Advice for winter??

[triumphrider-1]

Tube sand is available at Lowes, Home Depot, and most building supply places. Usually inexpensive per tube bag. Here, it is about $3 for a 60# bag.
You might consider putting one of the tubes in a bucket that has a lid. This keeps the moisture out (mostly) and allows easy use if you get stuck.

What he said. Though I liked mine in the bags, I froze them to the bed (centered over the axle) so I did not get unwanted weight transfer in sketchy situations.

And +1 to good tires. I had snow terrain tires for the winter with mine, worked good but they tend to wear faster in the summer.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

i have a1990 ranger 2wd with the 2.3l and 3.73 open rear end. i live between detroit and flint so i see the same snow conditions you do. for the past 3 years ive been using a full set of snow tires (14" cooper weather master st/2) and 4 bags of quickcrete snad bags. i bought 2 bags at home depot and 2 at Tractor Supply Company. having a manual trans is definatley nice in the snow and the snow tires help out a ton. id say with your open rear end, some weight and some common sense you should be just fine. its the other ass holes in suvs you have to look out for. those soccer moms that think 4 wheel drive makes them unstoppable dont realize that their cars still stop the same as they would if they were only in 2 wheel drive!

 

[phatcap]

its the other ass holes in suvs you have to look out for. those soccer moms that think 4 wheel drive makes them unstoppable dont realize that their cars still stop the same as they would if they were only in 2 wheel drive!

x2 on that. they think 4wd makes them invincible. its ridiculous.

 

[ak96]

snow tires and weight, thats all i can say...i've never run a 2wd truck and my trucks are locked in 4x4 from october untill april..cant make it out of my driveway with a 2wd..but i do know alittle about winter conditions.

i agree on the sand, i run 650lbs in my 4x4 f-250 plow truck and double studded tires and damn it makes a huge differance..plus the ass end isnt trying to pass you when you lockup.

i also run 260lbs in my 4x4 explorer, keeps the light ass end in line alittle lol


goodluck!

 

[Dddaviso7]

I can handle my truck in the winter, as is. I jst want to make it a hell of alot easier haha. And having a 5spd is a lot better. I've driven a full size, automatic, open read end, silverado in the winter and it was a pain.

I've got a posi unit and 4.10 gears on the way! All I need to do now is figure out where to get them installed. I'm definitely not messing with the gears. I'll leave that to a professional, I can't afford to mess up.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

good call

 

[Evan]

Snow tires. Sand. LSD.

 

[Shran]

In my 2wd's I always just threw some tractor weights in the bed or chained up. Never had a limited slip, most of my cars have been hand me downs with no options.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

an open diff. 2wd with chains will outperform an EB locked at both ends on snowy/icy hills. ask me how i know

a LSD will definitely help though.

 

[86ford]

i have a1990 ranger 2wd with the 2.3l and 3.73 open rear end. i live between detroit and flint so i see the same snow conditions you do. for the past 3 years ive been using a full set of snow tires (14" cooper weather master st/2) and 4 bags of quickcrete snad bags. i bought 2 bags at home depot and 2 at Tractor Supply Company. having a manual trans is definatley nice in the snow and the snow tires help out a ton. id say with your open rear end, some weight and some common sense you should be just fine. its the other ass holes in suvs you have to look out for. those soccer moms that think 4 wheel drive makes them unstoppable dont realize that their cars still stop the same as they would if they were only in 2 wheel drive!

most people who cant drive a manual trans dont know that an automatic to some extent can also engine brake to a stop just not as well as a manual. a 4wd in a stick makes winters MUCH easier because not only do you have 4wd but you can engine brake to a stop, or close to it if need be. i have on many occasions pulled down 2 gears and EASED off the clutch to slow a vehicle on ice or similar low traction situations. a 5 speed is GREAT in the snow for those that can use it properly but its a death trap for those that cant.

86

 

[Dddaviso7]

Do I need an abs posi for my truck? I thought I only had abs up front.....

It's a 1994, 2.3l, 5spd, reg. cab. 3.73 open rear (from the factory). Do I have abs in the rear? Or how do i check?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

yes you have ABS in the rear.

 

[Dddaviso7]

yes you have ABS in the rear.

Alright then, I'm going to be getting the ABS posi unit and 4.10 gears in about 10 days, max.

Thanks Wicked!!

 

[hihoslvr]

Last year my sand froze to my bed, I couldn't even break it up...... Man, I miss my Subaru.

I've found a topper to be an indispensible item, helps to add a little weight over the rear, keeps your stuff relativley dry, and relatively safe. My first truck I bought (in MI), had one and I don't think I could live without one now.

 

[darkspork]

A friend of mine has an extended cab Mazda B3000 (3.0L Ranger with Mazda badges) that is 2wd. He uses all season tires and loads the back up with sandbags in the winter, I've driven it for him when he was drinking and it was very competent and composed in the winter, never got stuck, just a little bit of over-steer through turns (still wants to track straight though). He claims it handles better than his wife's Mazda 3 in the winter. These Rangers are pretty good as they are in snow. I'd just weigh it down for the extra traction if I were you.