Mods for Northern States?

If I said trade it for a 4WD I'd get a load of responses about people doing just fine in 2WD trucks blah blah etc etc. I had a 2WD truck for a while after moving back to PA from Mississippi. Wouldn't do it again...

So, I'll just say first snowfall go to a large empty parking lot and practice various maneuvers and situations to get a feel of what might possibly happen. Also wash the underside of the truck after every storm if possible.

 

Another good tip I picked up from someone is when on wet looking pavement, watch the other drivers tires. If theyre kicking up spray, theres water on the road. If other peoples tires arent kicking up anything, thats black ice.

 

I grew up in PA, now in Idaho for the last 10 years, know how to drive in snow. My better half is from South Carolina, while a good driver she doesn’t have that snow reflex built in that you and I do.

Put studded snow tires on her RWD Trooper, she did ok, now she is my old 4WD Tacoma with studded snows and a locker. She remarked it is like a little tank, it certainly is a confidence builder for newbies. Plus it makes me feel better too.

 

this really depends on the area. go a year with some decent all-seasons and feel things out.

as indicated above, i ran a subaru brz for 2 years full-time in chicago winters. i've also got around 6 years using a 2wd ranger in similar conditions.

the 2wd ranger never got more than 4 sandbags in the back, and was part of a high school 'business' to clear snow at multiple locations. it was never an issue getting around on all-season tires.

the brz, being a new car, i heeded other owners advice and specifically bought a set of snow wheels and tires for running the car in the winter season.

the reality is that in my area, the snow will dump 2', they shut everything down for a day or two, the local mayors and such declare a 'state of emergency' making it illegal and ticketable to even be found on the roads without adequate purpose. then by the 2nd-3rd day, they've plowed everything, and salted the crap out of the road until the road edges look like the rim of a margarita. it then normally warms up and the roads are as dry as they were back in august, just with enough salt dust to make a peanut factory look clean.

it means that for my area, dedicated snow tires are needed for 2-3 days at a time, with the rest of the winter season hovering around 30-35 degrees with bone dry conditions.

my dedicated snow tires now sit on a shelf because they're an absolute waste of time, energy, and rubber to be running on clean but cold roads.

get a feel for the area you're in before selling off or buying different vehicles, gear, or equipment like you're moving to alaska.

if the area you're going to stays cold, and they're only dropping cinders, snow tires will absolutely be an improvement in driving quality. but if they're still salting the roads, and it all drys up in a week, you're just pissing money away on gear idiots on a forum insisted you get.

 

Our house in PA was a 1/4 mile off the road up a hill, absolutely needed 4WD to get up it in the winter. Otherwise you were walking. Mom had FWD car there for a bit, had to leave at the bottom of the drive more often than not. We never ran snow tires there since they salt the shit out of the roads. Our driveway however, the thawing and freezing it became a 1/4 mile long ice rink. Basically slide all they way to bottom and hope for the best that nothing was coming around the blind corner. Hit the road, cut the wheel and gun it. If it got too too bad I would have to bring one of the Bobcats home from the shop and dig it out.

 

My 06 Prerunner had a rear locker and that just made things worse. Fitted with all-season Michelins, it got parked for the duration after the first snowfall.

Then I got a dedicated set of wheels with Bridgestone Blizzaks. Holy moly! It was an entirely different beast after that. Now I recommend (to anyone that'll listen) get a winter set of tires. We all wear different shoes in winter, why not your vehicle? Consider tires with studs in areas with more ice than we get on the Washington coast.

Remember: everyone has 4-wheel brakes, those with traction get better results when braking.

My $0.02

 

Just an insite to certain towns, states do a great job of clearing roads and salting some don't. In our area they don't half the time you are on compacted snow in ruts. That's on city streets I look at the the dedicated snow tires as a plus so I don't need to test my deductible on my insurance. I have drove in conditions that most people would have not ventured out. Back in the '83 they didn't fine you if you ran a road block. I had to get food to my wife and new baby. When stopped by the HP I explained the situation they parted with a warning no help for 12 hours of I got in trouble. Left the road block and it took 2hrs 45 minutes to drive 19 miles most times you couldn't see the end of your hood. It had rained and temps dropped to -20 and winds were blowing 35-40 with heavy snow but I made it. Would I have left if I didn't need to. Hell no. Was it a calculated risk yes no bridge imbuckments to hold snow. Visibility and ice only risks.

 

The rock salt used in Michigan was bad enough, now they go around spraying some chemical on the road before it snows. Then they dump rock salt on top of that. That combination is a nightmare of corrosion on vehicles. Yeah they rust out 10X faster than they used to but now you get the added bonus of every bushing, line and hose rotting out too.

Long story short, here is my Tacoma when they start spraying the roads here in Michigan. Because I would like it to last more than 7 years the S10 takes over when things get shitty.

 

Wifey has a Forester, her third Subie since we lived in NH. They are awesome in the snow and we just run all-seasons. Tough to beat those for her winter commute. Safe, very solid traction in all weather, great fuel economy, and a good family mover. Alos, it was ~$8 grand less then my Taco.

 

It’s ironic that there are huge salt mines underneath the Detroit area. Wife and I were out for a drive yesterday, went by some highways that were rebuilt 10 years ago. All kinds of corrosion on the underside, rotting concrete. Gotta love that brine shit.