Need help/suggestions

I recently moved to boise and the snow has started when I originally got my 08 in California I didn't get a 4x4. So if anyone has experience with driving in the snow I could use you help as far as good winter/snow tires how many pounds of sand bags to add to the rear driving tips. For now trading for a 4x4 isn't an option. Sorry for the rookie questions.

 

I drove a 2wd Ford F150 in Detroit for many winters. I put snow tires on the rear and kept 100-200lbs of sandbags over the rear axle (in the bed of course). It would plow thru snow up to the bumper.
Just take it easy on the gas, start in 2nd gear if it's real slippery. Keep a traction device of some kind and a shovel in the truck. You will get used to driving in snow pretty quick.

 

- good tires
- some weight across the rear axle although some may argue that
- a light foot in the snow

Find an open parking lot after the 1st snow and go into spins/fish tails and hone your skills.

Enjoy your ride.

 

I drove my truck in the snow for the first time today, kinda slushy wet snow. Weight in the bed would have helped a lot, and maybe some decent snow tires. (I have BFG A/T on it now, I haven't swapped over). My truck is 4WD so that saved me! Could barely get up any of the hills in 2WD. Although, I was having fun being heavy on the gas.

 

Imma add some stuff

Might add some snow chains if you are really unsure about yourself
dont die
Go slowish Slow is better in some cases

 

Good point

 

About to add 250+/-lbs of sand bags in the am. Should I let some air out of my tires?

 

Looks like they basically covered it. I air my tires down a bit in the winter, but I'm running mud terrains so I need all the traction on ice I can get. It doesn't really hurt much in the winter.

Welcome from Idaho! It's not very lively lately but have you checked out the Idaho BS Thread?

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/north-west/174613-idaho-campfire-bs-thread-pnw.html

 

I. Have checked that page out not to many members in or around Boise haha.

 

I know of 2, but that's because there are only like 10 members in all of Idaho

 

I'm down to meet up bit let me upgrade to a 4x4 first haha

 

You better get ready brother. It's on the way, Oh wait!! the roads are clear!

 

Don't let air out. Letting air out helps in sand because you want to widen the contact patch to float on top of the material(sand). In snow, you are adding the weight to cut through the material(snow) and get the tread down to the road, lowering air pressure would work against this.

 

Dedicated winter tires will help more than anything. My buddy has a set of Blizzaks on his little car and they are magical in snow/ice. They do make them in taco sizes. Good idea to carry some kitty litter too, so if you do spin out at a light or something you can throw some down to get you enough traction to get moving again. I used to be a tow truck driver. Most calls in the winter were "I'm stuck" rescue calls. 99% of them I could throw down some kitty litter and drive their car right out. With the right tires...you can get away with one wheel drive...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX_weIUwd_o

 

Tires. Tires. Tires.
I was seriously considering deactivating my ABS with the stock tires but it has been a non-issue since getting LTX-MS2s.

 

The catch is that most of the time the snow plows are running so driving in actual snow isn't that common. Driving in actual snow is pretty nice since there is decent traction in most cases. It's that sheet of ice that is left behind after the snowplows pack it down that is hard to get a bite on. Airing down a little will give you a little bigger contact patch on that slick surface.

 

Canadian weighing in... Everyone else so far is not wrong, except the let air out of your tires guy. If anything, add some. On hard packed snow (most roads in winter) you want a smaller contact area to focus the weight of the truck. This really digs in the biting edges. If you want, I believe it's Dunlop, they make a tire with microscopic glass fibres in the tread. On ice and hard snow it's phenomenal, a friend in a taco up here has them.

Add around 300lbs of sand in the back, and carry some traction sand/ kitty litter, a shovel, and some warm clothes.

I always have a couple swatch straps and a hi lift as well, rescued more than a few people from ditches in snowstorms.

Take everything slow. Be crazy gentle off the line, if your rears spin take your foot right off and let them stop then try again with less gas. The faster they spin the less traction you have. Use the engine gearing to slow down. It will never make you skid.

Be super careful turning or making lane changes. Even with sand in the back your truck will be hilariously tail happy.

 

Like you mentioned it will vary with tire compound. I ski all over with my KM2's at street psi. When I drop them down to trail psi (which I leave them at all winter) they perform much better on ice. But I am running a mud terrain in the winter. They do amazingly in the snow but suck on ice...

 

Wow! I want a set for my sport bike.