Replies

1. 
   Bing187 | Nov 04, 2009 05:29am | #1

   I think you'll have two tires spinning 'stedda one....:)

   Seriously? Might be a slight improvement. Don't think you'd see a significant dif in mileage. I don't think you'd find the expense of swapping the rear would be worth it though, personally.

   Best improvements for a two wheel drive van? Tall, skinny snow tires that dig in, concentrate more weight in a smaller area. Weight added to the rear, over the rear end. Chains, if it's practical for where you live, etc.

   Seems like half the probs I see w/ people driving in the snow has more to do with the people than the vehicle. (not directing this at you). A little common sense/ practice in the snow goes a long way.

   Good luck

   Bing

1. 
   Sphere | Nov 04, 2009 03:09pm | #3

   What gets me is seeing all the morons in SUV's and UTE's doing 70 mph in the snow on I-75.

   They don't realize 4wd doesn't also mean 4wheelSTOP.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

   View Image

1. 
   Bing187 | Nov 05, 2009 07:08am | #9

   Yup.

   All the big suv's do is get ya goin faster, and give a false sense of security til it's time to stop..............

   I've been on the highway in a snowstorm in a fire truck, lights a-goin, doing 30 cause it's slick as .... on my way to an accident, and had people in Suburbans, pickups, all type of 4wd blow by me.

   I've almost gotten to the point where I don't get mad anymore, I just figure it's job security.

   But sometimes I still do...:)

   Bing

2. 
   danski0224 | Nov 04, 2009 02:26pm | #2

   OEM positraction is from a set of friction plates in the differential. They wear out over time... quicker if significantly different tire diameters happen to end up on the rear end (say worn out tire on one side and new spare on the other). If the clutches are glazed but not shot, driving in a tight figure 8 pattern can renew the friction surface.

   A differential based on a Detroit locker doesn't have friction clutches in it. It engages/disengages more noticeably than a friction setup.

   An ARB Air Locker lets you lock/unlock both drive wheels with the flip of a switch.

   There are other variations of posi diffs out there.

   If you are on a road with a lot of crown, the posi will allow the rear end to follow the crown when there is no traction because both wheels are spinning. That said, I had a Chevy Astro with a factory posi rear and that thing never got stuck... nor did I have any issues with road crown. Could have been the 300# of shelving (empty weight) full of stuff, too.

   I had an 87 Ford F250 with an open diff. A ladder rack and side boxes provided some weight. I also had Michelin LTX AT tires on it, and never got stuck. I considered a Detroit Locker, but never had the extra funds I wanted to spend on it.

   My suggestion would be LT rated snow tires, followed by some ballast over the drive wheel.

3. 
   Henley | Nov 04, 2009 03:36pm | #4

   I'm not sure how much cash I would spend on it but, it
   would be a significant improvement.

   To be honest I think the abundance of 4wheel these days has
   more to do with marketing then anything else.

   There was a time most everyone had posi on there truck and
   got around just fine.

   Some ballast over the axle, good tires, and posi is a good
   winter set up.

1. 
   frammer52 | Nov 04, 2009 06:50pm | #7

   My dad still won't buy 4 wheel drive.  79yrs old and loves the posi!

4. 
   dpbellus | Nov 04, 2009 04:36pm | #5

   I had a truck with snow traction problems. I bought a Powertrax and was very happy. Look up their website, and read up on them. I would recommend them to anyone.

5. 
   Dam_inspector | Nov 04, 2009 05:54pm | #6

   Rig up grit dispensers above the tires. Be like a locomotive.

6. 
   frenchy | Nov 04, 2009 07:13pm | #8

   Posi is both good and bad.. you know about the good but the bad can be dangerous..  If the road is icy instead of snowy  the posi can lock and unlock which will make steering extremely risky. I've seen more than a few vehicles with posi plow straight ahead at the corners because both tires are driving it forward more than the front wheels can grip..

     My Corvettes were equiped with posi and  it was positively lethal.  The clutch plates are more gentle than the locker type. However, in the right conditions either one can cause problems..

     The best solution for traction in snow conditions are Blizzak tires by Bridgestone. (I'm not a big Bridgestone fan)  and if they are legal in your state studded tires.. or tire chains.. If you know what you're doing you can put tire chains on in 5 minutes or less.

7. 
   popawheelie | Nov 05, 2009 08:25am | #10

   Around here people run studded tires. But it may be illegal where you are.

   "There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."
   Will Rogers
8. 
   baartman | Nov 05, 2009 05:32pm | #11

   My brother, an appliance repair guy, parrallel parked his fullsize 2wd van (new 08 GM) on a cold winter day. The rear tire happened to end up on a 2sqft patch of ice. Peg-legged wheel spun on the ice, all three other tires on dry pavement. He needed a tow.

