Took the truck our for a spin a few minutes ago just to make sure the radiator I put in yesterday wasn't going to have any leaks or issues. It's in the teens here (feels like -6) and snowing like a fiend, well I can tell you two things.

1) The new radiator (which doesn't leak) helps the truck warm up faster and for some reason makes the heater work a lot better than before.

2) An Aussie in the rear and almost slick tires makes for some interesting starts on ice. That back end was all over the place, damn glad I've got a couple hundred pounds of camping gear in the back or my little 4runner might have been stuck on flat ground. *laugh*

 

And you wonder why in snow belts we rec against using them in the front.

For this reason is why I haven't made up my mind or not if I wanna go lunchbox or just an LSD.

 

I hear ya, I'm leaning toward the LSD myself. Do more driving in the snow than crawling with a wheel lifted.

 

My official opinion on the matter is this, for snow and/or ice you want:

1. Traction tires, or tires with chains preferably, or atleast studs. You'll go plenty far in 2WD if you meet that requirement.

2. 4WD

3. Open diffs front and rear.

In that order.

 

Mudhippy I agree with that. I'm ordering new tires this week (Tread Wrights) and going to get them sipped if I can find a place that will do it.

 

100% agreement with MudHippy.. I was thinkin bout putting some lunch box lockers in the back of my truck too... but we have had a lot of snow and ice here recently and teaching my 16 year old how to drive a stick.. She does not need the added difficulty of getting use to the quirks of lockers too.

 

That's the truth. A lunch box locker takes some getting used to, especially around corners. On the snow and ice it would be that much more difficult and you don't want a new driver to feel any more pressure than is already there. X2 if they are learning to drive a stick shift. Although once she learns it, and since you live in Colorado, she'll be wheeling in no time..... then the locker can go in.

 

lol... not in this life time took me almost 20 years to get the truck I wanted you think I will let her wheel in it...

Well now that I think about it ... yeah she probably will.... hehe.

 

I'll give you one of my favorite phrases, customized for you.

"Give your daughter a Toyota and she'll wheel for a day, teach her Toyota and she'll wheel for a lifetime".

 

It's funny though on the road as a DD LSD or open open is the "right" thing to do, but if your doing any type of snow wheeling, well, you aren't gonna get very far with open open.

 

Yeah, seems like an LSD would be superior to open/open in the snow. Haven't had a real one myself though, so I can't base that on experience.

 

This is another reason selectables are king.

Turn them off and they're open, duh.

Now get on ice in 4WD and spin the tires. One front and one rear will spin, but it's the two stationary tires that will act like a friction brake that'll hold you in place that's the major benefit.


If I wanted pocket lockers, I'd get them... I would not let the 1% a year my truck see's ice stop me. Then I'd think real hard about swapping chunks in the winter, or just dealing with it.

You can prolly air way down and it take some of the snap out. But the problem with that is sliding into something on ice, and popping the bead...

 

Dang if that isn't the truth. I've run open/open on a DD/trail rig and did great in the snow/ice on the road and terrible in the snow/ice on the trail. Ran that one when it was locked/open on the road and it was a pain but better on the trail. The current one is locked/locked and it is a pain on the road but great on the trail. I guess the best bet would be some rather expensive selectable lockers (ARB) but I could never afford those.

 

someday...probably when I retire I will have a high Pinion ARB upfront...

 

In what? That Trekker??? Heck that thing is a tank already what are you worried about?

 

Anyone with a lunchbox in the rear ever have it ratchet while braking in the snow, is that normal?

 

Why didnt you just use 4wd, Junkers?

 

Didn't want to get out and lock in the 4x4 and look like the locals that lock in the front end on these 1 ton GMC's and get into the ditch when they hit the skinny pedal. For some reason they think that 38's and 4x4 make them immune to ice...... I'd rather learn to drive on the ice.

 

Ratchet while braking? No but it does talk to you once in a while.

 

Thats how it is here, too! 90% of the people in the ditch are 4x4 SUVs and trucks, 50% of those are lifted. The other 10% are usually dipwads in a ricer.
Anyways. Nothing wrong with using 4x4. I have my hubs locked 8-9 months out of the year usually. We get some nasty ice here.