What to expect, when expecting?

[DeviousK5]

NO, not a thread for all you new parents that read that book.

Im talking about snow here

It started snowing here on friday night and well into saturday night it only dropped a total of maybe 5-6". But it got me thinking....

The last time i had my K5 in the snow was last year, with last years setup:Still 10bolts with a trutrac out back and some 33"BFG A/T's
It didnt do all too bad surprisingly.

Over spring i changed the flavor a bit: 60/14 with a detriot out back,same suspension:shackle flipped,63's and 9"shackle/RC 6"up front with sway disco's. And i threw on a set of 37"hummer take offs

I would imagine i will have a handfull to deal with on the (snowy)road after all of this, as those 37"s aren't a soft compound and the detriot is, well a detriot .

Ill pony up and get a quality set of chains this weekend, but aside from that...

Anyone from snowy places have sound driving advice/tips to keep me on the road ,and out of the ditch?

Greatly appreciated.

 

[4X4HIGH]

While I don't live in the snow country I am smart enough to realize that you CANNOT drive in snow like you would on dry pavement so take it slow and steady. I do like to go to Reno and Tahoe once in awhile in the winter time but having detroits at both ends has stopped me from doing that. At some point i'm going to remove the front detroit in favor of an ARB selectable locker. I can drive with the detroit out back without any issues on any pavement so i'm not worried about the rear being locked.

 

[K85 Octane]

aside from the horrible vibrations and such
would u chain front tires on a 4x4? If you're only doing one pair.

some reason I say no, but seems better cause they are powered AND steering

 

[manchildau65]

narrower tires are your friend... detroit is a dual edge sword, take it easy around corners and you'll be fine. Not sure about the HMMV tires... if I were you I'd throw some skinnies on it.

(we used to go get half treads from the local shop for dirt cheap, run em' the winter and then smoke them off in the spring ... I love the "redneck" looks you get with a lift and tiny tires too! makes my wife real proud! HA!)

 

[blazinzuk]

I don't think the tires will do as well as your old ones.

But having a detriot (even in the front) is not that big of a deal if you are used to it.

If you are not used to it, well at least it will help get you out of the snowbank you just drove into.

I would have no problem locking front and rear (cause I have) of whatever I was driving in the winter time.

 

[DeviousK5]

aside from the horrible vibrations and such
would u chain front tires on a 4x4? If you're only doing one pair.

some reason I say no, but seems better cause they are powered AND steering

I cant say that i know. My first inclination would be to put a pair up front and see how they'll do.

Manchild: the 37's are only 12.5 wide iirc. How much skinnier can a guy reasonably get?

My main concearn is how the locker will behave going into turns and will it actually unlock or if its going to be a slideways type of affair.

Blazinuk:Will adding a locker to the front counteract any of the spool like effects going on in the rear when on the snow/ice?

Ive driven in the snow with atleast 6 other vehicles and know what to expect out of the roads just not out of the locker.

I suppose in a few short weeks ill start the "How not to be a pussy Vol.1" thread after i just get in and drive the beast

 

[dhcomp]

The detroit will give you the most trouble if you throttle through turns.

Lift off the gas before turning, and you will be in better shape.

Also, take it out to a parking lot, and play with it. No better way to learn how it will react when you mash the throttle, turn with your foot in the gas, let off gas mid turn, etc.

 

[tRustyK5]

It's more about not making any abrupt changes in either throttle or brake. Just lifting the throttle before a turn can cause the rears to not quite lock up, but drag enough to get the back end a bit sideways. If you're coming off the gas, do it slowly...same deal with getting on the brakes...do it slowly. Steering input is the same thing...gentle is the rule for all of it.

I try to avoid coming to a complete stop, so i always scan much farther ahead than I do in normal weather. That allows me to coast to stops, time lights, etc

It also really depends on what kind of snow you're driving on. Wet snow is the worst, it compresses and turns to ice under the tires. It's by far the hardest to drive in. Powder is fun, and you can actually get some bite. Slush is a bastard if its deep enough, it'll pull you all over the place.

Rene

 

[K85 Octane]

was my question that dumb?
or does no one use chains on a 4x4? Here they are still required when going to the slopes.

 

[rjfguitar]

was my question that dumb?
or does no one use chains on a 4x4? Here they are still required when going to the slopes.

Shouldn't be if you have 4x4 and snow tires. Only 2x4's and anything pulling a trailer have to chain up.

 

[dhcomp]

Shouldn't be if you have 4x4 and snow tires. Only 2x4's and anything pulling a trailer have to chain up.

Must most states REQUIRE you to carry chains, 4x4 or not. They don't' always check, but it is a requirement.

 

[lectric80]

was my question that dumb?
or does no one use chains on a 4x4? Here they are still required when going to the slopes.

Nope not a dumb question, and really the only times I have chained in a 4x4 were on the deer hunts, and we only chained the fronts. The front axle has the most weight on it, does the steering, as well as being under power when in 4x4 mode. Seemed to dig a lot better than others that were running chains on the rear only, far better control.

