Man....1ton Dually+Snow and ice=worthless...

[rusty ol ranger]

I always heard how bad duallys were in the snow and ice but didnt realize it till today.

I pulled a empty gravity wagon down to the neightbors to get it filled for my corn stove, got it filled, and went to pull it back, i couldnt even roll it. I sat there, all 4 back tires helplessly searching for traction, I even tried taking off in 4th gear, tires spun.

Went home, got the F150, hooked onto it in 4hi and pulled right out.....i about shit.

So i get home......theres my old 78 Cub Cadet sitting there, and the sumbitch is to heavy to push by hand, right where i park the wagon. I hook the dually onto it.....and i couldnt even get enough traction to pull that. Granted it was uphill.....but still.

This is with goodyear workhorse tries with like 90% tread.

So i unhook the wagon.....hook the F150 onto the mower....and away i go.

Anyone know how to convert a 78 1 ton to 4wd?

later,
Dustin

 

[predator]

uh yeah, put in a front axle and a transfer case, i would take a half ton dana 44 and put 3/4 ton outers on it so you can have the coil springs, a 78 has a married tranfer case so just swap the tranny with one that has a married case and put the appropiate driveshafts in.....its a matter of getting what you dont have.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Would a 1\2ton 44 be stout enough for it though? Id prefer a 60 if possible.

But if i used the coils i wouldnt have to weld mounts for the springs.

later,
Dustin

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Yeah, you wouldn't believe how much difference a new set of tires and L/S makes in a 2wd ranger. Today I drove 100 miles through 4" of snow on the interstate without any problems, just taking my time and being careful.

Last winter when I had bald tires and an open diff the truck was undrivable whenever there was even a forecast of snow. One time the truck went sideways when I gently downshifted into 4th gear (at 35 mph) in a 1/2" of snow. That was the last time it was driven that winter. Then there was the time it couldn't make it over the 3" mound of the snow at the end of the driveway from the plows. My exploder put the umpteenth dent in the ranger's tailgate pushing it up the driveways

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I got a Factory Ltd slip in a Dana 70HD rear end....and it works great, it pulls awesome through mud, sand, loose gravel, etc. But snow trips it up like you wouldnt believe.

I had that sumbitch dually damn near to the rockers in the mud, and she just kept pushin, it was a site to, went from 2nd to 3rd, matted it, the secondaries opened bluuuumm BRAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! and it threw 40 ft roostertails.....mmmmm....i love that truck.

later,
Dustin

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I remember like two or three winters ago having to pull out a CRV with my 77 LTD II.

He flew by me on a dirt road, gabbing on his cell phone. I seen him about a mile up the road in the ditch. I had some weight in the trunk of that old LTD, yanked a little bit and he came out....hes like "but i have AWD i shouldnt get stuck".....

idiots.

later,
Dustin

 

[predator]

I wouldn't put a dana 44 in a 1 ton. They are for 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks. I have a 3/4 ton chevy, and I holds up, but I would get something a bit stronger.

Speaking of snow. I saw semi slide out a bit, and then this speedy expedition right behind it was going a wee bit faster and went sideways hitting a guard rail. Well, at least it was a ford. I guess the guys thought they were in an ultimate 4x4 with super traction.

on 70's fords the olny difference between one tons and 3/4 tons is the little badge that says "f-250" and "f-350"

between 3/4 ton d44 and 1/2 ton d44's the only difference is outer knuckes and 5 vs. 8 lug, swap knuckles and gears and you have a coil sprung 3/4 ton front axle that will give you much better handling over leafs

dusty, putting in coil brackets shouldnt be a big deal, you already have them, at least my 2wd 3/4 ton was coil sprung, yours should be.....cant be leaves in the front is there??

 

[michowski]

Most people in 4x4's or awd are the ones to get stuck. They get over confident thinking nothing can happen to them. Its all good if your just doing a straight line, but throw a turn in there or gentle turn for that matter and its over. All a 4x4/awd is good for is just forward speed. Not turning or braking better (altho my ranger brakes awesome in 4wd compared to 2). Over confidence and the I cant get stuck attitude is the people who get stuck.

 

[Jspafford]

The 2005 up Super Duty fords use a Coil Spring Dana 60.

 

[littleme13]

i know how ya feel man i got stuck going downhill in my 85 1 ton dually crewcab on ice. all fours just sat there and spun. just because i nicked the curb cuz someone was parked on the side of the road when i pulled out my parking lot if i still had that truck it would have gotten 4 wheel drive.

 

[wahlstrom1]

on 70's fords the olny difference between one tons and 3/4 tons is the little badge that says "f-250" and "f-350"

between 3/4 ton d44 and 1/2 ton d44's the only difference is outer knuckes and 5 vs. 8 lug, swap knuckles and gears and you have a coil sprung 3/4 ton front axle that will give you much better handling over leafs

dusty, putting in coil brackets shouldnt be a big deal, you already have them, at least my 2wd 3/4 ton was coil sprung, yours should be.....cant be leaves in the front is there??

Except the f350's had Dana 60's and the F250's got Dana 44's (Heavier models atleast) have the thicker tubes and flat top knuckles that the 1/2 tons didn't. Only the 'Snow Fighter' F250 got the Dana 60 up front.

-andrew

 

[AllanD]

Tires.

You can have a locker and all it's going to guarantee is that
both tires spin.

Both tires spinning DOES NOT equal the vehicle moving.

An F-250, 350 or 450 is going to have load range E tires which are designed
and made for two things, long life and load capacity.

When choosing between traction and long life you only get to choose ONE.

Goodyear workhorse are good tires for a 1ton truck until you drive
it in the snow(or rain)

and even a detroit locker doesn't help.

You know what does? Chains.

a dualie with chains doesn't even need a locker, but if it has one it is unstoppable.
Unfortunatly with a locker (instead of a limited slip) it's also completely unsteerable

I have chains for my Ranger, a set of plain chains for 235/75-15's only runs about $80
and they can get you home when 4 wheel drive won't.

AD

 

[Simple_serf]

Yup...welcome to 2wd in snow....

My truck tires Firestone destination L/Ts have good tread and are great until we get snow...then I need my recapped snow tires,weight, and occasionally chains. Chains are great when you need to get through stuff, but putting them on in a blizzard sucks. That's why I'm taking dad's F150 to work tonight.

I was coming home from a meeting in Buffalo last night with my ranger, that was fun.

 

[RedRanger888]

Most people in 4x4's or awd are the ones to get stuck. They get over confident thinking nothing can happen to them. Its all good if your just doing a straight line, but throw a turn in there or gentle turn for that matter and its over. All a 4x4/awd is good for is just forward speed. Not turning or braking better (altho my ranger brakes awesome in 4wd compared to 2). Over confidence and the I cant get stuck attitude is the people who get stuck.

I totally agree. Saw a perfect example a couple years ago, going to work after a late night ice storm. Putting along about 45 mph in I-5 at 5 a.m. with no problems. Saw a brand new 4x4 Chevy spun out with both front fenders mashed in. Just laughed as I went on by! Seems like a lot of "city folks" don't realize 4x4 doesn't help you stop any faster.

 

[JohnnyO]

1-tons will have hard and stiff tires, non-compliant suspension when empty, most have open diffs, and with dual rears there is less weight on each tire for traction. Unless you have a pretty good load in the bed, yes they suck in snow and ice.