idk where to post this - truck for winter driving?

[Susie]

When you say "truck" do you mean specifically a pickup? Or are you open to an SUV?

I'm not a huge fan of pickups specifically for the snow because the rear wheels often don't have enough weight on the axle. I used to keep sandbags or firewood in the bed just for the weight. I prefer a 4x4 or AWD SUV for winter driving.

[Deleted]

Ditto Susie: Trucks suck in snow. If you actually need a truck, it needs to be AWD or 4x4. Winter tires are also a must for snowy/icy driving.

[rubytue]

Like Susie said, a truck is generally going to be rear wheel drive and without much weight on the rear axle, it won't be good in the snow. A front wheel drive or AWD car is going to be much better than a truck. DH never takes his truck out in winter conditions.

For $10k, get a used Subaru!

[aliceinfairyland]

Don't get a truck for winter driving. I have a 3/4 ton truck with 4 wheel drive, and many times, I wish I had my Corolla back.

Look into something AWD, preferably kind of low profile, as large SUVs are known for flipping.

[Deleted]

Oct 30, 2012 9:53:22 GMT -5 Susie said:

When you say "truck" do you mean specifically a pickup? Or are you open to an SUV?

I'm not a huge fan of pickups specifically for the snow because the rear wheels often don't have enough weight on the axle. I used to keep sandbags or firewood in the bed just for the weight. I prefer a 4x4 or AWD SUV for winter driving.

+1! Plus, with a truck if you have cargo, it either gets wet in the bed of the truck or you have to cram it in the cab with you.

[definitelyO]

My MIchigan friends do not drive pick up trucks unless they are loaded in teh back or they use them for hauling. most of them have American made SUVs

[pamela]

DH had an explorer for snow because it had high clearance and 4WD. You don't want a pickup because the tailgate is too light and tends to slide around.

[dexteroni]

Oct 30, 2012 10:02:48 GMT -5 pamela said:

DH had an explorer for snow because it had high clearance and 4WD. You don't want a pickup because the tailgate is too light and tends to slide around.

Agree with all of this. We used to have an Explorer and it was the best bad-weather car we've ever had. We have Subarus with AWD now and while they're good in snow, the Explorer was like a tank with cleats in comparison. It easily got us through any weather.

[Deleted]

Are there hills where you live, are the roads plowed on the regular?

Where we used to live the roads were never plowed, so something like a Subaru will not be high enough to drive over deep snow.

If you get a 4X4 truck, you'll need to throw something in the back to keep it weighted.

If you get a 4x4 SUV you should have enough weight in the back without keeping it loaded.

Check the ratings on consumerreports.org to find the best models. (You can get a monthly subscription for ridiculously cheap.)

[Deleted]

Oct 30, 2012 10:11:41 GMT -5 @abbycobb said:

Hmm, interesting... I guess I was leaning toward a truck because I used take the 4WD farm truck on my half hour drive to work on snowy days when I lived at home. It was a huge improvement over my Jetta, and I felt like it handled really well. The bed was probably weighted down.

I'll consider SUV's though, if that's the way to go.

How old was it? Some of the older trucks were much heavier. DH has a 1992 Dodge truck, and it's a beast. The full metal body is much heavier than the fiberglass that is put on newer trucks. The back end will still slide around every now and then, but nothing like the newer trucks they have out now.

[Deleted]

The guys at work all have 1 tonne Ford trucks (F-150?) but they're also always carrying alot of gear in them so they're weighted down.

Family that lives in remote areas have the heavy diesel fuelled trucks.

But all of these people are driving on gravel/dirt/unplowed roads regularly so what they need is the clearance a truck provides. And I think they all carry chains.

We have an SUV that we can switch into AWD and love it. For the city/highway winter driving we do it's more than enough.

[M]

For under $10k, Honda Passports are the BEST. My dad has one that he beats up. It was once in our possession (long story). When we lived in the mountains of NC, it would snow about 1-2 feet sometimes more and my crazy H would always want to go out to explore. So we'd take the Passport and hurl through all the snow with no problem.

Once we were crossing the mountain from TN to NC with 2 ft of snow on the interstate and people stuck all over unable to move...I'm pretty sure they were stuck there over night. H went around them on the snowy grass no problem. A Chevy even tried to follow behind us. He did pretty good for about 1/4 mile then he got stuck haha.

