2wd in snow????

[biggieou]

For those of you that have 2wd 1st gen's I was wondering how well they did in the snow? Do you have snow tires on, how much weight in the bed etc?? I am not driving my truck in the snow, but we are looking at a 91 D250 for my dad. The truck has a 144,000 original miles on it from the original owner. It appears he caught a pole on the passenger side of the truck. There is slighy body damage, but nothing severe. I am going to look at it tomorrow afternoon, anything you guys suggest looking for out of the ordinary? The guy is only asking $2,500 for it and it seems to be a decent looking truck.

After I look at that one tomorrow, I am going with my Dad to check out a 91 F-350 4x4 7. 3non-turbo. It only has 170K on it, but the body is in pretty rough shape. It has all new brakes and tires on it, my dad works with the guy that owns it and he's selling it for $1,200. My dad is looking for something that is dependable, good of fuel, and can haul a decent amount of weight.

 

[bmoeller]

Being in OH, I don't know that you would really want a 2wd truck in snow. I have no intentions of ever buying a 2wd truck again, largely for that reason. The Cummins is heavy, as you're aware. Throw enough weight in the back, and if it has a LSD rear-end, you might be OK.



On the Ford-



Since it is rough, I would very cautious of it. Has the guy ever bothered checking the coolant additive (SCA) levels? Somehow I doubt it. The 7. 3 IDI has liners that can have issues with cavitation erosion, if the SCA aren't kept up to spec. Also, they don't start that well in cold weather. Fresh engines aren't as bad, but that old ones can start hard, even with new glow plugs and all. Now, if that truck was in great shape, you'd probably be fine. But since it isn't,... ... ... ... ... ... ...



I've had troble with the TTB (IFS) on my Ford as well. Won't hold an alignment.



FWIW.

 

[biggieou]

Being in OH, I don't know that you would really want a 2wd truck in snow. I have no intentions of ever buying a 2wd truck again, largely for that reason. The Cummins is heavy, as you're aware. Throw enough weight in the back, and if it has a LSD rear-end, you might be OK.



On the Ford-



Since it is rough, I would very cautious of it. Has the guy ever bothered checking the coolant additive (SCA) levels? Somehow I doubt it. The 7. 3 IDI has liners that can have issues with cavitation erosion, if the SCA aren't kept up to spec. Also, they don't start that well in cold weather. Fresh engines aren't as bad, but that old ones can start hard, even with new glow plugs and all. Now, if that truck was in great shape, you'd probably be fine. But since it isn't,... ... ... ... ... ... ...



I've had troble with the TTB (IFS) on my Ford as well. Won't hold an alignment.



FWIW.

Thanks for the reply. My dad has never driven a 4wd in the snow, sometimes I just think 4x4's get you in more trouble. I was just curious as to the extreme weight of the Cummins in a 2wd. I havent driven mine in the snow, nor will I.

On the Ford, I told my dad that those 7. 3's are harder to start then the Cumaparts.

 

[pepecat]

2wd

I remember reading a post here a while back about "2wd being a placebo" and with his cummins how with an open diff, 2wd, 35 inch mudders in the back (only), and weight in the bed they could get thru any type of snow driving. Sorry I don't have the link but I'll do a quick search

 

[MeritBadge]

I've had my 93 2wd for almost five years now. Its been all over the northern half of ohio in the winters. I've had it out in a level 2 snow emergecy, going down the road doing 45 in 8" of snow. No joke. Those were my dumber days, I toned it down to a couple mph's now. The cummins keeps the front end planted and makes the truck able to plow through anything. I usually ran about 5-8 hundred pounds in the bed. bfg commerical tires nothing special its even tackled a couple snowmen



crazy... i think not

minimal sanity is a better fitting term

 

[biggieou]

Ok thanks guys, that makes me feel alot better. My dad just really needs something dependable to drive. Our 86 F250 stalled on him like 5 times on his way to work today, so he wasnt real thrilled, and his Ranger is still waiting for us to get brakes on. Plus ever since I got my Cummins he has been pea green with envy, he really likes the ole oil burner

 

[DBF]

My 92 D250 was a little squirrely in snow when I lived up north. It's a 2wd with limited-slip differential with LTX-M/S mud/snow tires.



I usually packed 500 to 800# of something in the rear of the bed and blocked it there. The truck would take off fairly well in snow. Stopping it in snow is best done very ... . gently... . as Dodge brakes are notoriously poor (they can be made to be quite good).



Sharp city corners with hard-packed snow sometimes made the truck want to plow straight ahead (I suppose due to the equal thrust on both rear wheels). Solution was to rapidly shift into Neutral and let it start rolling around the corner unpowered - then put it back in gear.



It's not much worse than an old rear-wheel-drive large car.



If the roads are icy, don't even turn it on.



DBF

 

[VicR]

Tires make a big difference. He could always get a spare pair of dedicated winter tires for the back if he wanted.



-Vic

 

[EZGZ]

I hate Four Wheel Drive.

Rides ruff

Taller to get in and out of.

Tire wear sucks.

Uses more fuel

More Maint.

