Hey fellas. Needing a little advice from some of the guys who have used 2wd pickups during bad weather. You see, I have a 77 4x4, the drivetrain is ok for a hunting truck, the body is rotted off, and the interior sucks. the truck isn't a super reliable vehicle, and I don't know that it would even make it out to rapid city from where my folks live in sioux falls (350ish miles). I just got offered a 2wd 78 f100 with a nice body and good interior, 302 c6 in nice shape. I don't really have the space for two of them, and I've considered a body swap. However, I'm kinda leaning towards just ditching the 4x4, since it's snowy and they are going for more right now, and just getting the 2wd as a cruiser/backup truck. What do you all think? Our winters get pretty nasty, is there a way to make the 2wd not totally worthless when it gets snowy?

 

Sure there is, (mind you I'm down here in the sand and cactuses so I don't see snow but one or two days a year lol)

Run a set of good snow tires all the way around, keep a few hundred pounds of sand in the bed, right between the fender wells. ( farther back will take weight off the front tires, farther forward will not have as much effect) have a limited slip or locker installed, and in really bad, run chains.

 

Not an expert but I did get stuck in the snow with a 2wd f150 once and I was pretty shetchy driving. To get out of the driveway with a little slope it took 30 mins a shovel and a lot of sliding.
The weight and snow tires sound like a good idea.

 

X2 on good snow tires, have them on a spare set of rims for just the winter time. X22 on the weight in the bed. Some big pieces of logs or stumps is easier, quicker to load and unload and less of a mess. Build a box to keep them from sliding around, that works for cement blocks, sand bags or the log idea. Usually the sand bags deteriorate over time after the weather hits them. And stumps are free in my area.

And yes between the fenderwell to keep the weight over the axle, if you have a l/s or a one wheel drive now, when she starts to spin just tap the brake a little, with the gas slightly on to lock that axle and xfer the drive to the other tire.

And x222 on a locker in the rear, and chains for real bad times. Just have to drive like a guy that owns a 2wd and not a 4wd, plan ahead.

4wd I'd rather have it and not need it, than the other way around.

 

Everything above but have some sand on hand to throw on the ground in case you get stuck. Check with the city works dept to see if you can score some pickle sand from them or the fire dept. if you do get stuck have someone push the back end side to side or bounce up and down on the rear bumper. Was raised in rural Manitoba, some people would put a couple of square bales in the box and soak them down.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I appreciate the info. I've run several 4x4's in my life, but never a 2x4 pickup. The closest I came was an old chevy caprice. I've never actually NEEDED the 4 wheel drive in my truck, so it's hard to justify owning one. Plus, to quote my dad, "if its bad enough to need 4 wheel drive, stay in the d*** house". And with my fiance's awd buick, I think I should be covered. On the chains though: is there a certain type/brand I should look for? Certain style I should avoid?

 

Get a like a diamond style. Or any kind that has constant chain on ground. A set with only cross chains ride extremely rough and won't work good on a non-driving wheel.

 

Theres no mountains on the prairies, just valleys, as a result we ran studded tires on the rear. Depending on how much hard pack and black ice you got and your laws and budget we sometimes ran studs on all 4 tires. Only the farmers who didn't have plowed roads ran chains, unchained when they got to the highway.

 

We've got some good sized hills out here. Granted, it isn't the rockies, but the black hills get pretty formidable in the winter. Though on the point of tires, I have heard that it is best to go with a tall, really skinny tire to cut through the snow. What is your reccomendations on size? I wouldn't mind a little higher sitting, bigger looking truck, but at the end of the day I want to go with the best and safest option, not the best looking option. How are the firestone winterforce tires? I've had good luck with nexen roadians for tread life, are they any good in the snow?

 

I've heard those Firestone and Bridgestone winter tires are very good. What size tires are on the truck now?

30x9.50R15 would be good.

 

currently it's got mismatched tires and rims. I think it was a "whatever I have in the barn deal" so if I get it, the first thing I will do is buy some old school turbine rims off dad and buy some brand new tires. Was thinking 30x9.5 or 31x10.5, and there is a company near me that is called treadwrite selling retread tires in both sizes for less than a hundred bucks each for all terrain tires. Thinking about going that direction.

 

I run 7.50 16.5 Kumho's on the 350 they're 31" tall. a soft treaded ground grip at 8" should do the trick. No all season crap but a skinny mud and snow tire is good.

 

One of the best things you can do before driving in the snow is "AIR DOWN YOUR TIRES", this will make a huge difference in traction. I will typically run between 12 & 15 lbs in the rear

 

Compared to Ioway, SD might as well be the rockies. Harney peak is over 7,000 ft, sounds like mountains to me.

You'll want snow tires, not "all season". Snow. Tires. Plenty of weight in the back as mentioned. Keep moving, or you'll end up parking somewhere ya didn't want to.

 

Throw a snowmobile in the box and don't worry about getting stuck.