[aliceinfairyland]

Oct 30, 2012 10:23:08 GMT -5 @randomcdn said:

The guys at work all have 1 tonne Ford trucks (F-150?) but they're also always carrying alot of gear in them so they're weighted down.

Family that lives in remote areas have the heavy diesel fuelled trucks.

But all of these people are driving on gravel/dirt/unplowed roads regularly so what they need is the clearance a truck provides. And I think they all carry chains.

We have an SUV that we can switch into AWD and love it. For the city/highway winter driving we do it's more than enough.

One-tons are F350s, I'm pretty sure.

OP, what kind of winter driving do you do? In town? On the highway? Do you live on a gravel road?

[Pom]

I lived in Northern Lower Michigan for years. Drove 60 miles round trip each day in all weather, black ice, heavy snows. The best vehicle I had was a stick shift AWD Mazda. It handled so much better than my jeep or my AWD Mercury Mountaineer. If you don't have enough weight in the back of a 4wd truck, it can be like an elephant on ice skates on bad roads.

[aliceinfairyland]

Oct 30, 2012 11:06:28 GMT -5 @abbycobb said:

papiercherri - The one we had was approximately yr 2000 Ford F250 (something like that). I'm assuming my folks had the back weighted down.

alice - about 40 highway miles total driving to and from work every day. We're about to move, but the new house is on a paved road in the country. No idea how well/quickly they get it plowed.

Okay, in my opinion, do not get a truck for highway driving. Absolutely not. This comes from last winter's experience of turning a corner slowly on a slightly snow covered highway, to find myself facing two lanes of on-coming traffic.

I've lived in two wintery states (Wisconsin and Iowa) and usually paved roads are okay, if there aren't any big hills.

I would look into something like a Suburu, and at least you won't have to pay an arm and a leg for gas. But really, a truck for commuting purposes is scary in the winter (I've driven a fair number of trucks in my life, with varying commutes, and that's my sage advice).

[aurora]

I would very strongly recommend a Subaru Outback or Forrester for what you're describing. We have both a Tacoma and an Outback, and the Subaru is hands-down the better winter car. Only the time it snowed more than 4' in one day here and the roads weren't plowed was the truck more useful.

I have lived in wintery, snowy states my whole life and I am speaking from a lot of winter driving experience.

Cars are also a lot more stable (preventing rollover accidents in icy conditions) than trucks. Plus, with a 40-mile commute your mileage will be much better, especially if your alternative is to add a bunch of weight to the back of a pickup (which will reduce the mileage).


ETA - also, if you are really concerned about ground clearance for deep snow, the newest Outbacks have 8.7", which is "higher than many crossovers and some dedicated SUVs." (from www.subaruoutback.org/forums/104-gen-4-2010-present/43682-official-2013-outback-info.html). You won't be able to get a 2013 for $10k, but don't dismiss them just from the clearance perspective.

[Deleted]

Oct 30, 2012 10:40:31 GMT -5 aliceinfairyland said:

Oct 30, 2012 10:23:08 GMT -5 @randomcdn said:

The guys at work all have 1 tonne Ford trucks (F-150?) but they're also always carrying alot of gear in them so they're weighted down.

Family that lives in remote areas have the heavy diesel fuelled trucks.

But all of these people are driving on gravel/dirt/unplowed roads regularly so what they need is the clearance a truck provides. And I think they all carry chains.

We have an SUV that we can switch into AWD and love it. For the city/highway winter driving we do it's more than enough.

One-tons are F350s, I'm pretty sure.
OP, what kind of winter driving do you do? In town? On the highway? Do you live on a gravel road?

Trucks aren't my thing at all so I trust you on that one more than me

We love our Mitsubishi Outlander for winter driving, but if you aren't in an area with a few dealerships I wouldn't go that route.

Subaru Outbacks were our second choice and I also strongly recommend looking at them. The 2010 was the SUV of the year or something. They handle great.

SIL drives a Subaru Forrester (she drives a lot for work) and raves about it, we just thought the Outback was a better vehicle, might be a personal preference.

It's probably more then you want to pay but people I know have said the new Ford Explorer handles really nicely as well. Not sure if they have an AWD option though. I'd look for that in any vehicle you get.

