Topic: snow wheelin Questions?

[93REDCRAWLER]

My bro in law is turning his yoter into a crawler.
but will be doing most of his wheeling in the snow.
I don't know to much about Wheeling in the snow so i was wondering if you guys could help us out on what modifications we should do to it? and
How deep of snow could he drive threw to if he has the right modifications?

[86bobbedtoy]

it all depends.
lockers
big tires that you can airdown low.
air to get them back up- co2 tank
lower gears

[toyota41180]

x2

[Troublemaker]

I read somewhere that said lockers weren't so good in the snow, unless it was a selectable locker like a ARB.   

[BigMike]

I read somewhere that said lockers weren't so good in the snow, unless it was a selectable locker like a ARB.   

I believe what you read is that for on-road driving at normal speeds having an "always on" locker could be dangerous if one tire has good traction (pavement) and the other dose not (patch of snow or ice). Additionally, many states lay down salt or sand to prevent ice from forming, which may pose additional traction complications for vehicles with "always on" lockers.

But for snow wheeling, traction is king; If you don't have it, you ain't moving. You don't have to be locked to go snow wheeling, but you won't get very far in the snow open-open and you're spend most of your time trying to get unstuck.

There will be 101 responses to this thread, so I'll share what I think is very important regarding tires.

One key factor for success in snow is having a large tire patch or footprint. This is achieved by using wider than stock tires and/or airing down tires to increase sidewall bulge. One thing you really need to be aware of is that with low tire pressures and stiff, cold tire rubber, it is very easy for the beads of the tire to detach from the rim causing most air pressure to leak out and ultimately the tire falling off the rim.

If this happens to you on your first trip while you are not prepared, then you will curse the snow gods and your trip will be very unpleasant.

So always go prepared with a good spare tire and if you don't have beadlocks then don't run anything less than 10 or 12 psi. As much as you'd like to run 5 or 6 psi, don't do it. Even if you can do that in the summer time for Rock Crawling, remember tire rubber is very cold and stiff in the snow, and since momentum and inertia are key to maintaining forward progress, it doesn't take much for you to loose an under-inflated tire.



BigMike

[zippo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ1k0WuNspk&feature=related

The proper snow rebead. Ether! Remember less it more!

Really this is a horrible idea, but oh so funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkI820ASxgw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI0vi_z2Gys&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9D0UjGaTIs&feature=BF&list=QL&index=1

[R.DesJardin]

it all depends.
lockers
big tires that you can airdown low.
air to get them back up- co2 tank
lower gears

That says it all, real lockers not limited slips. 2-4psi in the tires.
It depends on snow conditions on how deep. There is many types of snow.
Dual cases were a great add on for snow wheelin'.
36" tires min.

[4RunnerChevy]

Tire bead with starting fluid


If that don't work
http://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa116/4runnerchevy/Tires/

[zippo]

I've seen that one before. It's awesome.

[86bobbedtoy]

search highlakes on here
and blazing trail on youtube.

you will get a good idea of what to expect, with built rigs

[93REDCRAWLER [OP]]

will I ever need to run chains?

[86bobbedtoy]

they help
but I wouldnt go if I HAD to run them just to get in the snow.

almost any super swamper is awesome in the snow.
a 33 will do decent 35s will do good and bigger will do awesome

[93REDCRAWLER [OP]]

is there a certain tread pattern i need?
Or what brand of tire works best?

[86bobbedtoy]

they all work mts ats
I have seen BFG at's go good
bfg muds do good
toyos, mtrs, and so on
I prefer swamper tsl's
but when I go bigger rubber Im going to 49 or 54" boogers

it all depends.

personally I think for a daily driver,
bfg at's, toyo mts, mtr's

but its not limited there lots to choose from!

[Nimyad]

Km2s are good in the snow, iroks are awesome. Run aluminum wheels, they seem to hold the bead better then steel for no beadlocks. Skinnier rim for a wider tire and dont be afraid to air down to like 1 psi. I know its all tire stuff but lockers wont get you anywhere without the right tire set up

[gnarrkill]

my 40" mtrs do work in the snow there heavy tho . from what i have seen toyo mts dont impress me side wall is way to stiff and dont get skinny pedal happy, i have blown 2 trucks up in the snow plowing trail etc. and be careful of ditches

[NorCalToy]

Snow wheeling depends 100% on the type of snow. If its good fresh light snow you can easily push snow over the hood and go for miles. If it wet heavy snow you might get stuck in 18" or less. From my experience any good mud terrain with plenty of tread does well when aired down. 