As for chains, as dhcomp said, most states still require the chains to be available even on 4x4's.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

You might as well turn in your CK5 man card.
Well, maybe not, as you are one of those with real-world knowledge about K5s... but that's the only saving grace...

What is this now - the kinder, gentler CK5?

Made my day

It's more about not making any abrupt changes in either throttle or brake. Just lifting the throttle before a turn can cause the rears to not quite lock up, but drag enough to get the back end a bit sideways. If you're coming off the gas, do it slowly...same deal with getting on the brakes...do it slowly. Steering input is the same thing...gentle is the rule for all of it.

I try to avoid coming to a complete stop, so i always scan much farther ahead than I do in normal weather. That allows me to coast to stops, time lights, etc

It also really depends on what kind of snow you're driving on. Wet snow is the worst, it compresses and turns to ice under the tires. It's by far the hardest to drive in. Powder is fun, and you can actually get some bite. Slush is a bastard if its deep enough, it'll pull you all over the place.

Rene

All of this is great advice. I daily drove my truck for years with Detroits front and rear, I almost never used 4WD because I so rarely needed it even here with CO winters. I usually left the hubs locked in but in 2WD, simply shifted into 4WD when I needed it.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Made my day



All of this is great advice. I daily drove my truck for years with Detroits front and rear, I almost never used 4WD because I so rarely needed it even here with CO winters. I usually left the hubs locked in but in 2WD, simply shifted into 4WD when I needed it.

I'm assuming you drove in snow while being locked in 4wd with detroits front and rear? How did it react? I know on dry pavement you CANNOT turn for crap with detroits front and rear while in 4wd and I would assume that being in snow would just make the truck unpredictable.

 

[tRustyK5]

He says he pretty much stayed in 2WD and only shifted to 4WD when needed. Although my old 81 Jimmy wasn't locked up front I did pretty much the same. With a detroit in the rear it did quite well in 2WD except for the slickest of areas where I needed to start from a dead stop. I'd pull it into 4 hi to get going, then bump it back to 2hi shortly after. I would think the truck would tend to 'plow' in any sort of a turn with a front Detroit and in 4WD. Of course in snow it wouldn't be the end of the world to only lock one front hub. It's a very forgiving surface.

2 years ago we had a crazy winter here for snow. It was here for almost a month, and the amount we had was ridiculous. At the 'worst' of it there was almost 30" in the yard. It was the only year since '96 that we also did not have at least one 4WD. I managed just fine with my '83 C1500 pick-up on 235 75 all seasons. Not even a gov lock to help out a little. I won't lie and say I never got stuck (I had to dig two or three times) but I pretty much went wherever I wanted with it. 4WD makes it easy, but you can get it done in 2WD in all but the most extreme conditions.

Weight over the drive tires helps a lot too. I had 350 lbs of ballast up against the tailgate. I never went anywhere without a small snow shovel and a steel square nosed shovel. Bags of playground sand are good 'ballast', and they can double as a traction aid in case of a stuck.

Rene

 

[4X4HIGH]

Basically i'm just wanting to know if snow and detroits in both ends is a bad idea as I think it is. Even if the t-case is in 2wd but the front hubs are locked the truck will still want to go straight when the wheels are turned because of being locked at both ends. If the rear was open and the front locked I don't see any issues. Maybe i've got it all wrong.

 

[tRustyK5]

Generally speaking you'll probably hate it in the snow. With both hubs locked it will tend to push through a corner. I'd only lock one hub if I were you, i really don't think you're going to hurt the Detroit doing that in the snow with some conservative driving.

Even open up front, a 4WD tends to push through a turn in the snow...especially if you add power. It's why having chains up front helps more. The only reason I'd throw my 'V' bar chains on the rear is I won't have to worry about the chains getting into the sheet metal like I would up front.

It's a lot like soft sand or slick mud with a bottom...without the clean-up later.

Rene

 

[4X4HIGH]

Generally speaking you'll probably hate it in the snow. With both hubs locked it will tend to push through a corner. I'd only lock one hub if I were you, i really don't think you're going to hurt the Detroit doing that in the snow with some conservative driving.

Even open up front, a 4WD tends to push through a turn in the snow...especially if you add power. It's why having chains up front helps more. The only reason I'd throw my 'V' bar chains on the rear is I won't have to worry about the chains getting into the sheet metal like I would up front.

It's a lot like soft sand or slick mud with a bottom...without the clean-up later.

Rene

This is why i'm considering removing the front detroit in favor of an ARB selectable locker (I like the detroit best for it's durability). I know leaving one hub unlocked won't hurt the detroit BUT it could easily explode the hub that's locked since it would see ALL of the forces rather than half if both hubs were locked.

 

[tRustyK5]

True enough on the hub seeing all the force instead of half...

I guess it really depends on if you're wheeling in snow then I'd agree it is a concern and the ARB would be much better. If you are just on snowy streets it won't ever be an issue.

Rene

 

[Blue85]

You might as well turn in your CK5 man card.

Personally, I see nothing wimpy about making a truck work better and be safer on the road. It's not like he's putting on BFG Long-trails and open diff or swapping in IFS to improve the ride. An ARB is like a spool when locked, which is arguably more hard-core than a Detroit.