Author Topic: 4wheelin in Snow post your tips and tricks (Read 9131 times)

Huhwhye · « **on:** Oct 24, 2004, 03:47:30 PM »

With the snowy season coming up I was thinking that some of you guys that wheel in the snow a lot could throw some tips and tricks down to us guys that dont do much snow wheelin.

I have only been 4wheelin in snow 3 times in my life, since I live at the Beach in Southern Cal. Got stuck once, got out on my own after I put the chains on. Stuck at the bottom between 2 steep hills. Not really stuck, just couldn't go either way.

BigMike · « **Reply #1 on:** Oct 24, 2004, 07:45:22 PM »

I have a related question, I know two lockers are ideal, but what if you had a choice? Which end would you lock?

I've seen rigs on a slopped hill who were locked in the rear and open in the front, have their nose dive down hill with the slop, and then when they tried to back up, the truck rotated more and caused them to become perpindicular to the road

So is it better to be locked in the front in the snow if you only have one locker?

RUGER · « **Reply #2 on:** Oct 24, 2004, 07:50:40 PM »

air down. get a huge foot print...this might bring you extremely close to popping bead psi. you should be able to go to 8psi without a problem(try lower if you feel comfortable). if you have beadlocks yer golden...2-3psi.
don't go alone...bring at least 2 rigs. someone with a winch is even more helpfull.
bring cold weather gear...if you break/stuck and you are unprepared it will be a miserable night.

happy trails
rich *ruger*

high tower

RUGER · « **Reply #3 on:** Oct 24, 2004, 07:54:52 PM »

big mike

i've only been in the white stuff a few times. locked front and rear seamed to work best. with open diffs f/r you have to charge more.

happy trails
rich *ruger*

high tower

Rockdiver · « **Reply #4 on:** Oct 24, 2004, 07:59:57 PM »

Ruger is right take a buddy. I drive a snow plow in sequoia and most of the people I pull out are: alone (One Vehicle), Stock jeeps with factory radials, too much air pressure or open diff front & rear. I drive a 85 Toyota locked front and rear 35's and use about 2-10 lbs depending on snow conditions . Rockdiver

BigMike · « **Reply #5 on:** Oct 24, 2004, 08:53:22 PM »

Quote from: RUGER on Oct 24, 2004, 07:54:52 PM

locked front and rear seamed to work best.

Hey ruger - Yup, I know that's Ideal, but the reason I ask is because I've got a locker right now, but only one.. I dont, and probabely wont, have enough

for a 2nd locker until next spring, and I am going to go to the snow as much as possible once Im ready, so I can either put the locker in the front or the rear, it doesnt matter to me at this time..

Yeah, two or more rigs is definately a must, and if you dont have a winch, dont go without a tug strap!!

I've gotten by with as little as 2psi with no beedlocks using both BFM Mud and Goodyear MTR both at 35x12.50sx15 on a 8" wide rim in Marlins truck many many times..

Once I get up to the snow, I'm gonna take a lot of pics!

RUGER · « **Reply #6 on:** Oct 24, 2004, 09:11:11 PM »

big mike

i would put the locker in the rear...less stress on front end componets. that's just my logic. it will make a huge diffrence over open. yer rear might try to walk you sideways.

i said 8psi because it was a psi that shouldn't risk popping a bead...i didn't want him airing down too low, popping a bead and becoming stranded. in snow go as low as you can go.

happy trails
rich *ruger*

high tower

FIREBALL · « **Reply #7 on:** Oct 24, 2004, 09:15:38 PM »

Definetly with more than one rig. Some canned food stashed away somewhere, just in case. Minimum of a high lift jack, and a tow strap (with no metal anywhere on it), and a CB. I've been amazed at where i've been able to get out with my CB to call for help when needed.
One time we rescued a guy that went wheelin in the snow, just him and his son. They left the day before and no one had seen them since. We knew he had a CB, and knew what chanel he ran. His wife called us, and we started searching. I was calling him on the CB but couldn't hear him but I noticed a little back ground static after I would talk. Finally I said if it's you, key up twice. Sure enough, two clicks. Then I had an idea of where he might be, and asked him, and sure enough, two more clicks. Long story short, we finally found him, out of gas, broken front axle (jeep) cold and hungry and a really pissed off wife at home.
Put the locker in the rear Mike. You'll be able to use it even when your in 2wd. On board air is definetly a nice thing to have. You can air down as low as you want, and if you do pop a bead, you can put it back on. I like to run 2-3lbs. Remember when your running real low air pressure that if you go up in elevation the outside air pressure goes down and will cause your tires to act like there is more air in them, and if you go down in elevation at the end of the day and you've aired down more when you were up in the high country your tires will act like you've really dumped the air out of them. I used to wonder why I would always pop a bead on the way back down at the end of the day.
Also learn to read the snow. Just like picking your line in the rocks, you have to be able to read the snow condition to know weather you need to throttle it, or crawl. It will be different everytime you go up.

