My truck hates snow.

"Tohru" (tohrurokuno) 11/25/2014 at 13:10 • Filed to: None

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So, last night I drove to the far south side of Madison in the truck to meet a lady. It was snowing quite a lot, and the truck did not appreciate this one bit. The rear tires break loose if you look at the gas pedal. This makes for easy hooning, but not-so-great driving.

This morning, I stopped by Menards and picked up 350lbs. of sand to toss in the bed just ahead of the rear axle. It did... absolutely nothing. Still drifts the ass end out at the slightest provocation.

Yes, I realize Cooper Cobras aren't winter tires. No, I don't let trivial bullshit like that stop me. (EDIT: The truck isn't meant to be a winter vehicle, winter just showed up before Project $300 was ready to go.)

Pros: Fantastic heater, makes short work of plow-generated snowbanks.
Cons: Blows snowflakes out the vents until the heat kicks in, wags the ass end around like a horny prom date.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:13

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You should put the 350lb behind the rear axle. That way you'll have better grip right up until it breaks loose, and then it'll 911 the ass end into a tree like a LEGEND.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:13

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This is one of the reasons I love my school. People don't get that while a 4x4 truck is one of the best things you can have in snow, a 2x4 truck is one of the worst things you can have in snow. So come winter, the RWDs won't go. Oh, and the 4x4s still don't understand braking and weight distribution, so they can't stop/spin out constantly.

CB > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:16

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"... wags the ass end around like a horny prom date."

I laughed. Why not switch to winter tires? Or store even more things in the back of your truck?

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:20

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Why don't you just buy some winter tyres?

Tohru > CB 11/25/2014 at 13:20

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Shit man, I don't have the money for buying new tires like that. Plus, this little bastard runs 205-65-14's.

I might throw the topper back on it - that'd add another couple hundred pounds at the expense of making it look terrible.

Once Project $300 is running (gotta get a used ECU for it today), it has better(?) rubber and the TinyTohruTruck will be parked for the winter.

Thunderface > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:21

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Sounds like fun

BigBlock440 > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:23

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I always wondered how Cooper Cobras were in the snow, I've got a set on my Charger. It stays parked for the winter though, so I have yet to find out.

Tohru > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 11/25/2014 at 13:24

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Because I live in the US, we don't sell tyres here. We only sell tires.

I also have a winter car that will be taking the truck's place soon. Winter just showed up before the car was ready.

Pixel > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:24

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Build a framework with 2x4s and get the weight directly over the axle. One board in front of the wheel wells and one behind with 2-3 boards lengthwise between to tie them together.

Did that with a former girlfriends S10, changed it from undrivable to pretty stable.

Tohru > Pixel 11/25/2014 at 13:26

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The bags are just ahead of center in between the wheel wells. 5 bags fit perfectly between the tubs. They don't slide around.

I've thought about putting more bags, but she does have some frame rust and I don't want to overstress it.

CB > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:27

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Put Project $300 in the back for added weight.

Pixel > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:27

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Huh. I'd say try moving them further back and see if that helps. If it doesn't it sounds like you're going to need a tire upgrade.

Tohru > BigBlock440 11/25/2014 at 13:28

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1st gear: wheelspin
2nd gear: wheelspin, finally some forward movement, hangs the ass end out almost on command.
3rd gear: still wheelspin, but mostly forward movement. Still hangs it out if you want.
4th & 5th gear: finally traction

reverse: acts like 3rd gear without the oversteer.

Tohru > Thunderface 11/25/2014 at 13:29

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not at 55 on the Interstate.

deekster_caddy > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:29

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Seriously, snow tires will do a lot more than bags of sand in the back. It's much much more than a night and day difference. Even cheap, crappy, used snow tires will be better than anything else. All you need is two!!!

Sweet Trav > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:30

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Build a box directly over your rear axle, use the wheel wells in the bed to frame, put the weight there.

Second, Yes cooper cobras are quite possibly the worst all season tire ever for the snow. My advice is snow tires on the rear, anything cheap on the front. the exact recipe worked brilliantly in my S-10.

Takuro Spirit > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:32

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I drove around with a free-found-roadside lawnmower in the back of the Camry for weight last night.

Did I do it right?

Tohru > CB 11/25/2014 at 13:32

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2700 pounds of beaten Pontiac should give it some traction.

Tohru > Pixel 11/25/2014 at 13:33

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The truck isn't my winter vehicle. Winter just showed up before the true winter vehicle was ready.

shop-teacher > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:34

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Winter tires would fix that, and make the truck a LOT of fun, but reading the comments I see why you're not going to buy them.

Tohru > Sweet Trav 11/25/2014 at 13:35

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It was already supposed to be parked for the winter. Project $300 is just taking too long.

Tohru > shop-teacher 11/25/2014 at 13:36

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Right. The other car is going to be the winter beater. Once it's done.

Tohru > Takuro Spirit 11/25/2014 at 13:37

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um.... yeah.... that'll *totally* put weight over the drive wheels... in your Camry... *pages security*

Tohru > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 11/25/2014 at 13:38

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#2fast2soon, bro

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:39

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Ahh, so the winter car's got the winter tIres. Makes sense :)

Tohru > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 11/25/2014 at 13:40

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Trust me, I understand a 4x2 (4 wheels, 2 driven - a 2x4 is a board not a vehicle) truck is rubbish in the snow. I don't really have a choice right now though. Fortunately, being a Wisconsin resident not only was I born fully-formed with a beard I was also born with the innate ability to drive RWD in the snow like a boss.

Tohru > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 11/25/2014 at 13:43

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We-elll.... the winter car has brand-new Fuzions on it. Close enough?

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 13:46

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Sure. I'd prefer some proper winter tyres though, but I guess there's more snow and ice here. :)

BigBlock440 > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 14:08

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I figured they'd be somewhat decent because they have a fairly aggressive tread pattern, and deep when new, but I guess maybe not as good as I was hoping.

Tohru > BigBlock440 11/25/2014 at 14:22

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Yeah. And this is in a truck with *maybe* 100hp.

Justin Hughes > Tohru 11/25/2014 at 15:16

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When I did courier work I had a Mazda B2300. Rear wheel drive. In Maine. Yeeeeaaaah. They put studded snow tires on the back, but left the basic truck tires on the front, so it was all kinds of wonky making deliveries in the snow - deliveries that usually weren't all that heavy. I was happy for my experience ice time trialing a Miata on a frozen lake - it was good practice for this.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Tohru 11/26/2014 at 00:41

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Hang the sandbags off the rear bumper. I *promise* that it won't make the truck any more prone to spinning out.

Tohru > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 11/26/2014 at 00:54

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I should give you one of the sandbags to help traction on your Neon. It would need to be put low on the car and in line with the drive tires. I know! We'll stick it in the oil pan.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Tohru 11/26/2014 at 01:23

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Why would I want to pretend it's an Escort and blow the engine?

And who the hell needs traction aides when one has a MUTHAFUGGIN JEEP!

Tohru > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 11/26/2014 at 01:41

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Nice street tires you softroader.