Snow in 2wd w/ No Chains?

Just another typical day driving home from work.

 

Just to be fair, driving in the snow in the midwest is nothing like driving over the
Sierra Nevadas in winter. I've lived in both places, and I'll take the midwest all day long as far as easy winter driving is concerned.

 

True. We don't have the SoCal drivers clogging the roads with their spin-outs.

 

Is there even any snow left in big bear?

 

. . . Hopefully?
Maybe higher in the mountains. I'll have to do my research later

 

OP, take it from this guy. You are driving the worst vehicle on the road in the snow, a 2wd light pick up. A honda civic on all seasons is a better vehicle to take to the mountain than your truck (your locker doesen't really help you on snowy road ways), if there is a winter weather advisory of course. If the roads are clear and it hasnt snowed youll be fine. But if they are expecting weather or have recently had it...please consider another vehicle or chain up at the bottom of whatever pass you start up. You dont want the tow bill if you lose traction, cant get started again, and end up off the road.

 

You also don’t have 150’+ elevation changes and a dozen curves every 1/2 mile.

 

big bear has no snow forecasted anytime soon? I used to live near by and even when it did snow it was usually slush that melted the second it hit the asphalt and just made for cold wet driving. I think you would be fine?

 

my local hill growing up (in idaho) had 108 curves in 16 miles haha. Absolute crawl anytime there was a snow storm, so infuriating.

Great mtn road to take a motorcycle up in the summer though!

 

I would put emphasis on the weight in the rear end. The more weight you put in the back the better the traction. Consider putting 5-600 pounds in there.

 

G

Got it. I'll keep that in mind

 

There was a recovery on here. Where the op had to survive on taco bell hot sauce packets after getting stuck in the snow.

 

No snow for the next two months. A Honda civic could handle big bear right now.

 

There's worse, Dakota R/T for example. At the least possible throttle on snow it breaks traction above 1000 rpm. Combined with it's LSD and no traction control, you get to make eye contact with drivers behind you fairly frequently.

 

Hmm. Maybe I should just go to the Bonneville Salt Flats or something XD

 

Pretty sure legally you need to have chains in the San Bernardino mountains if you have 2wd and its snowing.

 

Put a lot of weight over the rear axle (wet a bale of hay will freeze up after being wet down and will add some good weight) and go it slow - like 10-15mph slow if ya gotta.

Edit: do ask friends and see if ya can borrow chains if ya can though!

 

Yikes. These are the people who get i70 in Colorado closed and cause huge traffic. That said I spent most of today in 2wd and it snowed all day. Good tires make a world of different. But bringing chains is a very good idea.

 

You think I just have a bale of hay lying around in my living room?
Hmm. Ideas besides hay for weight in the bed? Sand bags, cinder blocks, etc.?

EDIT: I think giant water jug things might work since we have some laying around