I dont know how you all drive in snow and ice

titanium10k · December 22, 2004

I live in florida and have never seen snow or driven in it. Well me and my wife decide to go on a little trip over the weekend. We go to her friends house in franklin nc, just south of the smokey mountains. Well then we start to head into the mountains, towards gatlinburg, and the roads start to turn to ice. Well its hilly up there and my truck couldnt even make it up the hills without spinning and ending up in the ditch. I dont have 4wheel drive but i do have the locker and that didnt help at all. Had to get pulled out by another truck,its snowing like crazy and im looking like a jacka** from florida ....i couldnt even make it up the hill to our hotel. I had no idea how slippery snow/ice is....i now know why i live in florida. So how do you all do it???I mean it probably only snowed about 2" but it was the worst driving experience i have ever had.....I never go up there again unless its with four wheel drive...............

builderpaul · December 22, 2004

You answered your own question.

4 wheel drive would be the best but driver experiance is just as importantant.

First you are driving a difficult vehicle for a novice ice driver. The locker makes it more difficult to control, since both the rear tires are spining, but you also have twice the traction. You need to add lots of weight to the back and be real soft on the pedals. (egg between your foot and the pedel) and smooth with the steering. Turn off the stereo and pay attention to the engine sounds so you can correct your sliding before you get out of control. Once these heavy trucks start to slide they get out of control real quick. You need to carry chains for the real bad times.

You need to carry tow straps and a shovel because sometimes you just aren't going to make it.

I am from upstate NY with a 2500HD 4x4 with a plow and 40 years driving expereance and sometimes I will need to call my buddy with the tow truck. You can only go as far as the guy stuck in front of you.

titanium10k · December 22, 2004

well thats the thing the front wheel drive vehicles and suvs were making it no prob but i got on this one hill going up and at an angle and i could even take off with the a%% end sliding down the hill sideways. And I have read before on here about the noise abs makes buth i have never heard it ...well after I got turned around and heading down everyones going like 1 mph and the roads were icy and the abs is groaning and the brake peddle was pulsing...it sucked!!!!!

the blur · December 22, 2004

I learned to drive in the snow and ice at 16yo. I went into a large parking lot, and threw the car around on the ice. even today at 40yo, I will find a parking lot and do 180's, 360's, etc, and slide my Denali all over the parking lot.

I know exactly what the stability system in my Denali will do, and what it can't do, and how far it is able to correct me.

some call it childish, some call it recklessness, but I call it a learning experience. I have never wrecked or driven into a ditch in the snow.

I watch the unexperienced lock there brakes and slide off the road.

I watch morons drive there 4 wheel drive truck in 2 wheel drive cause they don't know how to select 4 wheel in when needed.

most of the incidents are "operator error"

crowne · December 22, 2004

Your tires make a big difference to.

tryn2lrn · December 22, 2004

"Welcome to the party pal".....Just kidding, it really takes practice, I agree with the blur, you have to test the limits of whatever you are driving so you know AHEAD of time what's going to happen when things get tricky. It's no fun learning how the truck will handle as the trees get closer.

JCedar · December 22, 2004

Yeah you just get used to it after a few times, some people in Upper Michigan still don't understand how to drive in the snow. First snow fall there is always accidents, then it slows down after the third or fourth storm. Good luck, try putting some sand bags in the back of your truck to weight it down!

Shaners · December 22, 2004

Ice is much harder to drive on than snow...

You have to take your time and pick your path when the weather gets bad!!!

I've been driving 4x4's since the late 80's up North, and for years and years I would never engage the 4wd until the last minute (dumbass). Now when the roads get slick, the truck goes into 4wd immediately unless I want to do a few powerslides...

carguru · December 22, 2004

That storm missed us here. I've been itchin' to try out the new BFG's.

You probably picked the absolute worse way/worse vehicle to learn to drive in snow and ice. If it was just snow, taking it easy would get you around most places. Just go slowly and look far ahead for trouble. Ice is a completely different animal. Even 4x4 won't help much once you start slipping. Trust me, I got caught in pure ice in 4hi, couldn't slow down on a slight incline, sliding backwards through an intersection back in February of this year after an ice storm here. Luckily there was no traffic. If you ever get caught up in that stuff again in a 2wd/rwd, get about 300 lbs of weight over the rear axle (sand or rocks). This should help you get some traction. And if you ever lose traction completely in the forward direction, turn that bad boy around and go up hills in reverse (if safe to do so)--essentially giving you a fwd vehicle.

