Hi, I have a 2006 F-350 Lariat FX-4 that I bought used, primarily for towing but now I am starting to use it for winter driving. It has 4WD but I have found the traction on compact snow/ice to be pretty poor compared to my Volvo XC70 (for example). I put a little weight in the bed (say 200 lbs) and I bought Blizzak LT tires and that seemed to help the traction when driving, but I still have problems at very low speeds or when starting up from a stop, for example in parking situations. If a wheel is caught in any little divot or bump or snow berm, or backing up even a slight incline, the truck gets stuck and I have to get out tire chains.

Any advice for how to improve winter traction?

One thing I noticed that surprised me, it seems the truck does not have locking differentials even in 4WD Low, is that really correct?

Thanks,
Rich

 

A LSD or locker does not care if your in low or high or 2wd for that matter. Having a locker on iced roads is a mixed bag IMO but Id guess you'll get varying opinions on that one. Im not sure whats in your FX4 package but LSD units typically have clutches that do wear out over time. Your diff tag or VIN should show gear ratio as well as a code indication open diff or otherwise. As far as better traction goes...yeah good siped tires, chains or studded tires. A locker will help but they can be awful nasty when your not prepared for the **** end to come loose when hitting the gas a bit heavy. One great option is a ARB air locker but they come at a big price. You tell it when to lock up 100%, and a flip of the switch and its back to an open diff. For what its worth my F250 4x4 with new aggressive at's can barely make it out our gate even in 4wd sometimes. My POS grand cherokee with a open diff can make it to town with snowed roads in 2wd. 7000lb truck, 3200lb suv.

 

That's the truth! I go everywhere in 2wd in my Jeep.

 

First determine if you have an open diff or limited slip. Axle codes in post #3 here:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...r-and-faq.html

I've had just OK with LSD's in other vehicles in general. When buying my SD I was happy about the LSD but found out quickly it was either worn or just useless. I have the truck for camping offroad so I put in a Ford E Locker. Makes a huge difference. That being said, I've never actually driven in snow before so I have no idea if that is the best for you. It is mostly for obstacles, then you turn it off. An aftermarket LSD might be your best option for snow if the OEM one is deteriorated.

 

Try more weight in the back it helps.

 

This. Shovel snow into the bed, start close to the cab. There's light AWD suv's out there, and they are amazing in snow depth where they aren't plowing snow with their bumper, and then there's these trucks..........which are basically 3x4 at best, with terrible weight distribution.

When you know that you're getting snow, park the truck in a place that you'll know you can shovel lots of snow into the bed, toward the cab. If there's so much snow that you can fill the bed many times, then make a pile that's level with the cab and fill the rest gradually to the height of the tailgate. You can fill it more than that, which would be cool for traction, but wind will likely make it look like a ramp from tailgate to cab anyway.

 

My 01 had lockers and went fine in the snow. The 96 gets 6 bags of play sand min. in the back of the bed for the winter and this gets recycled into the kids sandbox at the end of the season. The '16 has had no issues in the bad weather as well. Good tires, some weight as needed, Got chains when it's really bad. I guess I'm just used to driving a Truck in the winter. I sure have pulled a lot of folks out of the snow and back on the road over the years and never had to get pulled out myself. I don't think these trucks suck in the snow.

 

1st off, what's your location and what is your experience with a diesel truck and driving in snow/ ice?

I live in Colorado with a huge CCLB dually on 35's and I rarely use 4wd. Duals are the worst in the snow. I do have the factory LSD but that can be good and bad as mentioned. The best thing for tracking straight is an open diff. it fights to find traction and keep you straight, where a locker or working LSD will want to push the rearend sideways.

You also can't touch the gas pedal taking off in a diesel, you have to let it idle to get traction because we have too much torque for slick conditions. Obviously in 4wd there should be no issue but you can't just gun it when the light turns green either. well you can if you want to have fun.

If you want the best bang for your buck, get an e-locker out of a newer wrecked truck. another member said he gets them for like $100. then you can lock it up if needed and unlock it when you're cruising or leave it locked in if you have the experience.

no offense but sounds like driver error or your front axle isn't working.
I can drive around in over a ft of snow without issue, granted that does actually require 4wd, but if it's on the road, I can drive around town in 2wd, but I've driven in snow my entire life starting with a 2wd truck (late 80's early 90's when we got real snow) and another 2wd in my 20's

My vote would be a detroit truetrac or factory e-locker if you want to add something.

also, you can't compare a 6500lb diesel truck to a volvo

 

Sounds to me like one of your front hubs isn’t locking, thus you’re not truly engaging the front end. I can lock the hubs manually in my ‘05 PSD and it’s a beast in the snow. It doesn’t get stuck, period. The LSD, and Cooper ATX help.

 

I put a Detroit locker in the rear of mine and it greatly improved the traction I had for winter driving or anywhere else. I have had it in for 6-7 years now, one of the best things I have done to my truck.

 

I'd agree with your front-end not locking in, even my 02 F350 DRW gets around in the snow, weight in the bed, YES, add at least 3-400# per side, changes everything, IF your front end is pulling too...

 

Ford makes an electric locker for the 10.5 differential. I bought a reman and installed it in my '01 4x4. It helps a lot in some situations, mainly straight line driving in snow, but will also let the rear end go sideways if the wheels spin. I back into an alley where one side is often icy from the shade of my neighbor's house and the other dry. Lock it up and go if either rear wheel has traction. You also have to unlock before you begin a turn to prevent axle wind up.

NEVER leave it locked on a slippery highway unless you like sliding off the road!

 

I had a 2wd company truck with open rear diff. that I made 4x 1' x 3" x 4" thick concrete weights (about 150 lbs. each) for the bed in the winter. They sat in the bed between the fender wells on a piece of 3' angle iron notched on the ends to go past the fender well. The angle iron was secured with a 3/8" piece of all thread on each side to hold the weights in place. With the 600 lbs. in the bed and studded mud terrain tires, I could get around pretty well, even sometimes having to drive to Denver almost 100 miles on ice. The key is weight in the bed, tires with good traction and a feather light foot on the skinny peddle. The nice thing about the weights is they didn't take up much bed space, and with the angle iron/all thread holding them in they wouldn't slide around on the plastic bed liner. Be safe out there.
Mark.