Disappointing in snow

[JThiessen]

AKsmoker - I got my chains at Costco. They arent the heavy duty types, but I only intend to use them if I need to get out of a bad place... If I need chains to get there, I dont need to be there!

Also, if you have Les Schwaab up there, they have good chains, and should fit you tires.



I've had the "opportunity" to run in 4WD constantly for the last 6 days while visiting my parents in eastern MT. Just before the snow hit last Friday, we got rain which has frozen into a 1/4-1/2" thick ice layer on ALL the roads. Even the gravel roads are extremely slick with ice.

Of all the Fords dad has, my Dodge has been the one everyone wants to take to town. ITs been very stable and predictable on the ice, and basically average in the snow. We're going out for some late night jack rabbit/coyote hunting tonight so I'll have a better idea of how it does in the deeper snow.

 

[Blakers]

This truck is as good as my 95 was in snow. The only time I had wheel hop was driving through some packed drifts about 3 feet deep in November. It started hopping a little. It could be the tires too. I've got the Rugged Trails, which are not too bad in the snow, but I'd rather have the BFG ATs.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

JThiessen, when you come home you'll have plenty of snow to drive through. It's dumping pretty good here in the Tri Cities, we have a good 8-9" now. Haven't had more than an inch in several years. You'll probably have snow every mile of the way, I think Seattle even has snow.



Vaughn

 

[Dean Upson]

No complaints about mine in the snow either in 2wd or 4wd. The AA ls and the electronic x-fer case are wonderful for me, at least.



Dean

 

[StephenThomas]

No snow here, but I did get in some mud the other day and the truck handle great. Like Dean above, I really like the electric x-fer "dial a drive". The BFG ATs did better than I expected. I sure hated seeing my baby get muddy though



Happy New Year all

 

[JHardwick]

I'm not sure how to insert a thread link, but here goes an attempt ... ... ... .....











thread I started

 

[BSkinner]

Re: See previous post

Originally posted by Grayhackle

This is my third attempt to post a pic of truck with snow!

BFG tires might be the difference? I had already brushed the snow from the hood before I remembered to get a pic.

Hey, Grayhackle, send some of that snow over to the east side of the Bighorns. Western Wyoming is getting plenty of snow but we're not. We need the moisture so we'll have happy trout (and ranchers) next summer.



Fellow fly fisher Bob

 

[smartineau]

For my dually I am able to use the old chains off my otherbrand gasser.



Security WS1507 these are a chain type but not the big huge heavy true truck type chain. This is not a straight 'crosslink' type chain.



Laclede 2021LTS this is a cable chain that was the only thing that was available, about 12 years ago when the state of Oregon said to go on this road you need 4wd and chains or you can't go.



In the snow my dually can go but I need the 4wd sooner and longer than the old gasser. I was able to spin my rear end in 2wd at will in 5th gear going 40-50 mph. the great thing was that the truck slid about 6 inches left and then went straight.



I also found a nice parking lot and tried out the exhaust brake on the snow. The rear end lost traction but I kept going straight. I will still leave the e-brake off when on the road.



I also noticed that without the e-brake stopping this 8,000 pounds of truck takes a whole lot more time.



steve

 

[Grayhackle]

Snow-snow-snow

Hey Bob--We got 6 more inches early this morning and expected to snow most of tomorrow!! Wish we could send it on!



CTD doing great, no need for 4wd yet. LSD doing a great job!



Bill James

 

[JThiessen]

Vaughn:

Yeah, it looks fairly crappy all the way across. My Banks system didnt get deliverd yesterday (due to weather), so I'm putting off my return trip until next Tuesday. (I think Boeing can handle a few more days without me!) We're looking at highs in the -10's for the next couple days, then highs in the -20's next week. My hometown school cancelled the Basketball games last night - something I dont remember ever happening when I grew up.



When we ordered 4WD, and the Limited slip, is the front axel a limited slip also??



One thing I've noticed is that when in 4WD, and driving on partly dry/partly ice, the truck does get a little squirley. Not as bad as some of the older 4WD's I've driven, but you still need to concentrate on what your truck is doing. Another thing is that the 4 Wheel discs dont hold up when your doing quit a bit of deep snow driving and its too cold for the snow/ice to melt off the brakes. Thought I was going to go through my parents garage door when I got back from town yesterday.

 

[Grayhackle]

For the 03 model year, limited slip in rear only. Know nothing about 04 and I ain't going looking!





Bill

 

[DocDetonancour]

stuck truck..brake ?

I had my 04 stuck with a snow machine trailer hooked up. When I finally got moving again the "brake " lights were lit on the dash? This lasted thru 3 starts and about 60 miles for driving and then the lights went out. Didn't notice any adverse braking? Thanks, Doc

 

[SBuck]

I spend a lot of time in the snow and have not noticed any wheelhop at all- this truck is awesome compared to my 01 Dually. I have Pro Comps that are studded and siped and I think that really helps as well.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

From Dec 18th through today, Jan 4th I've put 1900 miles on my 04. Most of this on packed snow and ice.



