I was just wondering how you guys up north drive when it snows? It seems here in Southern Missouri when we get an inch every idiot in a four wheel drive is in the ditch. Do you think they just drive to fast thinking a 4x4 will handle it? I just recently got a 4 wheele drive and I dont want to make the same stupid mistakes.

 

Only time I used 4wd in my truck is getting up my driveway, and in fresh powder. Once I hit the highways its 2wd for me. The problem is alot of people do not respect the snow, and realize how it decreaces your traction. you also have to know how to counter act the way your skidding. When i snow drive, I try not to let my self skid, and if I do I can fix it.

The people who wind up in ditches in 1 inch of snow shouldnt be out in the snow, more of a hazzard to everybody.

 

i live in CT i am 20 now and yes people with 4wheel drive still drive like ******* in the snow up here i use to show boat till i learned my lesson and ended up in a ditch u jsut gotta know the roads your driven on and know howyour vehicle reacts in the dif types of snow and drive accordingly hope that might help

 

I agree. I drive 9 miles to work and I bet after every little bit of snow we get there are three cars in the ditch within that 9 miles.

 

Take a tow chain with you and stop and pull all the other brands out of ditches and take pictures!

As for driving.. drive just like you'd drive a 2 wheel drive truck 4 wheel drive doesn't incrase braking or handling (unless you know what you're doing and have quick hands and feet) it really only inceases your ability to accelerate.

 

You'll find about most anywhere that it's a majority of 4x4's in the ditch when it snows. Most of them don't have a clue how to drive a 4x4, thinking it makes them invinsible. You are correctly, most all of them are driving too fast, and once you lose traction, it's hard to get it back, even with 4x4. Just take it slow and steady as you would anything else. You'll be able to travel a little faster and have more traction, but KNOW YOUR LIMITS! Sometime when it snows go to a snowy parking lot and play around with it to see how the 4x4 handles and get yourself used to it.
The best advice I can give you reguarding 4x4's is to leave it in 2 wheel drive until you can't go any further, than use 4x4 to get yourself out.

 

Don't get caught doing donuts in the parking lot though, lol, cops don't like that too much for some reason..

 

I tend to put it into 4wd just because I get tired of the rear end kicking out all the time, in 4wd it is more steady and true, but have to keep the speed at the rate that is reasonable according to conditions. I have yet to put a 4wd in the ditch, but then I don't push any harder than I think is safe. With some weight on the bumper, I wouldn't need to be putting it in 4wd. i used to run 2wd's all the time, and that was my secret. I have run 2wd rear drive cars all winter and not get stuck, at least until the last storm that usually comes in April and is a real mother of a storm...
Driving according to conditions is key, over drive and expect to spend time in a ditch. To my surprise, my 83 Trans Am was the most surefooted vehicle I have run on ice, but in 2" of snow it had a hard time getting moving. Once moving it was ok, just getting going was the problem. Just have to drive with a brain in your head, and be light on the pedals and the steering, no sharp sudden moves. If the back kicks out, let off the pedal, and step in lightly. Braking is light pressure, if the wheels lock up you will be going for a ride, so stay light on the pressure, if it does lock, release and gently reapply, pumping works if you don't stomp, but I prefer steady light pressure. ABS is debatable if it is worth much on ice, it can if you don't know the best pressures as well. After a while it just becomes natural. I've run freezing rain, ice and snow for right at 20 years now, and hardly ever have problems. Always plan for extra time. I'm not woirried about my driving, it's the other idiots I watch out for.

 

I haven't ever had problems driving 2wd in the snow, but I know a lot of people that have. I was coming home from school one day, and a lady was in a 2wd SUV that could not make it up the very small, and unsteep incline out of a building by my house. In Oklahoma we don't get snow, and ice enough for people to know how to drive in it, plus, our plows don't do much. I haven't driven 4wd in the snow, and ice, but I must say, it is very good knowing I have the option. Also, I got a 2wd Ford F250 stuck in some snow, and a 4x4 dually pulled us out, without snow chains, in some deeeeeeeeeep snow.

 

If'n I was to move back to serious snow and ice country, I'd get a separate set of wheels with the best snow tires, studded if allowed, you could buy. And I'd swap 'em like a NASCAR pit stop whenever I needed to. (I already have the jack and impact wrench).

In addition, easy does it, and beware of curves etc.

I remember my dear departed grandmother talking about this fellow in the 1930's--they got in the car and there was snow. The fellow says, as he heads out, "The thing about driving in the snow is you have to keep your speed up." According to grandma, "As soon as he said that, we were in the ditch." She had a scar on her forehead from the crash.

ABS works only as well as the tires grip. My experience with it in a FWD sedan on packed snow was quite good.

 

yea I always go to parking lots when it snows. Usually at night and with my lights turned off. If the parking lot is big you can practice driving around and turning. Like someone said once you loose traction it isn't easy to get it back. Also use the brakes lightly, they'll lock up easily (mine do anyways), then you cant steer what so ever until you let off the brakes and gain control. The first winter I had my licence, I slid through a few stop signs. Basically drive slow.

 

4x4 in snow and ice is a liability. The only time it helps is straight line acceleration, any other time it is hurting you. Any time you turn, the front tires need to turn faster than the rear tires, and if they can't the truck will push straight or go into a spin. Also, if you lock up one tire, all four will lock up. Even driving a 4x4 truck, I always run it in 2wd in the snow. I do usually lock my hubs, though, so I can just shift into 4x4 if I need a little extra grunt getting off the line.

 

my 2wd 82 f100 survied through 22 iowa winters. I would pile sand bags over my rear axle, starting off in 2nd gear seemed to help with tire spin. I tride taking my 78 f250 4x4 down the road a couple of times in the snow, but with hardly a tap of the gas all 4 tires are spining and then you try to turn and she just keeps going straight, i love taking her out in my field through 3 or 4 feet of snow, thats her time to shine. the last few years my 89 f150 4x4 has been getting me around, out here i've got a couple miles of gravel roads before i get into town, i usally let her crawl in 4 low untill i hit the main roads then either 4 hi or 2wd. I always keep my old pair of tire chains in my tool box, ive never had to use them, i dont even know if there legal to use on the streets anymore.

 

Many moons ago when I was 13,14,15,+ man dad would take me to a snow/ice covered parking lot free of cars and let me practice. Speed up and panic brake, turning at various speeds. It was the best training I could get, plus it was fun as an under aged driver.
As for the snow on the road 4x4 doesn't brake or steer any better than a 2 wheel. Give yourself lots of room between vehicles. Gently test your brakes and acceleration to see what the road conditions are.
Never be in a rush give yourself extra time.

 

Snow driving/ice driving is my favorite time. I don't drive my truck much, but when it gets icy/snowy outside, I'm out all day in big vacant parking lots just spinning around.