Winter Driving
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,513
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From: La Tech University, La
I will never forget my first experience with driving in snow, I was stopped at a stop sign in Lousiana, there were a few inches on the ground. and my truck suddenly slid sideways in teh ditch...I managed to back it out though. no damage. I am goin to put some weight in my truck if we get snow and ice this year....I also need to get the 4x4 on the road before mid january. it has a cracked head and a bad fuel pump right now.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
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From: Conway Arkansas
Originally posted by Marc150
I should tell my mom bout the weight behind the wheels. we were driving and she fishtailed, spunout and almost went into a ditch. sandbags were behind the wheels. she drives a lumina, which is CRAP!!!! only good for gaining exp on how to fix tranny leaks, creaking frame, peeling paint ect. she dont like fords, funny though, im the only one who can get out of the drive without spinning the tires and hit 80 in no time. thanks to 4x4 and a big engine!!!!!
I should tell my mom bout the weight behind the wheels. we were driving and she fishtailed, spunout and almost went into a ditch. sandbags were behind the wheels. she drives a lumina, which is CRAP!!!! only good for gaining exp on how to fix tranny leaks, creaking frame, peeling paint ect. she dont like fords, funny though, im the only one who can get out of the drive without spinning the tires and hit 80 in no time. thanks to 4x4 and a big engine!!!!!
Sand bags in the back of a Lumina won't really help much
As its front wheel drive.
It will help it be heavier, but it won't help it pull better
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
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From: Conway Arkansas
Also to be quite honest with you. I never have had my 4x4 in 4x4 in the snow.
I drove my 83 Ford Wagon in the snow a ton of times no problem
My 89 Grandam did really well in the snow and ice
I dont know how my 91 Tempo will do but I'll find out because Im not going to wreck my 66 trying to get back and forth to work in the crap
I drove my 83 Ford Wagon in the snow a ton of times no problem
My 89 Grandam did really well in the snow and ice
I dont know how my 91 Tempo will do but I'll find out because Im not going to wreck my 66 trying to get back and forth to work in the crap
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 589
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From: Canastota
Yea, she put the bags in there to keep the back end frront end from comming around. I dont let her drive my baby, unless its an emergency. She said its like drivin a tank. GOOD, just the way i like it. Dan LOVES the beast though, likes the higher ride and the power. Rents have a bit of trouble with the driveway with all the snow and ice. 4x4 helps alot in gettin up and out. Question, how much snow and stuff can i go through and NOT et stuck. just wonderin, the drive can get a little nasty, or in case i want to have a little fun. I have fairly good tires, Michelin LTX A/T.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 589
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From: Canastota
man i cant type, I ment to say teh Back end from comming around. and DAD loves the beast. Dont want to confuse ya guys with my bad typin.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,146
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From: Colorado
I watched a segment on one of the news programs (20-20 or the likes) some years ago regarding where to add weight to a car or truck. Tests were conducted with weight placed in front of the rear axle and behind. What was proven was adding weight behind the axle shifted weight off of the front tires due to the fulcrum effect, resulting in reduced steering and braking. Make your own decision, but I'll stick to having the weight either right over or just in front of the axel.
I had a 86 2wd Toyota pickup some years ago that I placed a cross bed tool box in, filled with about 400 lbs of sand and a folding shovel. Truck got stuck twice, both times in front of the house in snow that was between 12 and 15 inches deep. Did use some of the sand on ice a few times on hills when I couldn't get traction.
I now need to get some weight for my 03 F150 4X4. I have found it is really squirrely on ice. It will go over the wheels.
I had a 86 2wd Toyota pickup some years ago that I placed a cross bed tool box in, filled with about 400 lbs of sand and a folding shovel. Truck got stuck twice, both times in front of the house in snow that was between 12 and 15 inches deep. Did use some of the sand on ice a few times on hills when I couldn't get traction.
I now need to get some weight for my 03 F150 4X4. I have found it is really squirrely on ice. It will go over the wheels.
Last edited by rikfish; Dec 4, 2003 at 09:56 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,230
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From: Near Bloom, PA
(Other Bower here)
I had to learn to drive in snow when I moved up here, and it was an experience. The first time I drove my truck to work, I got halfway up the first hill, then the truck started sliding back down. I slid backward down around a curve, praying no one was coming up behind me, backed into someone's driveway at the bottom, and went back home until the plow went through. I now have studded rear tires and an old fridge in the bed and have had no problems. I've gone for a few 360s on ice in the Buick though.
A girl at work puts a bathtub in the back of her truck, if she needs more weight she fills it with snow.
My husband puts weight (bags of coal) in his truck over the axles, not in front or behind. He also likes to play in parking lots, but he's more careful since he tried to drive through a pile of fresh snow and found out there was a pile of ice under it. The bumper is still bent.
He also told me, when going downhill in snow, not to ride the brakes, just tap them if I needed it. Now it gets on my nerves to get behind someone riding their brakes, and I've seen a few cars doing this that landed in a ditch or slid all over the road.
I will be driving the Bronco in snow for the first time tomorrow, if the weatherman is right.
I had to learn to drive in snow when I moved up here, and it was an experience. The first time I drove my truck to work, I got halfway up the first hill, then the truck started sliding back down. I slid backward down around a curve, praying no one was coming up behind me, backed into someone's driveway at the bottom, and went back home until the plow went through. I now have studded rear tires and an old fridge in the bed and have had no problems. I've gone for a few 360s on ice in the Buick though.