Huhwhye · « **Reply #8 on:** Oct 24, 2004, 09:43:22 PM »

Great advice so far. Especially having a tow strap without metal. My guess would be make sure you have some Gloves in your tool box in case.

How about tire chains. If you have 1 set, should you use them front or rear?

My truck is locked at both sides.

Last time, when I got stick, I ran the chains in the back, but I used to have a lot more weight in the back. I had a fiberglass cap & carpet kit the last time. Dam that was 5-6 years ago.

FIREBALL · « **Reply #9 on:** Oct 24, 2004, 09:53:23 PM »

The only time chains are going to do you any good is if you are on an icy road. Otherwise leave em at home. When you are in deep snow and airing down you won't even be able to keep them on the tires. They would be more dangerous than a help. Bigger tires, less air, equals more floatation. The key is to stay on top and go.

blyota91 · « **Reply #10 on:** Oct 25, 2004, 03:32:14 PM »

I have to disagree with chains only working on ice. Chains work quite nicely in deep snow too. I have lived here in VT my whole life and my dad has used chains for many years, all the snow plows use chains, and the school buses, not just when it is ice though. In the deep snow the tend to work as a paddle, but you can't keep them on if your running low psi, thats the down fall there. This past spring when I went snow wheeling with my friend, (

check out this little buggy http://www.cardomain.com/id/mcgandystoys ) he had a hard time getting through the snow with his swampers cause they would just just dig him into the snow. My truck however did far better in the snow with my less aggressive mud tires. One thing I have definately learned is to pack trails. Just go a short distance and if you start to spin or sink, easy off the throttle and slowly back up a ways and then go at it again with a bit more speed, not much though. It is also very important to know when to give it more throttle and not too, can't explain it, just on of those things you'll figure out. I didn't air down my tires, just cause I had to drive home and didn't have access to a compressor, but my friend did in his sammy, I think about 8 or 10 psi.
Happy Wheeling

BigMike · « **Reply #11 on:** Oct 25, 2004, 03:41:04 PM »

A Couple teaser shots of Marlin's truck up at Bald Mtn..

Huhwhye · « **Reply #12 on:** Oct 25, 2004, 04:24:15 PM »

I have a compressor so airing back up is not a big deal. But I'd like to think of chains as an option if it starts to hit the fan.

What would be the minimum PSI you can run with chains?

blyota91 · « **Reply #13 on:** Oct 25, 2004, 04:27:41 PM »

I really don't know what a minimum psi with chains would be. I guess it all depends on how you attach your chains, and I think that the snow conditions could also be a factor. I think this is something you may have to experiment with and find what works for you, the flexibility of the tire could also be a determining factor in this.

BLACKDOG · « **Reply #14 on:** Oct 25, 2004, 08:39:47 PM »

go with some full size rigs. Then when they get bogged down and sink, you can sit back and laugh because you dont wiegh enough to sink.

but dont laugh too hard, you might need their help $I\'m Down$

Huhwhye · « **Reply #15 on:** Oct 25, 2004, 11:39:52 PM »

Back to the chains.

Front or Back. What do ya'll think. Remember I'm locked at both ends.

FIREBALL · « **Reply #16 on:** Oct 26, 2004, 10:46:00 AM »

Ok, what do you consider "deep snow". Because here we are wheelin in 5, 10, even 15 foot deep snow. There are definetly NO school buses or snow plows anywhere in sight, and absolutly nobody with chains on. If you're wheelin and gettin on it, with your tires aired down, just think about what those chains are going to do to your rig when they let go.
If your not wheelin in "deep" snow and your going to run chains, put them up front. Having control of direction is most important. Traction won't do you any good if you can't keep it on the road.

FIREBALL · « **Reply #17 on:** Oct 26, 2004, 11:01:34 AM »

Here are some pics. All of these are 6 to 12' of snow.

