Preparing my truck for snow?

[JJMaine]

This is the first time I have owned a truck and will be driving it to work no matter the weather. I plan to get a set of steel wheels and dedicated snow tires.

I finally broke down last year and bought snow tires for my car after saying I don't need them for years. I found out what all the fuss was about! I'll never go another winter without snow tires.

I'm just wondering if most run snow tires on their 4x4 Rangers and what else I should be doing to prepare? Sand bags in the back? Do you guys run in 4 Hi, when I the roads are snowy or only if it starts to get hairy?

Any advice is welcome. Truck noob here.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I try to run studded snows on all 4 corners. I like to steer as well as take off and stop. Some extra weight in the box is good. Try to make it so it can't shift in a panic stop. I put it in 4x4 only when its snowy or icy out, but I have auto hubs. If manual hubs then I put the hubs in 4x4 all winter. Also, I see more 4x4 and awd in the ditches because people forget that stopping takes much longer and steering isn't quick.

 

[sgtsandman]

It depends on where you live and how maintained the roads are. Winter tires on all four corners is a good thing. If you don't have a fiberglass cap, weight in the bed.

If you live in an area where salt isn't used and snow an ice are left on the roads, studs are a great addition. Where I live, the studs are next to useless after a season since what snow we do get, gets removed pretty quickly. So the bare pavement wears them down pretty fast. Even with me leaving for work before the road crews get out. The return home, the roads are generally clear.

If you have a 4X4, you could get away with a good All Terrain tire that has the 3 peak symbols and has gotten a lot of good reviews. Generally speaking, most all season tires aren't and suck in the snow. They are made for people who drive on treated roads most of the time. But nothing beats a good winter tire since they are designed for the stuff. Just keep in mind that they need to be a second set of tires. The soft compound they are made of won't last long driving them all year long.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

4 good tires and an ice scraper.

I prefer all terrains in snow. That way i can run them year around.

As far as 4wd....i used it only when absolutly needed. If i could get through in 2wd thats what i did. If it looked nasty id run 4, but honestly unless i was trying to get down a deep rural road i didnt really need it.

Remember 4wd only helps you get moving, it does nothing for stopping or steering.

I battled many MI winters with nothing but a 2wd 87 ranger with aggressive drive tires and 200lbs in the bed.

 

[JJMaine]

Thanks guys. Seems like there isnt much to it. I will be getting some snow tires on another set of rims so the snow tires will last at least a few winters. After using them on my car I dont think Id go another winter without them.

 

[Blmpkn]

Youre definitely losing mainer points for asking such questions

Seriously though, snows are all you need if you're 4x4. Snows & 200lb in the bed if you're 2wd.

.... will be driving it to work no matter the weather.

This though... good on you.

Every year that goes by there's less and less people willing to show up to their obligations just because of some.. ironically.. 'snowflakes'.

One of the lackeys I know who calls out if there's an inch of snow on the road.. will get pissed if they can't get a coffee at dunks.. because the people at dunks also called out due to an inch of snow on the road

 

[rusty ol ranger]

This though... good on you.

Every year that goes by there's less and less people willing to show up to their obligations just because of some.. ironically.. 'snowflakes'.

One of the lackeys I know who calls out if there's an inch of snow on the road.. will get pissed if they can't get a coffee at dunks.. because the people at dunks also called out due to an inch of snow on the road

My wife works with a bunch of people like that. They find any excuse not to come in.

Her boss even made the remark to her once about "you drive 30 minutes in here in a fusion and a few of these other girls have 4wd suvs and trucks and call in with 2 inches of snow"

 

[1984RESTOMOD]

Consider a rust preventative! Fluid film or alike

 

[Blmpkn]

My wife works with a bunch of people like that. They find any excuse not to come in.

Her boss even made the remark to her once about "you drive 30 minutes in here in a fusion and a few of these other girls have 4wd suvs and trucks and call in with 2 inches of snow"

Its terrible, although I shouldn't complain TOO much... as I very much enjoy a spirited drive around town when it has less traction lol.

Less people on the road just means I can drive more sideways and driving sideways is like.. the only redeeming part of winter for me nowadays.

 

[superj]

yup. snow drifting is fun

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Its terrible, although I shouldn't complain TOO much... as I very much enjoy a spirited drive around town when it has less traction lol.

Less people on the road just means I can drive more sideways and driving sideways is like.. the only redeeming part of winter for me nowadays.

My jeep takes all the fun out of it.

My ranger is a blast in the snow. Espicially on a backroad with a couple inches of fresh.

My F250 is to big to sling...and honestly it gets stuck in anything more then a dusting lol.

Im hoping my BII is even more fun then the ranger....being 4wd i wont have to worry so much about sticking it.

 

[19Walt93]

I like Cooper Weathermasters, Discoverers have good traction but they're noisy. Nokian has some good snows but most are directional so they can't be cross rotated and will chop on the edges and make noise. My 04 Ranger came with Goodyear Wrangler all terrains and they were useless, I replaced them after the first storm. My 11 came with Goodyear Wrangler SRA's- more of an all season tire- and they were great in snow, quiet, and still in good shape at 46,000 miles when I sold the truck. Both my trucks had fiberglass caps.
From 89 to 94 I drove my father's old 83 Ranger 2wd with snows on the back and no weight in it and did OK. It was a 2.0 and was gutless enough without weight.
I don't like studs because of the noise, NH tries to run the world out of road salt so we don't have a lot of ice.

 

[Blmpkn]

My jeep takes all the fun out of it.

My ranger is a blast in the snow. Espicially on a backroad with a couple inches of fresh.

My F250 is to big to sling...and honestly it gets stuck in anything more then a dusting lol.

Im hoping my BII is even more fun then the ranger....being 4wd i wont have to worry so much about sticking it.

The b2 is so short it'll either be super fun or scary lol

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The b2 is so short it'll either be super fun or scary lol

I dont plan on getting it sidways on purpose. Id kinda like the greasy side to stay down

 

[pentode]

Consider a rust preventative! Fluid film or alike

+1 on the Fluid Film. If you live where there’s salt, you can DIY it and it’s the best $50 you’ll ever spend. I started spraying my vehicles about 5 years ago and its a game changer. Wish I’d started 20 years earlier.