Yea im thinkin bout gettin an 04 hemi Ram right now.... 2wd is a lot cheaper for me. I work close and dont really go any where that requies 4x4.... I was just wonderin from peoples like yous experience w a 2wd truck in the winter and snow here. When i was 16 to 18 i drove my 87 350 GTA in the winter w 250 lbs in the back and it sucked very bad....

Thx a lot

 

honestly, if you have good tires(read, good tread and fairly skinny), throw about 200-300 pounds of sand in the back, just inside the tailgate, I never had trouble, and my boss never does, he's driven a truck year round for the past 7 years

 

my truck has an open rear and ive only gotten stuck once [in the past two years] and it was my own fault (playing in the snow asking for trouble ) If I wouldve had a posi, i wouldve had no problem. Weight in the back is a must.

 

Mine drives like a go-kart on an iced over lake, i'll be investing in snow tires this year i think.

 

I had a '98 S-10 4x2 that was horrible in the snow. Even with sand it was bad. I would get in parking lots of places. I hated it.

However, I have a '98 F-150 now. That is also 4x2. I was very worried about it in the snow, as I knew my S-10 was bad. I really wanted a 4x4, but I needed a truck badly, so my dad sold me his. I really didn't have a choice in picking what I wanted.

Anyways, the Ford is good - Much Much beter then the S-10. I have so-so tires on it (I plan on getting some betters before this winter) and I put about 600 lbs of sand in the back (it's a long bed).

So, with the cap, full tank of gas, I would say I had about 650-700 lbs in the back. It's very good in the winter. No 4x4, but that's alright. I have to go slow from a stop, but after that, it's alright.

I have a bed liner in mine, so I put some 4x4s in it to break up the bed into 3rds. I put sand behind the cab and over the axles. I wouldn't suggest putting any by the rear gate as it may get a bit squirley not having any weight over the wheels.

Also, if you live close to work, I wouldn't worry about it. Get some sand, some nice tires and keep your payment lower and save on gas.

HTH

 

You guys mention using sand... Have you ever thought of packing the bed with snow? Especially if its a beater truck or even something newer with a bedliner... Snow weighs a lot, and packing the whole bed works excellent. Then you don't have to worry about taking it out either, it just melts when it gets warm

 

I use sand, so if you do end up getting stuck, you can take some out and put it under the wheels for extra traction

 

My old 94z with snow tires and 160lbs of salt in the back was better than my 94 dakota 3.9 with a lot of weight in the back....snow tires would help, but i work with guys who have the 4 wheel drive hemi truck and still have fun(as in no fun) in the winter....that truck is putting down a lot of power for two wheels to handle in the winter....but a lot of it is tires because it's not like i've got a surplus of power in the dakota! i've never gotten stuck in anything, it's the acceleration and steadiness i look for. and with braking, if it's slick it doen't matter what you're driving.....

 

One year I put 4 Bridgestone Blizzaks on the Z and with no weight in the back it was almost the best winter car I ever drove. I even pulled a small car out of the ditch once(wasn't in very far). I say it's all in the tires. Invest in a very good set and you can do no wrong. Weight in the bed always helps as well. My buddy had a 500lb chunk of flat steel that we cut in the shape of his bed to go around the wheel wells. It'd take 4 of us to get it in but at only about 1 inch thick he still had full use of the bed if needed. He often hauled his snowmobile around in the back. Then he'd just have one or two milk crates full of sand and/or salt thrown back there just in case he needed em. Never did as far as I know.

 

thats what I usually do. When you are shoveling the drive just toss it right in the bed. I usually added a little water and made it a little Icy. Works like a charm and its free. People used to ask what I do when it is melted. I just shook my head and laughed. When I had my F150 I got a good set of snow tires for the rear and it made a huge difference. A posi helps too. you just have to know the limits. DONT EVER DRIVE ON SNOW COVERED GRASS!!!!!!!!!!!! keep it on the pavement and you should be fine

 

my 2500 diesel ram is just fine in the snow...however it's alot heavier then the hemi.

 

Get the right tires, some weight in back, and you're good to go. Just take it easy

 

i absolutely refuse to add weight to the back of my trucks and only use 2wd's. i also buy blizzak's and have lockers in them. when i need weight is when it snows alot. snow will build up in the back of the bed. always great in the snow for me, no 4x4's here.