Best traction aid? Cables or chains gets my vote.
Aint that the truth, nothing beats a good set of studded snow tires.
CK5
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best traction aid for dd snow use?
- Thread starter shady
- Start date
Aint that the truth, nothing beats a good set of studded snow tires.
TheBeast_88K5
Banned
I find big,wide tires a BIG disadvantage in snow...they tend to float on top of the snow,and will make the truck prone to sliding sideways easily...a posi of any kind will amplify this condition tenfold also...........................................My 4x4 plow trucks have no posi in the rear or front (well,perhaps a gov-lock in my '82,I have never had the diff cover off to look,and it does act like a posi sometimes,it rarely spins one rear tire)--but using "skinny" tall tires with deep tread is the secret to getting the best traction ,in my experience...I rarely have gotten stuck,when I did,it was my fault,not so much the trucks lack of positraction ..I dont really like posi's,they seem to make the vehicle very prone to sliding sideways around corners,or when taking off in a straight line on icy roads..................................................................................I agree chains beat everything else hands down,as far as gaining traction ,more than any other thing--bar lug reinforced ones are the best...up here I've had to use chains on all 4 tires more than once,in extreme blizzards!...but forget going over 30 mph for long with chains on,they tend to come apart and beat the hell out of the fenders...but with them on,you'll be about the only vehicle able to MOVE when there is a foot of snow or icy slush on the roads--and able to STOP as well...
Exactly! Chains make you go and STOP. Lockers don't help ya stop, seppin' when ya hit the ditch.
I had 38" swamper radials on my blazer back in the day, holy crap wanna talk about a poor ice road rig. I learned alot about driving that thing after one winter of that crap
I had tall skinny firestone town n countries on my 350hp 79 chevy monza
. I lived at a farm with a 3/4 mile drive, About 5% grade Up hill all the way from the house with 2 90* turns in it. Getting out for work before it was plowed would NEVER have happened without the TnC's and a good posi. It was a white knuckle, Baja style, total motor BEAT down every morning after it snowed
Loved that drive to work
. I lived at a farm with a 3/4 mile drive, About 5% grade Up hill all the way from the house with 2 90* turns in it. Getting out for work before it was plowed would NEVER have happened without the TnC's and a good posi. It was a white knuckle, Baja style, total motor BEAT down every morning after it snowed Loved that drive to work
hd44blazer
1/2 ton status
I would say Detroit Tru-Tracs, on my icy Rubicon trip this past November I was with a guy in a Toyota that had them front and rear and he was the only one to make it up a particularly nasty section without winching.
My front spool, rear detroit locker, and wide TSL's aired down to 8psi couldn't even do it.
He had I believe 35 or 37" BFG KM2's at about 15psi.
My front spool, rear detroit locker, and wide TSL's aired down to 8psi couldn't even do it.
He had I believe 35 or 37" BFG KM2's at about 15psi.
Therein lies the problem. Big wide tires with big wide aggressive tread blocks float on top of the snow. Smaller tread blocks with siping grip better on snow and ice. And thinner tires dig down to get traction and grip.
It's been common practice at Volvo when we put snow tire packages on these cars the snows were taller and thinner compared to the regular equipment tires. And that dates back to the old RWD cars of the 90s and earlier.
Skinny tires, with deep tread, soft compound, and lots of siping. Wide tires are the worst, mostly in the slushy crap because you basically start to hydroplane and lose control. Skinny tires cut through it and dig down to solid road. Pump the brakes instead of slamming, drive smart and stay back from people ahead of you is what i find the best. Ive never needed any locker and never gotten stuck in the blazer or in the 2wd 01 silverado i had. I honestly prefer a front wheel drive car for snow with good front tires. All the weight is on the front so you dont have that spinning problem when you get going. Thats why i bought da spaceship last fall 
I hate front wheel drives in the snow
Never could get used to the things. I know HOW to drive them, but they just P1$$ me off. Give me a good RWD and posi anyday(thatswhat I learned with). My main question in the OP was about the front axle, but I failed to word it right
I have never really had an issue with snow driving. Im just thinking of "if I can improve it while I'm in there"
Oh I was wrong, My taurus and my moms J2000(that I rolled) were pretty awesome at getting around in deepish snow. Turning and such was an issue But they WOULD go
Never could get used to the things. I know HOW to drive them, but they just P1$$ me off. Give me a good RWD and posi anyday(thatswhat I learned with). My main question in the OP was about the front axle, but I failed to word it right I have never really had an issue with snow driving. Im just thinking of "if I can improve it while I'm in there" Oh
I was wrong, My taurus and my moms J2000(that I rolled) were pretty awesome at getting around in deepish snow. Turning and such was an issue But they WOULD go
Sounds like to me for your application that front and rear limited slips would be the ticket. Won't stress your drivetrain too much and won't be so prone to toss you in the ditch like lockers would.
crew cabs are fun to blow
BIG donuts in . feels real wierd first few time having somthing that big swinging around . also fun to prove people wrong on the fact it WILL do it.
BIG donuts in . feels real wierd first few time having somthing that big swinging around . also fun to prove people wrong on the fact it WILL do it.
I had some 33" TSL's and a detroit in the rear on the old K5 my first winter driving. I remember the first time I made a turn in an intersection a little too quick. I didnt think a truck could spin around that fast.
The short wheelbase of the K5 doesn't help in the spin department. Once they get sideways you can be facing the wrong direction real quick. Longer wheelbase seems easier to control when kicking out sideways.
