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One thing I’ve noticed is that the rear locker doesn’t like snow. Just for fun I tried it out and it slips and spins locked. My understanding is that it’s only for low speed straight line maneuvers. 4x4 High gives a lot more control and acceleration than the locker alone. The locker really doesn’t seem to add much when already in 4x4.
The locker is great when 1 tire has a lot less traction than the other, but for general driving on snow covered roads it's not a good idea at all. When you turn, you need the tires to spin at different speeds. The locker doesn't let this happen and forces 1 tire to lose traction, which makes it easy for the other tire to loose traction. Even my Jeep with a Truetrac limited slip will spin the rear tires in the snow much faster than when it had open differentials. But if you stop with tires on different surfaces (like 1 on snow, 1 ice or 1 on snow/ice and 1 on dry pavement), the locker will work great.
Originally Posted by cheapb
true, mine did pretty well right down the road from ya in King with the stock goodyears. My oldest daughter was helping advertise for Ford.
Mine did pretty good on the stock Goodyear SR-As too. I've had it in the PA and NY mountains several times with 10+ inches of snow and never had an issue in 4x4. Currently on Duratracs and there's a noticeable improvement over the stock tires in 2wd, especially with 6+" on the ground. Overall, this truck has been the easiest and most comfortable to drive in the snow. I think a lot has to do with the auto trans (1st I've had) and the extra weight (compared to my CJ and previous Rangers).
One thing I’ve noticed is that the rear locker doesn’t like snow. Just for fun I tried it out and it slips and spins locked. My understanding is that it’s only for low speed straight line maneuvers. 4x4 High gives a lot more control and acceleration than the locker alone. The locker really doesn’t seem to add much when already in 4x4.
Running a LS rear end does make the back end more squirrelly, with both tire spinning instead of a one-wheel peel.
We had an awful Winter here in '17, having the 5th most now in the USA, only getting bested by upstate NY.
Both the pickup, and the YUKON I had to pull out last year had the same issues; All season radials that were hard as bowling *****, and they had one wheel spinning in the back, and one wheel spinning in the front.
LS differentials would have walked either of them out from where they were stuck.
Well, no offense to tire companies or rabid fans, but 4x4 makes any not-bald tire pretty decent in snow.
I would disagree. When my Cooper ST Maxx tires were new, they did "decent" at best in 4WD. I eventually got a set of winters and got a whole new world of confidence.
None here in NW GA yet. But I was in Colorado hunting last month. They had a bunch where I was. It varied, below 9000' less than 6", but above 10,000 it was closer to 10-12". The views were spectacular, but driving on dirt forest service roads with no guardrails in snow with 100-300' drops on the shoulder keeps you alert.
A shot of my 1985 F-150 in 1993 when we got 18-24" here. This photo was taken just after sunup on March 13. It snowed another 8-10" after this picture was taken.
My ranger had an LS and 4wd. 4low and the thing was a beast in snow. 4hi in second gear and it pulled like a freight train. I’m sure the duras helped tho.
12-11-2018, 09:38 AM
