Better Winter Traction, what do you do?

[oktex88]

Well with all this ice here I decided to test out my 4x2 Titan on the ice. As with ALL trucks they really don't as good as suvs or cars do in the snow. I was driving and started to slide into a curb with a yield sign on it and I thought I was gonna hit the yield sign but I stopped just in time. I wanted to know what yall do to help your traction. Do any of yall put some bags of sand or something in the back.. and if so how much? Suggestions please!

[Mustard]

I put six bags of 60lb tube sand in between my rear wheel wells. Sticks to the road now. Last year I put them around the inside of bed not blocking the tailgate. Worked great also, I as just lazy this year.

[skycruiser]

I started out with six bags of 60lb sand in the bed, but added two more when this ice storm made its way through KS. Today I ended up driving about 45 miles on snow-packed icy roads, and had little problem at all. Never even put it in 4x4.

[fredjeep]

After the recent snow/ice storm that dumped 13" of snow topped off with 3" of ice, I found my self struggling to get out of my driveway/neighborhood. I was the first to try to leave the neighborhood so I became the
"Ice Breaker". I had to lower the tire pressure from 35 psi. to about 18 psi. to get my lifted and locked Jeep to get any kind of traction on the ice.

This was the first time I had to do anything special in the snow. As I have struggled to explain to my buddies and co-workers (it made me 30 late to work) that "I was not stuck...I was temporarily detained".

[MikeDeuce]

Are the CCs any better in snow, in terms of weight distribution? Looks like there's more of the cab close to the rear axle.

[joekrz]

Buy a 4x4. Works every time.

[avroflyer]

We had ice and snow in Memphis over Christmas (believe it or not) and you would not believe how well my 4X2 handled (with the VDC and ABLS). I decided to experiment and took it to a totally empty parking lot (no lot lights ) that was neatly covered in an inch of pure ice and a light topping of snow. I aimed the truck straight and gunned it and sure enough the VDC kept the nose going straight. Then I hit the brakes and yeah, it slid (ice ya know) but it stayed straight and eventually slowed. I accelerated again and then cut the wheel left and then right and wow, it straightened itself.

Of course, that fun was no excuse to go fast on the roads like the other idiots out there who think 4 wheel drive means drive on anything. Geez those people ticked me off. Hello, its ICE, not slush! I will say this though, last year Memphis got some snow so I tried my Frontier in 4 wheel drive (not that it was really required) and it was squirrelier (?) than the Titan with the traction controls RWD only. Unscientific comparison of course!

[Khamburg]

When I lived in the midwest we always used firewood of the above mentioned sand in the back and just kept it even with the back tires. An added use of sand is that if you do get stuck you can dig out the tires and dump some sand in front and behind the tires to get some added traction. Firewood works good too because you can wedge it under the back tires for the same added traction to get out of the hole that you may have dug yourself into. Oh the memories of snow and ice. Can't say that I miss it.

[Quad T]

The single most important thing is good snow and ice tires, but if snow and ice are not a big part of your driving and you are on a more generalized all-season tire, extra weight is the next best thing. You want this weight secured in the bed so it does not slide around, and positioned right over the rear axial.

As an FYI I have just under 500 pounds in/on my 4x4 Hardbody and run all-terrain tires, the weight is a combination of sand bags and a fiberglass cap.

[juma]

if you only have intermittant snow and ice, I suggest bridgestone revo's and 6 bags of tubesand. those revo's are rated way high in snow and perform comparable to an unstudded snow tire. plus they are apparently good traction in any weather. I was gonna get some dedicated snows but I think I'll wait till next fall and get revo's. juma

[akangl]

We've had horrible roads this winter, some of the worst I've ever seen in Alaska. My Titan is by far the BEST winter vehicle I've ever had. Yes its 4WD but its rare I put it in, its always run in 2WD, even around town or on the highway with 6 inches of unplowed snow. I have no weight at all in the bed, BUT I do run Bridgestone Winter Duelers and I think that's the trick, the truck is amazing on the roads. I've never had a 4x4 that I was comfortable driving on bad roads in 2WD until we got the Titan.

[CrimsonCarnivore]

MikeDeuce,

I've not had too many issues with my Crew Cab in the snow. Chicago got socked last night, and I only used 4hi when I thought I MIGHT need the extra oomph, like on an incline. Otherwise, she did fine. I think the longer, heavier cab makes a difference, although I can't compare to the KC because I don't have one...

CC

[logicjunky]

I have had my K/C in anything from the inch of ice and 2 inches of snow from yesterday to today to over 8 inches of snow back in November. I have not added any extra weight to it nor used 4X4 except when I had some front end slip and couldn't get out of a freakin' parking lot. So, other than that 30 second episode it handles like a dream in bad weather. The extra weight wouldn't hurt over the rear axle but given the 'beefy' weight of the Titan, I wouldn't sweat it too much.

[vector6]

just remember...
the more weight you add to gain traction... is the same amount of extra weight you need to try and stop !

[Quad T]

Originally Posted by juma

if you only have intermittant snow and ice, I suggest bridgestone revo's and 6 bags of tubesand. those revo's are rated way high in snow and perform comparable to an unstudded snow tire. plus they are apparently good traction in any weather.

Lucky! Sounds like you have 17" wheels not 18"...