2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 3500 in snow

[MGordon]

If any 3500 owners have any tips or tricks for driving these trucks in the snow, I would appreciate you input. I've heard that driving in the snow is more difficult with dually's.

 

[Shovelhead]

Dually in the snow

From "The Back of the Rack"



Good info.



Driving in Snow

 

[WDaniels]

Actually, my 96 3500 was more stable on ice and snow than my 97 2500. Not as squirrely and more traction to boot. Just get a good set of mud and snow tires that have good siping and you'll do fine.

WD

 

[illflem]

About 800 pounds of weight in the back that won't come flying though the rear window and bean you make's a big difference.

 

[mimprevento]

Snow and Dually

Had a blast with mine during a very severe storm that came through here last January when I just got the truck. 4. 10 gear put the torque down fast so I stayed out of it and had good traction- ice is a different story. 500-1000 lbs in the back would have been better- throw in some bags of pea gravel and put them in the garden in the spring- they are 50-60 lbs each and will stay put. I also defy the critics and conquer deep NC sand with full air- duallys are supposed to be bad on the beach but mine didn't get the memo!!!

 

[EShaw]

Get yourself a game of twister and a bottle of Wesson oil and start practicing... ... ... ... . LOL

I put about 1200 Lbs. of sand in the bed and had no problems at all. I ran 45 PSI in the rears and 65 in the front.

Eric

 

[GSchlegel]

I agree, add weight to the bed. I typically carry 1,400 to 1,600 lbs. of sand bags plus tool boxes, log chain, etc. Haven't been stuck in the snow yet. (Just in case, I just bought a set of dually chains. )



Gene

 

[SOOT]

I just trade trucks with my Mom for the winter She lives in TX and does not need 4WD enough to matter.

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Just curious....

Originally posted by GSchlegel

Haven't been stuck in the snow yet. (Just in case, I just bought a set of dually chains. )

Gene, I'd be interested in some details, if you would share them on this forum/thread please... . A new law is now in place in Europe requiring all vehicles travelling on Alpine roads in winter to have snow chains with them (just in case), or else the police can send you back down the mountain . My son and I go go winter camping and snowboarding in some remote locations across Europe, so it's going to be on my Christmas list this year.



BTW, with my Rickson 19. 5 and Yokohama TY303s set-up, I have not been stuck in snow (yet!!) Other truck details in my profile, below left... . Thanks!

 

[Extreme1]

In around 3+ inches of wet snow, the rear tires argue over which side gets to follow the front tire's rut. As mentioned above, weight makes all the difference. If things really turn to poop and you have to go down the road, air the tires down a ways, 40 in the front and 20 in the back will be OK (you're in snow, they won't get hot). Be sure and air them back up when conditions improve.

 

[GSchlegel]

John,



Following a good lead from TDR and a little research on my own, I got my chains from http://www.tirechains.com . They were very helpfull and shipped promptly. I'm very satisfied with their service.



Gene

 

[InThinAir]

I run studded snows on both on my trucks in the winter because of where I live. Don't have the Dually but I would think that studded snows would help alot. What I find is that people think that if they have 4 wheel drive why would you ever need studs. I mentioned that to the tacoma that I pulled out of the ditch yesterday.



I run the coopers that are the only load range e studdable, some people think that they don't make studded snows in the correct size, they come in most normal sizes. check them out at http://www.coopertires.com/tire_cooper/ltsuv.asp?id=206



I get a couple of seasons out of a set, which is great for me. The stock michelins lasted 25K for me. I switch back to A/Ts in the summer, I figure that a set of tires that cost about $500 is the same as my deductible, so I thnk that it is like a cost of living in the mountains.



---Doug

 

[CJ Johansson]

3500 SRW

Last year I had problems with the duals, some from snow, but mostly from mud when it melted. I didn't have gravel on my "driveway" yet, and eventually, the mud got deeper than the axles - had to walk then. I just got through putting 370 yards of gravel down, so maybe I'll be able to drive this year.



Oh, back to the dually problem. The duals track on either side of the front tires, so the rut you made down to the less soft stuff with the front gets wasted on the duals, they either float on the stuff they squish into the rut, or they trade off which one gets to be in the rut. Either way, you lose a lot of traction. Traction is basically pounds per square inch. With 4 tires on the back, you have half the weight per square inch as you do with singles.



Solution: Go to your local tire store and see if they have any stock rims from a 2500 taken off a rig that someone upgraded to fancy wheels. I got a pair for $20 each. You have to get the cone shaped lug nuts instead of the flat washer ones that come on the 3500. With the dually wheels on the front and the 2500 wheels on the rears, the rears track right down the rut your front wheels make.



It may look a little weird, but it works. Oh, weight in the back is also a good thing...



-cj

 

[Pit Bull]

My solution has been to park it for the 4-5 days a year that there is any snow on the streets and drive my wifes Landcruiser with BFG AT/KO's

 

[Shovelhead]

Originally posted by Pit Bull

My solution has been to park it for the 4-5 days a year that there is any snow on the streets and drive my wifes Landcruiser with BFG AT/KO's

Wifey's 95'Cruiser is still wearin' the stock rubber.

Needs new rubber for the winter though.

What size tires did you put on, and do you have an aftermarket lift?

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Shovelhead

Wifey's 95'Cruiser is still wearin' the stock rubber.

Needs new rubber for the winter though.

What size tires did you put on, and do you have an aftermarket lift?

Mines a 95. They are 265/70/16's, no lift. All stock and it has 120K miles and runs like it's new. I think it is good for 300K easy. I've had the BFG AT/KO's on for about 30K miles and they don't even look used. I figure they will be good for 90K+. I understand that you can go to the 285's without a lift, only rubs a little on full turn over a bump. I got this from a Landcruiser web site I use to belong to with some real off road types from OZ.

 

[Speedo]

Duals and winter driving

I have done quite a bit of driving in snow and ice and without

weight on the tires it doesn't do quite as well as a single rear

tire truck. That being said I wouldn't trade a SRW for the DRW

for what I wanted it for. I use 4wd more than I would with a

SRW and I use studded tires and I use my head when I drive

and I'm aware of the limitations of my truck and I haven't had

any problems. I tow a 4 place snowmachine trailer frequently

and with no weight in the bed for ballast. Don't use CC or

an e-brake when its slick out.



Gus