Trucks and Snow

[redpoint5]

Rant-

I don't know if it's simply confirmation bias, but it snowed Christmas evening and the next day it seemed like everyone was driving trucks. My small town already has more trucks than a typical city, but it just seemed like there were even more as a percent of vehicles on the road than typical.

Trucks are the worst in snow, and we only got a couple inches, so it's not like the clearance was needed. Do people have a misconception about the capabilities of trucks and snow? There were people with mud tires sliding around and going slow, meanwhile I'm behind these people wanting to drive faster in the Mazda CX-5 with winter rated tires. I was stuck doing 20 MPH in a 55 last night behind a line of trucks.

Mom said she saw a truck trying to reverse up a hill. Finally they turned around and just drove forward up the hill. Were they thinking they had turned their truck into a front wheel drive vehicle by going in reverse, and did they think front wheel drive is somehow better?

Do people tend to drive their trucks when it snows instead of their commuter vehicles?

Do people believe trucks are more capable in the snow?

Anyhow, annoyed at all the sucky trucks sucking in the snow lately. That said, I did take the truck out when it snowed, but took country roads nobody else was on, and I did it specifically because it was more fun to drive the sucky truck in the snow, sliding around everywhere and presenting challenges climbing some hills.

[freebeard]

Whew, I thought this would be a thread about a [really] bad experience. Pick-em-ups need ballast in the rear.

[skyking]

I stay in whenever possible, but my trouble dog's steroid medicine got dumped into the dishwater and ruined. She has to have it every morning.
We called in the script and I took my wife's tiguan out, and all I could think of was " don't hit me with your stupid driving" and it was stupid trucks I was thinking of.
I have a 4wd diesel truck and I put the studded snows on it, but no way would it do better than wife's car. The only possible scenario would be pure ice.

[redpoint5]

There are scenarios where a truck will do better, like it's the only vehicle with 4x4 and you have a steep hill to climb, or you have ballast and chains on the rig, or need the clearance.

Those people in the hills might have a legitimate use for a truck in snow, but the valley dwellers see those experts driving trucks and then think that's the superior option in all cases.

Anyhow, I had fun getting loose with the truck. A downshift to 3rd caused the backend to step out, so I upshifted to D, and then N to get it back under control. I don't screw around when there's cars around me. Not anymore anyhow.

[Piotrsko]

Hmm lez see: the Golf has 3" ground clearance and gets high sided pretty much every snowfall, the ranger batteries abhor being cold, the F250 has huge gnarly treaded tires, weighs 8000 lbs, and has almost 8" clearance and a lovely set of Pewags. I have seen them eat suburu outbacks and drive home. Wonder what I should drive.......

[redpoint5]

I'll run a Subaru around any truck so long as clearance isn't the issue. Used to do that with my Legacy when my friend had a Ranger. He made his own extra beefy chains for deep snow. Mud tires are garbage in the snow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NfJbf8DHGM

[MetroMPG]

Assuming people are actually choosing to drive trucks in slippery conditions when they have the option of another vehicle with objectively better driving dynamics, my guess is because it makes them FEEL safer.

If you're gonna crash (or be crashed into) better to do it in the F150!

Similar logic that has people feeling safer driving CUV's/SUV's that have twice the rollover rate of a sedan.

It's been years since I had the pleasure of driving a RWD vehicle in the snow. Every once in a while I think it'd be fun to take the MPGiata out for a rip, but I never do. I'm slightly embarassed to admit I've rarely even swung the back end out on a gravel road in that thing.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Assuming people are actually choosing to drive trucks in slippery conditions when they have the option of another vehicle with objectively better driving dynamics, my guess is because it makes them FEEL safer.

Ding, Ding, Ding - we have a winner.

My mom is one of them. My parents have a 2010 Prius with snow tires and a 2000 Silverado 4wd. If it snows my mom insists on them taking the truck because it has 4wd. I cannot convince her that she is way better off in the Prius that has airbags all around and modern stability control. I've driven their Prius in snow and it does great while the truck is a handful.


I live near Redpoint and it has snowed several times since Christmas eve - the most recent was New Year's Eve. New Years Day my wife and I went to Stub Steward State park for a hike in the morning before I had to head into work. Wednesday I had snow tires / wheels fitted to the Bolt and today was the first time I got to try them out. Stub Steward has a moderately steep and winding road up to the picnic areas. In Oregon we do not salt so the road was plowed but had thawed a bit and refrozen with a bit for fresh snow on top. Going up was fine - a bit a tire slip. Going down was fine too - for me.

However, we hit two traffic jams caused by unprepared drivers. The first was caused by a Kia Telluride AWD on stock all-seasons that couldn't make it up the road. They had to stop and put on snow chains in the middle of the road. The second traffic jam was from a Ram 1500 that was sliding down the slope out of control with the front wheels turned full-lock to the right AND with the front brakes locked. He got stopped just barely before hitting the guard rail.

SNOW TIRES - if you live where it snows buy SNOW TIRES!

[redpoint5]

Also, decide if you're braking or steering. If you're steering and it's not working, steer less. It amazes me how people will commit to something that is clearly not working for extended periods of time (sometimes a lifetime).

[Piotrsko]

I'll add: tires dont steer or brake when they are brake locked. They have to turn. Therefore light application of brakes in the front and use the hand/parking brake. It's pretty hard to remember this during a panic on ice which you shouldn't be doing in the first place (the panic).

Forced my daughter to do the teenager skid pad training. She got really pissed at the time, but now she's unstoppable in the freezing.

I HAVE snow tires. If I really need to get somewhere, the cleated pewag chains get installed. Takes just 5 minutes. 25mph max beats waiting hours for the tow truck.