[Norticprincess]

The Subarus actually have pretty decent clearance. My '11 Forester is 8.7 (the turbo is 8.9) 1/2 an inch lower than my old Explorer (9.2) And about an inch less than my mum's FJ(9.6) I haven't had this Forester in much snow yet, but I have driven other subies on unplowed roads without any problems. While there are a few situations I'd rather have the FJ (most involve water or real off road driving), highway snow driving isn't one I'd add to the list. My absolute favorite thing to drive on snow was a k2500 Suburban the front clearance on that was on 7.6” and the back was 6 something it went wherever. It was a heavy beast of a truck and you did have to allow for more stopping distance, but going was never a problem.

[Susie]

I'll throw another +1 for Subaru out there, since it sounds like SUVs are an option. We have a Forester, and I've been very happy with it in upstate NY, including the backcountry.

[aliceinfairyland]

Oct 30, 2012 11:47:26 GMT -5 @randomcdn said:

Oct 30, 2012 10:40:31 GMT -5 aliceinfairyland said:

One-tons are F350s, I'm pretty sure.
OP, what kind of winter driving do you do? In town? On the highway? Do you live on a gravel road?

Trucks aren't my thing at all so I trust you on that one more than me

Not that its a big deal, but if you start looking at used F150s, they are fairly cheap, but not one tons.

I apparently care too much about trucks, lol.

[statlerwaldorf]

I have an old Dodge Ram and a Mazda MPV 4 wheel drive van. The van does much better on highway and city driving. The truck is sometimes needed for rural backroads that haven't been cleared.

[Deleted]

Where in MI are you? Unless you are in northern lower (aka lake effect snow hell, as I call it), or parts of west MI, you don't necessarily need 4WD, you can easily get away with AWD. Most of my friends in metro Detroit drive sedans.

[lys]

I live in theUP - you do NOT need a truck for winter snow. If you really want one - then I recommend a Toyota Tacoma or Tundra or a Chevrolet Silverado.
However, you would do much better with an AWD vehicle - consider any Subaru.

[keweenawlove]

Oct 30, 2012 12:05:50 GMT -5 @mjmksb04 said:

Where in MI are you? Unless you are in northern lower (aka lake effect snow hell, as I call it), or parts of west MI, you don't necessarily need 4WD, you can easily get away with AWD. Most of my friends in metro Detroit drive sedans.

I don't think you NEED one anywhere in MI. I drove a compact car for 6 years in the UP and was fine.

My parents had a Mercury Mariner that handled really well in the snow for a few years. They traded it in for a Subaru Legacy for better gas mileage. The Subaru handles really well in the snow, expect when it starts to get deep as the clearance is pretty low.

[IrishBelle]

Oct 30, 2012 12:05:50 GMT -5 @mjmksb04 said:

Where in MI are you? Unless you are in northern lower (aka lake effect snow hell, as I call it), or parts of west MI, you don't necessarily need 4WD, you can easily get away with AWD. Most of my friends in metro Detroit drive sedans.

:Y: I'm in rural Ontario and we get a lot of snow including lake effect snow and I drive a Honda Accord. A truck is definately not necessary.

[Deleted]

Where I live in northern lower and how the road commission won't plow residential roads until we get 6+ inches, I absolutely could not get out of my neighborhood many winter days if I only had front wheel drive. Different strokes...

[DefenseAgainstTheDarkArts22]

I live in Metro Detroit and have an S-10 that I need to weigh down in the winter. I use 140 lbs and usually have a pretty easy time in snow. Whatever you decide on just make sure you have good tires. Don't go for the cheap ones and get All Weather that are rated good in snow if not snow tires.

[cattledogkisses]

As PP have said, most trucks, unless well weighted down in the back, will fishtail like crazy.

I live in Maine and drive a Corolla. Put snowtires on it, and it's a little tank in bad weather. No problem. I've lived in the NE my whole life, and you honestly don't NEED a truck, or even an SUV for winter weather (if you want one, that's entirely up to you).

[aurora]

Oct 30, 2012 17:22:42 GMT -5 @mjmksb04 said:

Where I live in northern lower and how the road commission won't plow residential roads until we get 6+ inches, I absolutely could not get out of my neighborhood many winter days if I only had front wheel drive. Different strokes...

Which is why many of us are recommending Subarus (and a few other AWD vehicles).