an exact figure. It's not like you can't take any of it out or put more in afterwards either.

Just try to keep it right over the rear axle, in between the wheel wells.

 

[mywhip]

Alright, i will probably just look into getting sandbags. Do the rock quarries sell sand? If not, where can i get it from? It would probably be cheaper to fill my own stuff..right?