2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Deep Snow

[willyslover]

pit bull. . I made a BIG ERROR to say the least LOL



my wife had recent surgery . . we took my rig to southern Calif. to visit a very sick relative prior to passing. .



well the bounce of the Dually was too much for my wife to drive home, so in my wisdom I went to the local Home Depot and bought a bunch of bagged sand [1200 lbs worth]. . well the truck was much smoother on the way home HeHe. . I left the damn things in there thinking I'll tie them down soon 'cause the ride was nice ... I had them all the way in the back of the bed for most effect for the ride

well soon didn't happen soon enough. . I took that 98. 5 rig over a cliff and those bags became a missile through the back window during the wreck. . I blew through 3 trees and the 4 one caught me [last chance before a 700 ft drop over the cliff]. . directly in front of the driver seat... . some of the bags made it to my head. . was not the best expierence I have ever had. . took 9 months before I went back to work.



Now you see why David VT and Bill say TIE THE DAMN THINGS DOWN !!!!



PS I retired early do to long term affects of the wreck. .

 

[David_VT]

Willys,

You still going with that injury story?



We know you retired early to soup up that replacement truck!!



I think I finally lost that paint chip... .







Seriously folks, it can happen to you too!

 

[Pit Bull]

Thanks illflem.



I have the 8 - 70# bags secured, but I don't think they make that much traction difference, since they are right behind the cab. I do notice that my 2002 3500 Regular cab 4x4 has better traction then my 2000 3500 Quad cab 4x4 did. I think it's because of the shorter wheel base. I will build something better for next winter since this one is about over and the wife lets me drive her Landcruiser when it snows



Willy sounds like you learned this one the hard way. What do you do now to provide safe secure traction?

 

[willyslover]

Transfer Flow fuel & tool box 54 gal and a ton of tools in it. . I weigh in at just a hair shy of 8800 lbs. with me in it. . [ I'm good for 350lbs ] now have 89 gal total fuel load



and this one has SS traction bars [before he stopped production]



much better traction with the bars and all the weight

 

[Wiredawg]

My 3500 did great!

Fellow Rammers:



My 3500 did great in 19 inches of snow today. It did even better after I took off the emergency brake. Can't believe I left it on. Left the tilt wheel up and didn't see the brake light flashing. Went about 100 ft and started going thru a drift. Truck bucked so I stopped and got out to make sure I wasn't hitting anything. Smoke was coming off rear brakes. Released the brake and and it easily went thru almost three foot drift. Truck weighs over 9,600 Lbs .



Wiredawg

 

[Gordon Maney]

What are some examples of sources for the ladder bars that several have mentioned in this thread?



As an aside, the best snow truck I have ever had (and still have) is a 1967 Dodge W300, 1 ton, single wheel truck, with a 440, fitted with 9. 00x16 tires with very coarse tread. The truck has a heavy steel flat bed, built by a paving firm, and the truck, empty, weighs 7,000 lb.



The combination of weight, weight distribution, and coarse tires, are really great. This truck would do something a lot of them won't do, which is back out of most any place where it got stuck. And it has an open differential in the rear. If this truck had lockers front and rear, it would be really savage.



For those of you not versed in the early Dodges, the 1961-1971 W300's had Dana 70's with closed Trachta joints in front, the same joints as the early Power Wagons had, so they turn really nice with the hubs locked in. The disadvantage of them over the open knuckle axles is that they don't turn as sharp. I am always amazed at how sharp my 2001 2500 will turn.

 

[willyslover]

the bars I have were made up for SteveSt... . no longer makes them up... he might give ya a way to get the parts though ??

they sure work well though

 

[phumblias]

Well,



after having driven THROUGH the NE Blizzard from Boston to New Jersey today frfom 1-6pm, all I can tell you is I am VERY IMPRESSED with the snow ability of my ETC. Other than having severe problems keeping my windshield clear due to ice forming on my wipers (anybody got a fix for this?), the truck was FLAWLESS and I drove UPHILL for about 2 miles thru well over 12" to snow w/my DDIII's. These trucks just RULE!!! HTH's

 

[Sticks]

Other than having severe problems keeping my windshield clear due to ice forming on my wipers (anybody got a fix for this?

phumblias



I have been pondering a system my old Saab had. There was actually heated air coming up between the hood and wind shield. I think this was when I had my defroster on. It's been 13 years, and I forgot the details, but I never had the ice up problem with that car.



In October I drove 130 miles on I-70 over Vail Pass and Eisenhower coming back from Moab. The Chain law was in effect the whole time, and I figured it's 10:00 at night, now is as good as time as ever to see what my new toy will do under these circumstances. No weight in the back and never put her in 4wd. Kept the speed to 45-50mph as I would have in 4wd. Not even the hint of slippage, although I watched several people experience it.



My conclusion; My particular 3500 and driving habits do excellent on treacherous roads up to 8" of fresh snow. Su@ks wind off road in snow over 12". I have yet to play in really deep (18"+) since '97. Then I had my old '82 Power Ram 150. 24" of fresh snow at 2:00 in the morning and it didn't miss a beat. Every truck I have ever owned all have one trait in common. They were scared to death of Ice and let me know it.