1. 
   frenchy | Nov 05, 2009 08:35pm | #12

   A differant driving technique would have gotten him out.. Spinning a tire on ice causes the ice to melt into a lubricant which causes zero traction..  The trick here is to minimise drag (keep the steering wheel straight forward) and ease into the throttle.. Now modern vehicles with their fuel injection idle too fast so you need to drag down the speed of the tire.  Step on the parking brake and slowly ease off it.. The last thing you want to do is give it the gun..

     What you want to do is the same as if you were standing on an ice rink.. If you try a quick start it's a sure way to a quick fall.  You start gently and build up speed slowly. 

     That's what Yankees do 6 months of the year!

1. 
   baartman | Nov 05, 2009 09:54pm | #13

   Yea, that sounds about right.

    

   However, I remember him telling me he left it in drive, got out, and watched his tire spin slowly! I think it was -25C or someting.

   Edited 11/5/2009 1:54 pm ET by baartman

2. 
   Karl | Nov 06, 2009 08:41pm | #16

   An old guy once told me to put on the parking brake if one wheel spinning has got you stuck. The idea being that the motor will overcome the resistance of the parking brake easily and the added friction on the spinning side of the differential will transfer some of the torque to the non spinning side that has some traction.I'm not totally convinced it has gotten me unstuck where other methods would have failed but it sounds like a good candidate if you have one wheel spinning on a patch of ice and are about to call for a tow.Karl

1. 
   frenchy | Nov 07, 2009 12:24am | #18

   Karl exactly 

     too much wheel speed is what causes the ice to melt and provide the lubricant which makes getting moving impossible..

    Modern cars fuel injection has the engine speed too high for traction from a dead stop situation.. by slightly applying the parking brake you're both add drag to the spinning wheel and transfering torque to the off side wheel which will assit you getting out..

     The other thing is turning the steering wheel to the straight ahead position. You'd be surprised at how much turning the wheel before hand will keep you stuck..

3. 
   frammer52 | Nov 06, 2009 10:23pm | #17

   what does baseball have to do with this??>G<

2. 
   try50772 | Nov 06, 2009 06:39am | #14

   The 2 Ft of Ice made an #### out of me one day, bought a lock right locker the next week and had no problems since. Loved the true two wheel drive, and the cost was real fair and an easy install. http://www.richmondgear.com/powertrax/lockright.html

1. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Nov 07, 2009 04:39am | #24

   i went through  there website,looks pretty interesting. couldn't find a price. what did yours cost? installed or diy?the older i get ,

   the more people tick me off

1. 
   try50772 | Nov 07, 2009 05:28pm | #25

   DIY,Pretty simple on the GM 10 Bolt I put it in, pop axles free of c clips and remove spider gears wiggle everything out and wiggle the new innards back into the carrier. Took a couple of easy hours, if you do basic maintenance like brakes shouldn't be too hard. Like any axle work, the worst part is the gear oil stench.

9. 
   piker | Nov 06, 2009 04:52pm | #15

   I have a 2004 Ford Ranger FX4 Level II. It came with a Torsen limited slip rear differential as standard equipment. Same rear differential as used in the H3 Hummer. Apparently it is a time-tested, very reliable differential. Not sure but think I read that 20% slippage on 1 wheel causes lock-up. I have used the truck a fair bit hauling firewood, fishing, hunting, canoeing, etc. Generally, in 2wd, in rough drier conditions it works good. In slimey mud & icey, snowy conditions (no weight in the back) it is definitely a help but find when it locks up it will always want to corkscrew the rear of the truck sideways - ie the rear swings to the right (shoulder of the road). It has happened a few times on the highway in heavy snow storms while climbing a hill - kinda suprises the heck out of me if I'm not expecting it! Of course, in 4wd the truck is a tank & will go anywhere. I love it.

10. 
    USAnigel | Nov 07, 2009 01:41am | #19

    Did this with a F150 pickup, all it would do is spin both rear wheels! Biggest improvement came with the right tires.

    Truck had Goodyears from new and they were horrid with any kind of damp surface! Best to date (170k miles) Continental tires. Long life and will not spin in the wet.

1. 
   frenchy | Nov 07, 2009 02:40am | #20

   Try Blizzaks!!  far superior! (and I'm no fan of Bridgestone)

1. 
   Henley | Nov 07, 2009 02:43am | #21

   I've had Blizzacks and Michelin X-ice. The Blizzacks have a slightly more aggressive tread, so they are better
   in deep snow. While the X-ice grip much better in most every other condition and are quieter. So, choose your weapon...

1. 
   frenchy | Nov 07, 2009 03:42am | #22

   We had a set of Michelin X-ice and found they wear out much faster and don't have the same traction in snow. 

1. 
   Henley | Nov 07, 2009 03:52am | #23

   Nope. Deep snow the Blizzacks, every thing else X-ice. they both wear out way to fast.