Can't really stop any better than 2 wd



I wish mine was 2WD

 

[DSteimle]

he could move down here to south louisiana and wouldn't have to worry about snow at all. 200 mph wind and 20 ft of water yes, but snow no not to change the subject but you should see people try to drive down here in the snow we get once every 5 years or so :-laf

 

[Ggg]

I actually have trucks very similar to what you are talking about I have a 91 D350 DRW it is VERY heavy in the back, GVW very close to 14K it does very good in the snow because of the weight. I also have a 90 F350 4x4 IDI, the F350 does not have the infamous TTB front axle it is a straight D60, the TTB was used on F150, F250. The IDI starts just as easily as my Cummins in the winter as long as the glow plugs all work. If they do not, they are as easy as spark plugs to change on a IDI. As far as cavitation the IDI does not have cylinder liners and it is no more prone to coolant cavitation then a Cummins. The PSD is another story. But considering you are looking at a pick up and the GVW will be relatively low I would opt for the 4x4 unless you put a LOT of weight in the back. As far as 4x4 stopping any better then a 2wd of course they will not, they have the same brakes as a 2wd, but they handle and get going much better then a typical 2wd. Either truck will benefit from some real skinny snow tires for winter, I run 235/85 they are about 32" tall and only 7" wide at the tread. They cut down through the snow to pavement real well. Glad to hear your dad is wanting a diesel, no matter what brand it is.

 

[JLEONARD]

My 2wd (open diff) is a daily driver and I have not yet been stuck in Ct in the snow.

Since last winter I am running Cooper Discoverer studded snow tires and I have 8 cement blocks in the bed for weight. This has been working very well, and I will replace with studded tires again when these wear out.

No... it's not a 4 wd, but yes, I can get to work every day and get around fine as long as I tickle the throttle. . after all that 15. 6 hp at the rear wheels can spin those studded tires like nothing.



As said I like the softer ride and better handling of the 2wd... . and if I have to take it reeeeaal easy a few days a year it is a worthwhile trade off IMHO.

Hope this helps.

Jay

 

[biggieou]

Well I went and looked at the Cummins today. It is a very very nice truck. No rust whatsoever on it, it was heavily and I mean heavily undercoated. If it wasnt for the body damage on the passenger side, it would cost alot more. The Ford that I was telling you guys about is pretty rusted out from what the owner told my dad. Apparently the bed is shot and we dont need another junker!

We have always ran snow tires on seperate rims for all of our trucks, and we have a set from our F250 that we would put on. I told my dad about the truck and he seems really excited about it. Only problem is I was thinking how good will this look, two Ford guys driving stinky Dodges, I might never hear the end of it

 

[rlyons]

Once you go Dodge you will never go back! :-laf

 

[biggieou]

Once you go Dodge you will never go back! :-laf

Yeah I feel like Annakin Skywalker, its like going to the dark side. Although I am not fully there, I still prefer a Ford truck over a Dodge truck, but seeing how Ford doesnt offer a Cummins(in a light duty truck) I will be driving a Dodge for the foreseeable future

 

[bmoeller]

Thanks for the reply. My dad has never driven a 4wd in the snow, sometimes I just think 4x4's get you in more trouble. I was just curious as to the extreme weight of the Cummins in a 2wd. I havent driven mine in the snow, nor will I.

My dad used to drive 2wd Dodge and Ford (both gassers). Always had troble in the snow. He never had enough weight in the rear or LSD rear-end, though.



I don't use 4wd much, even with a dually, but do in places where it is slick to get moving from a stop. Light snow isn't bad, its the hard packed stuff or ice that is generally the problem. Have driven in 6-8" of fluff without using 4wd.

 

[johncameron]

I'm on my 6th winter in Quebec Canada and it is all in the tires. I use BLIZZAC W965 235/85/16 WINTER tires and they make the difference between life and death! I tried my first winter with Micheline LTX all season tires and I mide it until January before I bought my winters. 2WD CTD trucks can be driven in the winter with a little caution. Just don't drive DOWN into a driveway!!!!! You will NEVER be able to back out.



BTW, I keep 2, yes 2 sets of traction aid's in the box just in case.



John

 

[Headshot zod]

Last year was my first winter in 13 years w/o some sort of 4wd/awd. I managed to get stuck/start sliding sideways (towards my neighbors fence) in my driveway a number of times in wet icy snow. Especially after it refroze. And when the local plow trucks plow your driveway back in after you'll shovelled you'll get stuck if your not driving fast enough through it.



Now I bought the 2wd because its what I wanted. But I'll tell you I'll have my '74 Ramcharger back on the road soon with a gasser just to get through the winter. Check my pics and you'll that my driveway isn't very threatning. Its just not very wide and on a slight tilt.



2wd gets you in while 4wd gets you out

 

[mysteryman]

its a ford thing

Don''t worry , It takes time to get over the ford thing... It will be alright after a little time... . It is perfectly normal to experience growing pains when moving up in the world... One day you will look back and wonder what you ever saw in those economy engineered fords..... Besides that Dodge trucks have a very elite cult like following..... It is said that once you have had a dodge then nothing

else will do. You can never go back once you have had the very best. LOL

Good luck... .

Yeah I feel like Annakin Skywalker, its like going to the dark side. Although I am not fully there, I still prefer a Ford truck over a Dodge truck, but seeing how Ford doesnt offer a Cummins(in a light duty truck) I will be driving a Dodge for the foreseeable future

 

[JLEONARD]

stuck/start sliding sideways (towards my neighbors fence) in my driveway a number of times in wet icy snow. Especially after it refroze

Studded snows solve that predicament



Just be careful of those sparky burnouts if you're haulin' around that WVO... . :-laf

Jay