Sticks

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by phumblias Other than having severe problems keeping my windshield clear due to ice forming on my wipers (anybody got a fix for this?)

Check @ truck stops or in trucking magazines- someone is making electrically heated wiper blades. If I can find the information, I'll post it here for you.

 

[illflem]

Re: My 3500 did great!

Originally posted by Wiredawg

It did even better after I took off the emergency brake.

That may have been what helped you make it. Old trick is to partially engage the parking brake, fools the differential into locking both rear wheels.

Originally posted by phumblias Other than having severe problems keeping my windshield clear due to ice forming on my wipers (anybody got a fix for this?)

Prestone windshield deicer washer fluid works for me.

 

[Chipstien]

All this talk of snow has reminded me how cold it is outside in the Pacific NW. Currently a BITTER 48 degress at 9:20 at night.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

we just had several weeks of thaw. I have 2" of snow in my yard. This is the entire accumulation for the whole winter. I have a rmk that I havent even rode this winter. You guys with snow make me jealous because its gropin here. I have a couple of landcruisers that are pretty mean on the ice. With the lack of snow its been pretty good for 4wheelin.

There are now several different kinds of hakka's available. They even make ice tires for mountain bikes now. I have them on my truck and my grand prix. The car tires are better but they dont have to be rated for the weight the truck carries. They also ride great at speeds I dont want to mention. Lets just say that not many speedos read that high. Not even mine. It has dual speedos one is analog one is digital. The digital continues to read well after the analog runs out of room. If you ever get a chance go to the website and check out the different treads. They have great pictures. I believe they were originally designed for a studless country which is why they excel on ice. The tread pattern and the siping is amazing. Plus the durability is unmatched. Here I sound like a commercial but they really are the greatest thing since sliced bread. My paper route was considered "extremely hazardous". Without the tires there was more than one night that I believe that I would have bought the farm. The mountain was pretty cool though. I saw moose, porcupines, fox, wolves, spaceships,and black bears. And spawning salmon is I didnt mind a short hike. There was nary a soul most nights so I got to hone my shippin whitties. I can still astonish crowds almost nightly.

 

[wcaldwell]

For weight (just in case I need it here in central NM), I took three 8-foot 2x12s. Two of them uncut, the third cut in half. I drilled and lag-bolted them together with the two short ones spaced one on each side of the rear inner fenders. I then made 2x4 frames to place at each end of the main frame. I screwed 3/4 plywood (using 1-1/2 inch screws) to the bottom of the main frame. Before I put the 3/4 plywood top on it (again with 1-1/2 inch screws), I laid six 80-lb bags of Redi-mix in the space between the fenders; five 60-lb bags in the area immediately behind those 80-lbs bags; and then five more 60-lb bags in the area immediately ahead of those same 80-lb bags. I cut a hole in the top just behind the truck cab and ahead of the front 60-lb bags and put my black plastic tool box in the hole. I used angle braces and bolted the box to the plywood. This box will hold my tools and go-juice jugs. In the very back - just ahead of the tailgate, you can see the rear-most 60-lb bags of Redi-mix and there's enough room to put my 'get-dirty' clothes, cable-chains, and tow chain. I then fastened the whole 8-foot x 4-foot x 12-inch tall box with large, heavy turnbuckles to the bed of the truck keep it from moving. I also painted it black to match the bed liner.



My total weight - 6 80-lbs, 10 60-lbs, 2 5-gallon jugs of go-juice at 40-lbs each, plus the weight of the wood and other stuff, is right at 1200 lbs.



Taking it out is a &*()_!@#$% !!!

 

[Gordon Maney]

I think the best way to add weight would be to figure out how much you wanted and then purchase a 4' x 8' piece of HRS plate, thick enough to yield the weight you wanted, or two sheets, if you really want a lot of weight. Drill some holes in it and in your bed, then bolt it down with four or six bolts. Have a rubber cargo mat under it. In the summer you could use it as a top for an outdoor workbench.

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by phumblias
Well,

after having driven THROUGH the NE Blizzard from Boston to New Jersey today frfom 1-6pm, all I can tell you is I am VERY IMPRESSED with the snow ability of my ETC. Other than having severe problems keeping my windshield clear due to ice forming on my wipers (anybody got a fix for this?), the truck was FLAWLESS and I drove UPHILL for about 2 miles thru well over 12" to snow w/my DDIII's. These trucks just RULE!!! HTH's

After having the OEM and OEM-like wiper freeze on me up in No. IL too often, I took to using winter blades. But the driver's blade would always get blown up off the glass. But after ponderin' the problem (oh, how I did ponda'), I settled on a 17" blade on the driver's side; it stays down nicely up to about 70 or so with little headwind. A 16" might work even better.

I figured 1"-1. 5" less windscreen cleared top and bottom is much better than 100% not cleared!

Fest3er