Also, remember, if you are out in the stuff, even if you trust your own driving, there are so many idiots out there that haven't a clue. Those are the ones you have to watch out for.

eshoremd · December 22, 2004

try driving a tractor trailer with no load in the snow and ice

HillHound · December 22, 2004

Experience is the most important factor in my opinion. I've lived in northern WV all my life and have been at it since I started driving 22 yrs ago. I've slid off the road a few times when I first started but no major accidents.

Also, 4wd is a real big plus but.....you have to know how to use it. It's easy to get overconfident with it's capabilities and lose control. My truck's 4wd allows me to go up steep icy hills easily and take turns with less chance of slidinf ogg the road but you still have to remember it won't stop any faster than any other vehicle.

I love my pickup for driving in deep snow but I prefer a little front-WD car like my Vibe for just driving on ice. It has a lower center of gravity and does great as long as the snow is not real deep.

Two years ago we had a 26" snowfall in about 36 hours and my F250 was great! When you get alot of deep snow that falls too fast for the road crews to clear you can't beat a heavy 4wd fullsize pickup or SUV. The mini-pickups like Rangers, Tacomas and S10s along ith the small SUVs and AWD Subarus etc were rendered useless.

In the morning when I left for work I drove through a snow drift going down a paved hill that was deep enough that I had snow rolling up onto my hood! That's the worst I'd ever seen it and I didn't have any trouble-just drove slow and kept my distance from other trucks (no cars on the road that day).

Also, I highly agree with Carguru. Some weight in the bed will help a 2wd pickup alot. It will even help the handling of a 4wd on slick roads. I know a few guys with 2wd pickups that get around ok in the snow. They put about 500lbs of bagged sand in the bed and put on a good set of snow tires for the winter months and along with knowing how to drive they get around. My neighbor has a 2wd Ranger and he uses chains on the rear wheels alot.

PELICAN · December 22, 2004

I have lived mainly in either Louisiana or Texas except for a few years that I was in Germany(where I learned to drive on snow and ice). Grant it we usually only get ice and snow for a couple of days and it is usually not that much but I put 200 pounds of sand and kitty liter over the rear axle and drive with the radio off and windows cracked. so far I have not ended in a ditch. I have gotten stuck on ice once becuase the guy in front stop on a incline to make a u-turn and was not able get going again. There was a group of guys parked on the side of the road with several bags of kitty liter and rock salt and was helping people that got stuck.(weird way to spend a friday night but it was appreciated) Now that I have said that, this will be the year I run into a ditch.

potz1999 · December 22, 2004

I learned to drive in the snow and ice at 16yo. I went into a large parking lot, and threw the car around on the ice. even today at 40yo, I will find a parking lot and do 180's, 360's, etc, and slide my Denali all over the parking lot.

I know exactly what the stability system in my Denali will do, and what it can't do, and how far it is able to correct me.

some call it childish, some call it recklessness, but I call it a learning experience. I have never wrecked or driven into a ditch in the snow.

I watch the unexperienced lock there brakes and slide off the road.

I watch morons drive there 4 wheel drive truck in 2 wheel drive cause they don't know how to select 4 wheel in when needed.

most of the incidents are "operator error"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I totally agree with 'the blur'. The best drivers in any situation (snow, ice, dry and sunny days, etc) know the capabilities of their vehicles and how they will react in a given situation. I got my driver lisence in January 8 years ago, and walked out of the DMV in the snow to my Hurst/Olds. No ABS, no traction control, just a big V8 up front and rear wheel drive. Much different than driving a brand new 4x4 Explorer. Know your vehicle, and practice how to get it out of a bad situation. Some people think 4WD is the answer to every bad road conditionl, but you still have to know how to drive.

ronterry · December 22, 2004

I think everybody is hinting that it's more the man, and not the machine

Personally I've spent more time on snow and ice in my '81 Camaro here Denver.

I've only taken my Vette on BAD condition a few times, and that was more or less trying to get home and not voluntarily going out. OK once

BTW: I've only had 4x4 for 6 month, and man it helps you get going on ice and the added weight sure helps.

sjspor · December 22, 2004

One thing everyone here is missing is "Snow Tires", those nice soft rubber tires with big grooves filled with little grippers. If you were trying to go in snow or ice with the OEM Goodyear glazed donuts, think how good they are in the rain?? I Drive a 2 wheel drive in the snow here in NY, no, I'm am not going to make it on an unplowed dirt driveway. But if there is a road under me and it's been driven on, I'm good with weight in the back and snows. If your on ice, your done. Park it and wait for the salt. But a 4WD is not much better, it may get you moving, but the story with control and stopping on ice is the same.

The best thing to do in the snow is go slow and easy and leave lots of "oh crap" room.