FIREBALL · « **Reply #18 on:** Oct 26, 2004, 11:02:45 AM »

Couple more;

blyota91 · « **Reply #19 on:** Oct 26, 2004, 03:15:52 PM »

Well I didn't mean to say that the buses and snowplows go wheeling, I just meant on the roads when it is really snowy they use them, not just when it is icy. We wheel in a fair amount of snow here in northern vermont, not 10-15ft, maybe total accumulation but it is obviously less then that on the ground. Nobody really has the rigs to wheel in real deep snow, but we definately try like hell.

Shamb · « **Reply #20 on:** Oct 26, 2004, 04:00:39 PM »

I'd have to say the best things that come in handy on snow trips are

compressor (airing up tires)
chains, straps (pullin yo' arse out when you get stuck!)
Winch (always handy in any 4x4 situation)
Good self cleaning tire (also good in any 4x4 situation)
Extra food (in case you get stuck)
Warm clothing (Duh! Your in the snow)
Shovle (sometimes you can just shovle to semi hard ground and get some grip or shovle the heavy stuff from out of the front)

As far as driving wise its always good to drop your PSI as low as allowed depending on if you have beadlocks or not will tell you how much air pressure you can drop. You want your sidewall to give out and lay down a bigger foot print, this will also allow you to distribute your weight threw out the ground a little better and you wont get stuck as easly. When going up hills use the ol' back and forth method for catching traction, while hammerin' it turn the steering wheel left and right as quickly as possible to help grab traction on your way up.

Im no expert in the snow but have wheeled in it numerous times with minimal casualties

GrimReaper · « **Reply #21 on:** Oct 26, 2004, 04:39:37 PM »

Move where it doesn't snow. Anual snow fall in Atlanta is 5 inches. More then 2 at any given time is 2-3 days off.

Huhwhye · « **Reply #22 on:** Oct 26, 2004, 09:55:12 PM »

BigMike · « **Reply #23 on:** Oct 27, 2004, 01:24:06 AM »

Nice pics Jason, I'll be ready in a couple of weeks, so let me know when the snow is

FIREBALL · « **Reply #24 on:** Oct 27, 2004, 05:11:43 PM »

Saw some pics in this mornings paper of a couple of guys that went up the other day. They said there is about 5' up on the high end. Another couple of storms and it'll be worth headin up that way.

BigMike · « **Reply #25 on:** Oct 27, 2004, 05:26:56 PM »

Man I can't wait.. People up in Oakhurst have already been playing and they are making big bucks pulling out stuck hunters cars and motorhomes.

My friend who uses a 1984 shortbed yota who lives up about 4500' just got $800 for pulling out a hunters Dodge Neon rental car. They make alot of money pulling out vehicles, and their local tow company actually calls them to tow customers out because the tow company doesnt have anything capable like Yotas and they cant pull out anyone. So my friend told me he pulls in 2- to 3-thousand dolars each season pulling out vehicles for people

Wish I lived up near the snow, I would be making some bucks!

FIREBALL · « **Reply #26 on:** Oct 27, 2004, 06:11:44 PM »

I usually don't charge......i'm tryin to keep my karma happy

Huhwhye · « **Reply #27 on:** Oct 27, 2004, 10:14:25 PM »

I don't charge either. But if they offer that's different. I've pulled out a lot, and mean a lot of people in the sand and mud, a few ditches too.

Someday I might need some help. I have offered to pay the 1 time I was stuck bad. A separate time I bought the guy a tank of gas and dinner. I do believe what goes around come around, yeah karma.

BLUCRUZ · « **Reply #28 on:** Oct 28, 2004, 06:16:29 AM »

Just air down & keep moving, found an old one of you Jason, and the proper way to re-seat a bead in the snow!

Shamb · « **Reply #29 on:** Oct 28, 2004, 09:36:17 AM »

that the ol' flammable spray and match trick?

cool pictures

last year when we went up to Iron Mt. i pulled out 3 or 4 Toyota's and helped Ron from RCRC pull out a bone stock Ford that was burried up to his arse.

No one offered any

but 's alright.. i got stuck a few times as well and got yanked out.. heh...

Huhwhye [OP]

Huhwhye [OP]

Huhwhye [OP]

Huhwhye [OP]

Huhwhye [OP]

Related Topics