Dec 18: Bozeman to Moran. 1 hour layover at Island Park while a chevy pickup was removed from the rear end of at tractor trailer. Snow pack and ice.



Dec 19: return Moran to Bozeman.



Dec 25: Bozeman to Billings. Snowing and snow packed Bozeman to Livingston.



Dec 27: Billings to Bozeman. I90 closed at Reed Point, took frontage road. I90 closed at Big Timber 1. 5 hrs. Two grey hound buses off interstate (one on its side). 4 wrecks involving multiple tractor trailers and cars, I90 blocked. 10 vehicles off the road in the snow barrow pit. Got home and shoveled three feet of snow off lee side of garage roof.



Jan 3: Bozeman to Idaho Falls. Reynolds Pass closed, Idaho 32 closed keep driving, Idaho 33 closed keep driving, Hwy 26 from Idaho Falls to Alpine closed. Turn around and spend the night at Idaho Falls.



Jan 4: snow pack and ice from Idaho Falls to Moran.



I am impressed by how the truck handles on snow pack and ice. Very little slipping. I think the weight, long wheel base, new steering, and brand new tires are responsible for a very stable vehicle. Thank God!



I am definately impressed by the LSD. Driving around on the unplowed Bozeman streets and on the ice is a pleasure with none to very little spinning at take off. I probably have around 700 lbs in the box.



Plus the smooth ride on the Gen 3s is sweet. Hope it isn't going to be spongy with a load.

 

[DMyran]

I love it!!!

I live in Belgrade MT which is 8 miles from Bozeman MT. I make weekly trips to Big Sky and W. Yellowstone MT. I have driven all over MT and WY these last two weeks and i have noticed a few things about my 03' I would like to share. First of all anyone running stock tires should immediatly get rid of them and put on a set of Goodyear MT/R in size i have on mine. They then need to be siped for better traction. Stock michelins were quite the ride on ice and snow and you couldnt go anywhere with them. My opinion is they are completely useless. I pull a tandem dually flatbed up to Big Sky and the yellowstone mountain club and they are at elevtions of 7000' to 10,000' and all it does is snow there.

the goodyears perform flawlessly there. All i need is four wheel drive and it goes anywhere i want. I have pulled the trailer without chains through over 18" unplowed snow and havent been stuck yet. i have to have chains for DOT reasons and for my own reason, safety. i have a set that have the ice teeth on them and they are awesome. they go on in five minutes and get superb traction. i purchased them at my interwest tire store which does all my commercial tire work for all my rigs at work. As far as snow goes, the ski mountain located 15 miles from town got more than 100" of snow since christmas and i hvae been up there and it is amazing in town we have recieved more than 18" since then and it is about -5 below, have never plugged in truck yet and have started it as low as -18 below a while back and have had absolutely no problems. i am 100% satisfied with my rig and look forward to see if i can get ahold of a 325/600 04. 5 as soon as possible. sorry for the long length but i had alot that i wanted to say. If anybody has any questions please let me know.





Dane Myran

 

[DMyran]

forgot!!!

snow and ice traciton is amazing, drove through same roads as ol traildog and saw many of the vehicles of the road and were driving 45, i drove 75 which is what i am accustomed to and have never driven off the road in my life and had no problems

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

DMyran I have the stock Michelins on my truck. If I had any idea we were going to have a winter like this I would've gotten traction tires for the back at least. 8 out of 10 winters here snow tires are a waste of $$. But now that I've had 2-3 days with a lot of driving around town in 12" of snow I think I'll be OK. I haven't gotten stuck yet.



JThiessen it's getting cold here too, supposed to get down to 0, it hasn't been below 0 here for 8 years! Seattle area got some snow today, we're really getting an old-fashioned winter. Have a safe trip home.



Vaughn

 

[JThiessen]

OlTrailDog: Man - you get around! Brings back memories of my college days in Bozeman. We used to run those same roads in these conditions in a 2WD Vega wagon..... I think my arms still ache from the steering wheel death grip!



Just got work that the Banks exhaust is in town. So it looks like we'll be packing up and heading west tomorrow (with a cooler FULL of "happy" angus beef!!!).

 

[realsquash]

I've had the opportunity to drive my 4x4 QC in the snow only a couple times since I bought it. I think it handles the snow just great, even in two wheel drive.



One thing that people often overlook is tire pressure. Especially on a 2 wheel drive truck, I would check on rear pressure. Often 30 lbs is plenty to just cruise around on the street with and it can be very helpful in the snow.



Andy

 

[luna]

I have stock michelins on my truck and it won't go anywhere in 8-10 inches of wet snow, steering is very bad, when you turn the wheel it just goes all over the place. bad wheel hop ft. & rear. I am extremly dissapointed with this truck compaired to my 98.