I run open diffs front and rear and for the type of snow I wheel in it works fine. Lockers would be better but if I pick good lines and am careful I rarely get into something I cant drive out of. The other problem with lockers is that if you end up on any kind of sidehill your rig will want to instantly slide down the hill if you spin you tires.

As far as gears go I generally find that 2nd gear in 4lo is the best gear for my setup. (35s, 4.37s in the axles, stock chain case)

[RABIDYOTA]

 1 thing i found out was how important a rev limter is, my 91 22re with 33 bfgs at did well but i was hitting the limiter often,  i was following a heep with 39in. irocs and a 406 sbc.

[Monster Yota]

Fill your bed with propane tanks,,, put the biggest flame thrower/blow torch you can find and mount it on your front bumper,,, then just melt the snow as you go! 

[VincentVanPwn3d]

Lockers and you can idle to the top of mountains in deep snow
Lift for deeper snow
Big tires, aired down
maybe some sort of mountable plow device you can easily put on the front.
Winch for getting stuck
Good Heater
Good boots

[GloNDark]

Lockers and you can idle to the top of mountains in deep snow
Lift for deeper snow
Big tires, aired down
maybe some sort of mountable plow device you can easily put on the front.
Winch for getting stuck
Good Heater
Good boots

This is good stuff here. I usually have the following in my yota for snow trips.

In addition to my normal tools, spare parts, straps, coleman stove, high lift and spade shovel I added the following:
- 1 huge sleeping bag
- 4 Space blankets
- 2 more tarps
- 2 extra 50ft ropes
- Added an aluminum snow shovel
- Winter Jumpsuit Cheapass walmart one works awesome when you have to lay in the snow to change a driveshaft unjoint. haha
- Extra socks and pants
- 2 packs of flares
- a bunch of hand/foot warmer packs

Snow wheeling kicks butt for sure.

[junya92toy]

I carry some food, water, yes even with snow around. A way to cut firewood and of course a way to make fire too. DO that on top of a sleeping bag and other gear said above.

[93REDCRAWLER [OP]]

I went on my first snow Wheeling trip yesterday.
Dang that stuff is fun! I'm only running 31 inch tires but am planning to go bigger when i get the money.
all my tires deflated to 16 pounds did amazing in the two/three feet of snow i was boggin in.
Thanks for all the great help.
I would still like to here other peoples oppinon on the subject so keep postin it up.

[66cobra]

x2 on a winch. i run 2 hard mounted.i find myself using the one in the rear more often than the front, iroks seem  to work best for me but the tsl 's worked good for me too

[zentinez]

I live up in Northern AZ which is almost 7000 ft. I live up on a hill and we get alot of snow. All the responses are good but its also good to put some weight in the back of your truck if you can I usually carry some old ties or let the snow pile up in the back for weight I use to keep some old truck tubes filled with sand I would cut both ends tie one side with a couple zip ties fill it with sand and do the same with zip ties. Also alot of people run thinner tires in the winter or studed tires and then reg tires in the summer and spring and fall. I have two sets of tires for snow and for the rest of the year.

[LDcrawler]

Ive done alot of snow wheeling with my truck.  I really havent enjoyed myself that much because of the getting stuck and not traction issue.  Ive got lockers in both axles and 37" tires but they get no traction even when aired down.  My idea is that if i ever wanted to do that again i would get chains for the rear axle at least mabye all four then i think it would be alot more fun

[spoolnaround]

?? Your MTR's get no traction when aired down?  What do you consider aired down?  Depending on tire (4lbs on my K5, 38" SX's was where they started working) 8 pounds on my buddies 87 Toy with 35" BFG's.  You want the largest contact patch with the snow you can get.  The problem is unless you have beadlocks it is easy to pop a bead on your tire.  If your tire comes off the rim I hope you have a clean bed or a piece of plywood with you (ask me how I know  ).  A propane torch definatly comed in handy to melt snow in the bead and starting fluid to reset the bead.  

Snow wheeling is a blast!  A couple of simple rules:
1. Never go alone
2. Go prepared (this includes food water clothing parts recovery equipment etc.
3. Let someone know where you are going and when you plan on getting home.

Ive done alot of snow wheeling with my truck.  I really havent enjoyed myself that much because of the getting stuck and not traction issue.  Ive got lockers in both axles and 37" tires but they get no traction even when aired down.  My idea is that if i ever wanted to do that again i would get chains for the rear axle at least mabye all four then i think it would be alot more fun

[spoolnaround]