A girl at work puts a bathtub in the back of her truck, if she needs more weight she fills it with snow.
My husband puts weight (bags of coal) in his truck over the axles, not in front or behind. He also likes to play in parking lots, but he's more careful since he tried to drive through a pile of fresh snow and found out there was a pile of ice under it. The bumper is still bent.
He also told me, when going downhill in snow, not to ride the brakes, just tap them if I needed it. Now it gets on my nerves to get behind someone riding their brakes, and I've seen a few cars doing this that landed in a ditch or slid all over the road.
I will be driving the Bronco in snow for the first time tomorrow, if the weatherman is right.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
Leaving the hubs locked is fine, the only penalty is a drop in gas mileage. Use the 4x4 under slick conditions, and always avoid using it on dry pavement. Also, when you go play in the parking lot you will hopefully discover that under the right conditions applying a slight amount of gas when sliding in a corner will actually help you get traction as the front tires will begin to "bite" and pull you through it. As for the sand bags, they belong right over the rear axle. Placing the bags in the far rear does put more force on the rear tires, but reduces downward force on the front tires which results in an unsafe condition. While it is true that placing the bags over the rear axle will slightly reduce the downward force on the front tires, it is very negligible. This stems from the fact that placing the bags way in back relocates the vehicle center of gravity (CG) much more dramitically to the rear, thus taking needed weight off the front tires. Placing the bags over the axle does not pull the CG back nearly as much and puts the weight where it is of most benefit.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
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From: 3rd Rock
rikfis,
yes it is possible to add enough weight to have cause and effect. “What was proven was adding weight behind the axle shifted weight off of the front tires due to the fulcrum effect, resulting in reduced steering and braking.” The problem with this, they gave you no numbers and no vehicle. Again, I could add enough weight to any vehicle to have cause and effect. There is no doubt in my mind of what they did on TV.
OK the concept of adding weight behind the axle is to limit the amount of weight you place in the car (overall) to effectively gain the same advantage, traction. Take this for example if you need (because you already know it works) 100lbs to drive to work. From the rear axle to the back of the car is 3’, now all you need to do is add 80/75lbs (this is an estimate, not mathematically figured) to the back of the car. Therefore, the idea of this whole concept is to add less weight to the back of the car, ultimately making the driver more comfortable…………..less back pain! And getting to work, or school, or shopping, or…….
yes it is possible to add enough weight to have cause and effect. “What was proven was adding weight behind the axle shifted weight off of the front tires due to the fulcrum effect, resulting in reduced steering and braking.” The problem with this, they gave you no numbers and no vehicle. Again, I could add enough weight to any vehicle to have cause and effect. There is no doubt in my mind of what they did on TV.
OK the concept of adding weight behind the axle is to limit the amount of weight you place in the car (overall) to effectively gain the same advantage, traction. Take this for example if you need (because you already know it works) 100lbs to drive to work. From the rear axle to the back of the car is 3’, now all you need to do is add 80/75lbs (this is an estimate, not mathematically figured) to the back of the car. Therefore, the idea of this whole concept is to add less weight to the back of the car, ultimately making the driver more comfortable…………..less back pain! And getting to work, or school, or shopping, or…….
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Canastota
Does the snow add much weight? i packed it down pretty good and its iced over. Also, what should i do if it starts to fishtail? how should i turn and should i hit the brakes? I might mention that the RABS doesnt work, says i need to replace the fluid reservoir cause the sensors bad in it. Guess ill be pumpin the brakes this winter!But thats only for the rear brakes, but why not the front? Thanks for all the advice, its been very helpfull.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,513
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From: La Tech University, La
Do not slam on the brakes for one, in 4.4 use the gas if it is engaed, jsut a little not a whole lot in two whell drive, tap the gas a little when the fishtailing reaches its outer arch to try and bring it back center, try and keep the front wheels straight. If the truck goes sideways to far to keep the wheels straight or close to, throw the truck n neutral and cut the wheel the otehr way, try to get the truck backwards, because chances are by teh time your truck is completely sidways, you are not going to get it back to straight and it has the momentum to go all the way around.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Colorado
Tim,
Numbers would be useless as the variables are not only how much weight you add and where you add, but includes the wheelbase of the vehicle. You have to remember the front springs are always trying to lift the front of the car, therefore having the weight further back from the axle will add to the loss of steering, especially when hitting bumps. Types of vehicles were all rear wheel drive, as adding weight to the rear of a front wheel drive vehicle would have an adverse affect on both traction and steering.
As I said, everyone can come to their own conclusion as to where and how much. With around 33 years of experience driving on snow and ice I will go with what I have learned.
As for saving your back, I agree! No joy in pulling those sand bags out in the spring. I had a friend that put some 80lb. bags of concrete mix in her trunk...they all broke open. Now that was fun getting out.....
Numbers would be useless as the variables are not only how much weight you add and where you add, but includes the wheelbase of the vehicle. You have to remember the front springs are always trying to lift the front of the car, therefore having the weight further back from the axle will add to the loss of steering, especially when hitting bumps. Types of vehicles were all rear wheel drive, as adding weight to the rear of a front wheel drive vehicle would have an adverse affect on both traction and steering.
As I said, everyone can come to their own conclusion as to where and how much. With around 33 years of experience driving on snow and ice I will go with what I have learned.
As for saving your back, I agree! No joy in pulling those sand bags out in the spring. I had a friend that put some 80lb. bags of concrete mix in her trunk...they all broke open. Now that was fun getting out.....