As stated, trucks are poorly balanced, a big problem on ice. 4 wd with v8 and front differentials are worse. If you must, lots of traction sand in bed to balance the truck as much as possible, studs and/or winter tires if possible. Balance in a vehical without abs, or traction control etc is critical. I used lots of weight then drive in 2 wd to purposly keep my speed down and used 4wd only when necessary for start up/ hills etc. Also, when in 4 wd, if you let up on the gas and use engine breaking, you can go into a skid on ice, in 2 wd you can clutch and free wheel and pump brakes to maintain steerage…unless you have abs again. It takes skill to drive on ice that must be practiced, and trucks are miserable and unforgiving.
I bet he’s left for work already…
Call in sick and go out and have some fun! Driving through snow banks! Donuts! Rooster tails! Just make sure you can’t hit anyone when you get yer ya-yas out.
Whatcha mean he can’t do it?! I did it with a FWD Rabbit 30 years ago. Surely a 4WD pickup can be just as much fun!
Thanks for the advice.
I did leave for work and made it fine. I live in Iowa and we had 2 ice storms in the last couple of weeks and the truck has driven great in 4wd and 2wd on the ice. I don’t have any sand or weight in the back just ice that has accumulated. I know alot more about 4wd now than I did before. Thanks!
Caddyman has some good points there. On ice it is possible for 4WD to make things worse. It may help if you are stuck, but the man is right on ice it should not be active.
Snow is different. Normally on snow you can get away with it, but there is still the chance of it making things worse.
Thanks Caddy for correcting me.
The help of 4wd and better AWD systems(eg full time like Subaru/Audi) in stopping occurs since the engine torque can slow the vehicle my simply letting the accelerator go. Brakes work too on all systems but the main issue is if extremely slippery leads to ABS on or brakes locking up which both give poor braking performance. Letting the accelerator go on slippery stuff in a FWD or 2WD be what pleasedodgevan describes.
I hear all the time AWD/4wd does not help braking but the statement is really not true in 4wd or full time AWD systems. When I say full time I mean torque to wheels at all times not after the slip is detected AWD systems that are too late. I have 20 years winter experience with a mainly 4wd and Subaru AWD and a two FWD’s on poorly treated/maintained roads my first 10 years.
I drove ok through the Ice rain coming West on I-74 till I reached Bloomington on my Mustang 05 GT. Granted I had some weight in the back but thats still considered a very bad car for these conditions, but I had no choice. However I took it easy slowed down on curves, and if an idiot tried tailgating me, I just pulled over on the shoulder and let them go. At bloomington things got really nasty and I followed a salt truck to the nearest lodging exit. I saw about 4 vehicles all in different states of destruction along the Highway all Pickup Trucks. Only car I saw in a ditch was a civic. Poor guy must have been trying to overtake someone. Given a choice, I would stay home and have a cuppa Java.