Tips for Driving in the Snow

When I was a kid, dad always had 2wd
He had a piece of plywood and two 2x8 that would sit between the wheel wells of the Ford. Would place eight 50# sandbags there, really worked well.

 

I have been driving mud/snow/wet tires in the midwest for 30 years on a FWD passenger vehicle. I will have to practice first in this light-in-the-tail truck. Down in "Sun Valley" there is only a remote possibility of a few blowing flakes. I need to drive 60 miles north or east to get to elevation to practice ... some sandbags in the bed as deadweight.

 

Carry a shovel

 

I use sand bags 100#. Most of the time I use autoLSD from a stop and 2wd on surface streets.

 

I’m in my 13th winter with the same set of BFG commercial ta traction tires. They love me long time.

 

Four Dedicated Winter Tires! Put them on from Nov-Apr and be safer for everyone on the roads.

I live at 7000' and travel over 12,000' and with four dedicated winter tires, I barely need to use 4WD. I use Toyo Observe GSi6 and have used their winter tires for 22+ years on different vehicles. https://www.autotrader.ca/editorial...after-trying-winter-tires-for-the-first-time/


https://www.outsideonline.com/2408499/snow-tires-people-who-dont-live-winter

 

Limit wheel slippage, have good tires, try and stay on the fresh stuff.
I grew up with 2wd s10s and Nissan d21s that were lowered. Never had much issue in the snow. 4x4 only makes it easier to get going and get out of bad spots

also, prep for braking. Stay off of peoples butts, be prepared to go into the shoulder

 

that's the point

why would that happen

Trucks and truck-based SUV's are predominately 4x4. 4x4 is better than AWD and offers more.
You also get a locked center diff in 4HI.
Certain AWD cars do not have the space in their design to allow room for the added capability of a transfer case that offers low range, that also adds cost (more parts) so they do not put one.

Cars stopped offering this when they switched from performance, to making them worse.
For example, 1980's performance Audi with 3 selectable locking diffs (button and vacuum-controlled) winning rally championships. They stopped doing this.

4x4 lets you turn it off on dry pavement. An Audi (fulltime mechanical AWD) does not let you turn it off. As a result, the parasitic draw losing MPG is fulltime, and nose heavy pig FWD understeer bias behavior is fulltime.

Change a vehicle open diff to limited slip or locker is $1000+ per diff. Yours already came with locking center stock, not including locking rear if it's an OR.

Drivetrain puts power down, not turns or stops. That is done by the driver and tires.

 

I live in an area where we get 80+” of snow a year. I’m not very old and have had 6 different trucks so far with 4wd. In winter anytime the roads are crappy I’ll drive around with it on. Even in dry roads sometimes. Never damaged any of my vehicles. You won’t do any damage to your vehicle unless you’re pulling into parking spots or taking tight turns.

 

Like others have said, on slippery and snow covered roads you're not going to burn anything up. Thats 100% what it's for, and you won't hurt by driving through snow covered roads for months on end. Tires will also make a difference, but seriously you paid for 4wd why have it if you're afraid to use it. Also as stated earlier, AWD is just like 4wd but with an non locked center diff. The non locked helps it on dry roads etc. So just don't use 4wd on dry roads and you'll be fine

 

yes weight in back & good tires & 4x4.

also:
- use a higher gear to have more gradual acceleration.
- keep in mind your tire temperature, if you air down there will be more ground contact and the sidewalls heat up a bit more and that can keep rubber more sticky.
- you need good lighting, and a clean windshield on the inside for glare. turn off your inside lights (and touchscreen) at night, turn your dash brightness down all the way using the stick odometer.
- test your brakes constantly, make sure you are aware of your stopping distance, and give yourself extra room for the other idiots on the road.
- buy some little steel tracks to help you if you get stuck, or someone else. I have used mine so many times.
- Don't be afraid to be late, pullover if you feel unsafe, or if there are too many other idiots on the road. Especially early days of snowfall in your area when people are re-learning to drive. Please chose a good place to pullover, keep lights on, flashers, away from traffic.
- Help others in distress, look for tire tracks going off the road, sometimes simple slides can be deadly if no one knows a person is stuck without their phone.

 

And also tires, tires, as well as TIRES!

You won't believe the difference new tires/tires made for those conditions will make.

 

Years ago in Seattle people put stud tires on for the few short winter months to handle black ice. I think they do not anymore because they like the roads to not be chewed up. Not exactly the same as you intend, but shows that the right equipment makes a difference.

 

As others have said you're good to go with 4x4 you can always add something like a shurtrx water bag in the bed to get a better weight distribution. Usually when people are having issues past this with experience in the snow they are driving too fast for the conditions or don't have the correct tires.

$170 ShurTrax CLW0056 LW-0056 All Weather Traction Aid for Full Size Pickup Trucks/SUVs, Black

https://www.amazon.com/Shurtrax-CLW...mzn1.fos.17d9e15d-4e43-4581-b373-0e5c1a776d5d

 

In Indiana years ago in college (college kids are poor) a friend was driving on a freeway with old/bald tires. Hit an ice patch and did 3-4 360-degree spins before settling sideways across 2 lanes. He got new tires immediately.

 

thats kinda funny to imagine a water bag in winter. thing would be an ice brick within half an hour at least where i live

 

That's still the norm in Portland. I saw a car with studs on back in October. I have no idea why.

 

It claims to be rated to -40F. I haven't had it in that cold but its surprising how it did. You could add antifreeze to it as well if someone really wanted to. Hard as a brick would still be similar to sand bags or something similar.

 

I'm debating doing the drive from the bay to Salida at the end of the month. would turnaround that same week through

 

think maybe the bag can withstand that temp, but the water would be frozen still. and no way to drain / move it around at that weight. with sand you can still pour in / out as much as you need. not saying its a bad product but i dont see it working as well as the cheap option in the severe cold.