How well will a 2wd F150 or F250 handle in snow with sand bags in the bed? Here in southern Wisconsin we get plenty of snow (and his year I hear we are going to get tons). Should I even consider a 2wd for a daily driver or should I go 4x4 only?

 

Depends on a variety of factors including road conditions (icy vs accumulated snow), speed or travel, tire tread pattern, and the driver behind the wheel.

Options are good...I have both 2WD and 4WDs for just such occasions.

 

My experience with a 2WD truck in snow involves my 1991 Ranger. It did great in most situations, with studded snow tires on the rear, and some weight in the bed. The only problem is deep and/or soft snow. The front tires become a bit of a plow. Driving on plowed roads in no sweat, the problem in on the roads/driveways/parking lots that don't get plowed.

Here in the greater Seattle/Puget Sound region, we don't usually get a lot of snow, so "we" don't own a lot of snow removal equipment. I live on a rural road, and have a long/gravel driveway, neither of which gets plowed. In the past 4 winters, we've had two storms (one in 2009, the other 2011) that dumped over 12" of snow. I would have been stuck at home if I didn't own a 4x4.

 

See my reply in your other thread. I did forget to mention that we all run studded snow type tires up here in Alaska, for the most part. A lot of guys also haul around a load of wood during the winter, it works like the sand bag weight I was talking about.

 

A 2wd will do fine as long as you've got some rear tires with aggressive tread ( or winter tires ) and carry a lot of weight in the box. But nothing beats having 4wd when you need it!!

 

Being from wisco i can say i would never own a 2wd. They road conditions here change way too fast and the plowing is inconsistant at best

 

I ran a 78 2wd f-150 two years ago in N.E. wisconsin all winter had probably 500lbs. in the bed with a limited slip and a new set of firestone winterforce tires only came to a stop once on the road but had traction to back out of drift and find a different road. rear wheel drives tend to follow ruts in the snow from preveious vehicals though so be careful. I drove on unplowed roads quite a bit as I get out of work at 2am and have to drive 30 miles home. also moved around on lakes ice fishing pretty well. I would do it again.

 

I had a 2wd supercab f150. It had a working limited slip in the rear. Unloaded, on all season tires, it was terrible in the snow. The limited slip would lock up the rear pretty quickly, which meant it either pushed the front wide through turns, or you gave it gas and took the turn sideways, drift style. I had chains for it, and with the chains when the rear locked it would just plain push the truck through corners. It felt dangerous. Additionally, anytime you were in deep snow, if you spun the chains at all it would just dig itself a hole it couldn't get out of.
I've driven in snow every year I've been alive, and living in the country means I've driven a bunch of different vehicles in pretty rough conditions. I've had RWD sporty cars, FWD **** boxes, and 4wd trucks and SUV's. My last job required me to travel about a 1000 miles per week over the mountains in frostburg md, which gets plenty of snow (there are a few ski resorts located nearby), regardless of whether there was a blizzard or if the plow trucks had run. So I would say I've got more winter weather driving experience than most people.

I wouldn't want my only vehicle to drive in the winter to be a 2wd truck. They just don't do well, and if you get the rear wheels stuck, youre stuck. Even with chains its still a pretty big compromise. I wouldn't try it without snow tires, I usually run snow tires no matter what I drive, even with 4wd.

Its doable. People do it every day. But I wouldn't want to do it if I had any kind of commute, or if I had a job that required me to travel unplowed roads.

 

I went out once last time it snowed in my 250, and boy did I get stuck. I had a decent amount of weight in the bed, and chains on the back. Made it down hills no problem, but coming back up was hell. Needless to say, my truck will stay safely parked in the driveway when it snows

 

Honestly, my last 2wd F series was my '84 F150. I've been used to this for the last 6 winters:


Honestly, with my snowplow, I still toss in 7-8 70# sandbags for traction when plowing.
The correct tires also make all the world's difference. I had a '91 Explorer sport with goodyears with a street all season tread, and that thing was worthless in deep snow in 4x4.
Granted, even good mud and snow tires won't get you out of every situation...

{AHEM }
{Ironically, 4 low, and alot of violent fwd rvs fwd rvs rocking got me out of that pictured mess.}

I ran this lunatic concoction of a 2wd as my daily driver for 5+ years.

We had some hellish snowstorms that I got around in, running 500# of sand out back and a good all terrain good year 235/75r15 tire. If it got really hellish out and I had to go out, I resorted to running chains. I was able to go places 4x4 trucks and SUV's could not even touch, as ice then 8-10 inches of snow, was making things a mess.
It also comes down to the weather. If it's a white hell out there...either plan on an extra hour drive time and leave plenty of space, or you don't venture out.
{It only took myself around 18 years of driving thru Nebraska winters to heed my father's advice.

 

I think it all depends if you live in an urban or rural environment...

In an urban setting where the roads are plowed, salted and de-iced, 2wd will be just fine.

In a rural setting where you may traverse unmaintained roads 4wd isn't a luxury it's a must have.

 

Well I'm in the middle of a small town where the roads are plowed and salted but we get tons of snow and large drifts (yes even in town). I've seen a 2wd 90s ford drift sideway and fishtail through a turn on slushy roads before so I'm still a bit hesitant to dive a 2wd in snow...

 

Agreed. I think it also depends on if you live in a hilly or flat area. I live in an area full of hills, so i get stuck trying to go back up.

 

If you are concerned then go 4X4. The only down side is more parts to maintain and less gas mileage.

 

4x4 is sweet for sure but if I didn't care about other 4x4 related shinaniganery, I wouldn't worry about running a 2wd just cause of snow. Throw some tractor weights back there and go!