Winter Sminter

[Swingpure]

Last year I could not wait to take pictures of the Ranger in the snow, I struggled with how much weight to put into the back of the Ranger and tried to force the Ranger in 2 wheel drive up my icy steep driveway. It was my first winter driving a truck in 25 years and I was apprehensive about winter driving.

This year, yawn. No weight in the back and the truck drives fine 99% of the time, just like summer. For my steep driveway, I just drop it into 2nd and go up like summer. If it is particularly icy, I throw it into 4x4.

Only once this year did the back end slipped out on me unexpectedly, on some hidden black ice and it quickly came back under control.

Winter is no big deal this year. Now I do not drive crazy during winter and drive according to the conditions, so that helps.

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[D Fresh]

Last year I could not wait to take pictures of the Ranger in the snow, I struggled with how weight to put into the back of the Ranger and tried to force the Ranger in 2 wheel drive up my icy steep driveway. It was my first winter driving a truck in 25 years and I was apprehensive about winter driving.

This year, yawn. No weight in the back and the truck drives fine 99% of the time, just like summer. For my steep driveway, I just drop it into 2nd and go up Like summer. If it is particularly icy, I throw it into 4x4.

Only once his year did the back end slipped out on me unexpectedly, on some hidden black ice and it quickly came back under control.

Winter is no big deal this year. Now I do not drive crazy during winter and drive according to the conditions, so that helps.

The more I drive my truck in the slick stuff the more and more I trust it in 2wd.

The traction control/AdanceTrac works wonders with the only problem being the torque as you're accelerating away from a stop. Manually starting out in 2nd is good fix for this.

I don't use any extra weight, but I have the advantage of 4wd at the ready if needed.

 

[Fawnbuster]

I’m gonna take out my 2 bags of gravel tomorrow and see how I like it. You talked me into it.

Rutro ?

 

[Marpater]

Not that I am complaining but here in SE Michigan we have had squat for snow this year, thus far. I am sure that next month will bring its fare share but nothing as of yet.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I’m gonna take out my 2 bags of gravel tomorrow and see how I like it. You talked me into it.

And Gary lives in rural northern Ontario, Canada - usually plenty of snow and a lot of roads that don’t get plowed right away. Knows what he’s talking about. ?

 

[Fawnbuster]

I used to stock up on water softener salt and keep it over my axle, don't have one yet at this house, trying to figure out what to put in for weight this year that wont be a storage problem the rest of the year.

I always told my shift to not go below a half a tank of gas before filling up, we needed all the traction we could get in the south end of the county, lots of hills

 

[TheDo114]

Only difference between weight and no weight in the back is when accelerating on a slippery surface.

 

[TheDo114]

and that’s what I put it there for… but 4WD at stops could fix that.

Yeah I just feather the throttle, so I don't have to constantly switch between 2H and 4H. Also no weight in the back means I get to stop faster.

 

[got3fords]

In central Va. we have had 3 snow events so far. 2 that required me to plow my driveway. Could get by without plowing most of the time if I didn't have a steep driveway. Still getting used to the handling vs. the previous F150 but must say it is much more maneuverable. I have some firewood in the rear to help, just like I did in the F150. A lot of winter still to go, but tired of snow already. I maybe plowed once last year.

 

[got3fords]

Yeah I just feather the throttle, so I don't have to constantly switch between 2H and 4H. Also no weight in the back means I get to stop faster.

While I don't live in Ca., I don't see why anybody would have to "constantly switch between 2H and 4H." You mean like over a winter or over a half hour commute? I can see switching here and there as needed but constantly?

 

[got3fords]

Do you live in a city? I can’t stand being “that guy” making people behind me wait… some of our lights are so short, taking too long really pisses people off (myself included). Anchorage traffic signals are the worst.

Not sure who you are replying to, but my plowing only involves a fairly short driveway that I push across the main road. I also do my neighbors short driveways also. No real traffic involved.

 

[TheDo114]

Do you live in a city? I can’t stand being “that guy” making people behind me wait… some of our lights are so short, taking too long really pisses people off (myself included). Anchorage traffic signals are the worst.

Yeah I do, but so many people drive truck around here that it's kinda normal? I have to say that the traffic lights are pretty long where I am.

 

[TheDo114]

While I don't live in Ca., I don't see why anybody would have to "constantly switch between 2H and 4H." You mean like over a winter or over a half hour commute? I can see switching here and there as needed but constantly?

I mean over the commute everyday, if I did it every time I stop, I would do it 20+ times a day for a couple days, while were waiting for all the streets to be cleaned up.

 

[got3fords]

I mean over the commute everyday, if I did it every time I stop, I would do it 20+ times a day for a couple days, while were waiting for all the streets to be cleaned up.

Pardon my misunderstanding, but you would switch from 2 to 4 every time you stop? If there is snow on the road, why not just leave it 4 unless on very cleared road? My last post snow commute was mostly 2WD but there was stretch of about 2 miles or so that was hit or miss snow and ice so I just left in in 4WD until I got to better cleared roadway.

 

[TheDo114]

Pardon my misunderstanding, but you would switch from 2 to 4 every time you stop? If there is snow on the road, why not just leave it 4 unless on very cleared road? My last post snow commute was mostly 2WD but there was stretch of about 2 miles or so that was hit or miss snow and ice so I just left in in 4WD until I got to better cleared roadway.

During a storm I usually leave it in 4WD. The days after, the roads are usually back to asphalt except at stops where people tend to slide/skid and thus create ice. The city truck then start putting salt everywhere and we are usually good... except when it's so cold like right now. The salt doesn't work and the ice stays.

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