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Pickups in snow?

M

mattpegher

Platinum Member
I'm thinking that as soon as I can get rid of the baby seats (2 for next 2 years then down to a booster for another 4) that I would get a crew cab pickup. Anyone know how well they hold the road in the snow. Does the weight of the back of a Yukon (currently XL for the third row) make any difference?

Mostly unplowed roads when it snows so I need the ground clearance.
 
In my opinion, snow and ice traction is more a pull function than push. Having a front drive axle (alone or in concert with a rear) is almost always better. That being said, there's nothing wrong with tossing 400 pounds of sand in canvas bags into the bed. If you wanted to get really fancy, you could build a concrete thing that fit your bed exactly and was about 4 inches thick. That way your bed is only 4 inches less deep (no problem if not using a canopy) and the weight is still there. I'm not sure what concrete weighs. Maybe 2 inches is enough. Make sure you can remove it when summer comes back.
 
A 2wd truck in snow and ice, is absolute hell. I have a 2wd truck, and I have been stuck on a flat surface on ice. Tow truck drive comes up and says "need help?" I say "how much" he says "50 dollars". May God have mercy on his soul.
 
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
That being said, there's nothing wrong with tossing 400 pounds of sand in canvas bags into the bed.
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not at all. gas is free after all.
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400 pounds of sand makes less of a difference in milage than the winter fuel blend. It's really only a big deal if you have an anemic little 4 banger of a truck.
 
unfortunately the gas savings is minimal due to similiar engines but with the roads I drive I'm affraid to get a lighter vehicle. My wifes audi is good but when the snow gets high it bottoms out.
 
When I drove a 2wd pickup, I just filled the back with snow when I shovelled my driveway. This gave me that added weight while there was snow on the ground, and then dissappears when the weather warms up. But we only have snow for 2-3 days each year.
 
In the winter, my job invloves driving in snow and ice, constantly. I use a 3/4, 4X4 ton gas truck with a utility bed full of tools. It will go just about anywhere in the snow. Ice is a different matter. I sometimes have to chain up when it's real icy or if I have to pull/push a vehicle on a super. I use studded snow tires.
My personal vehicle is an F250 4X4 PSD. I add weight to the bed and it too will go just about anywhere. This truck has BF Goodrich All Terrain TAs.
 
My old 74 dodge pickup did just fine in the winter... 2 wheel drive and manual transmisson. Then again, it did have a posi rear end and 300lbs of sand 😛
 
I've owned 3 Ford Rangers and 2 F-150's.

The rangers that were 2 wheel drive each got 350 lbs of sand in the back and snow tires and I never had a problem, the one 4x4 ranger just got the sand and it was fine as well. The first F-150 was 2wd, I lived in Georgia at that time, so no snow experience. My current F-150 is a 4x4 and I use bags of rock salt (around 400 lbs). I use the salt on the driveway anyway, just replace it as I go. The F-150 is definitely worse in the snow than the Ranger's were, not sure why, but it's still manageable. Then again, I've lived in Michigan and driven in snow for 16 years.
 
In 2wd my truck makes a great merry-go-round, in 4wd it's just fine. When in 2wd remember not to give it gas or brake on the corners, you never know when ice may be present.
 
Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
My old 74 dodge pickup did just fine in the winter... 2 wheel drive and manual transmisson. Then again, it did have a posi rear end and 300lbs of sand 😛
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lol...rear lockers are the bomb.

I've got an auto-locker in the rear of my Tacoma, I can do some fatty power slides 😉
 
Originally posted by: Kalvin00
Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
My old 74 dodge pickup did just fine in the winter... 2 wheel drive and manual transmisson. Then again, it did have a posi rear end and 300lbs of sand 😛
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lol...rear lockers are the bomb.

I've got an auto-locker in the rear of my Tacoma, I can do some fatty power slides 😉
Click to expand...

But I sold that truck 🙁. I miss my baby. (first car ever, I learned everything I know about cars from her... *tear*)
 
I pulled a GMC denali out of a ditch with my ram.

Anyway, the driver makes more difference than vehicles like this. A truck and SUV are almost the same in the snow. The difference will be weight. So a truck (being lighter) will stop and turn better, while a heavier suv will accelerate better but stop and turn worse.
 
I had a 1969 Beetle for my first car and it snowed that winter. It was great and pretty solid on the slick stuff.

Acceleration is fine, but stopping is better. Long following distances ftw.
 
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
That being said, there's nothing wrong with tossing 400 pounds of sand in canvas bags into the bed.
Click to expand...
not at all. gas is free after all.
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So, when you're carpooling with two of your friends to an event that you'd be attending anyway, do you charge them for allll that extra gas they're using?😛
 
Originally posted by: eos
In my opinion, snow and ice traction is more a pull function than push. Having a front drive axle (alone or in concert with a rear) is almost always better.
Click to expand...

WTF? Push, pull, doesn't matter.

Weight over the drive wheels. That's it.
 
Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
I plowed through a foot of unplowed snow with the truck I said already, but I couldn't move well w/o the weight.
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Once I air down my tires to about ~12psi my Tacoma will go through snow until i'm hung on the frame....it mobs. I think its mostly the tires, plus a locker (soon to be locked F+R!) I have Cooper STT tires.
 
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