Do you put weight in bed for snow or not needed

[Badgertits]

So at 29k my tires are fairly worn and while they’d be fine for the summer and probably get another 10k+ (maybe) I’ve decided to put dedicated Noikian snows on, the only manufacture that makes a true snow tire in our size. I thought OE K02’s were decent in the snow with 1/2 or more tread but where there at now it’s not worth the risk.
I use 4A all the time, I think it works really well, better than expected, just wish they’d get rid of the slight vibration at about 2300 rpm that seem the plague the transfer cases I pin this mode. It’s much better than my 15’ 150 was but not completely gone. This newer transfer case design works better too than the 15’ IMO
The only thing that I don’t really like is the increased steering effort from the Torsen front dif when engaged.

I also got Nokian snows in stock size for my Raptor. I live in MA, got the Rap in mid February of this year only had a few snow events but even w/ fresh KO2s I could tell they weren’t going to be ideal in winter especially on hard packed snow, ice, or when turning/stopping @ speed on winding roads.

I have run snow tires on previous RWD sport sedans & had studded snows on my previous truck - GMC 4x4 w/ 6.2- once you drive a lifted 4WD truck w/ snows & realize how unstoppable/confidence inspiring it makes the ride, it pretty much became a necessity for me. You can pretty much drive like it’s normal & dry out.

I do a lot of work travel & often times visiting customers On back country roads, up/down the east coast, & the whole family skis so unlike a lot of people in the northeast when there’s a storm hitting we’ll drive into it rather than wait it out lol

So while my wife’s ride isn’t a bad winter vehicle by any means- 19 MDX- it’s nice to have vehicle that is uber equipped to handle the worst weather New England can throw at us.

No doubt we don’t NEED snows on the raptor, but once you experience how nasty a 4x4 truck is w/ snow tires you won’t wanna drive in the winter w/o em. I have driven in white out blizzards coming back from North Conway NH passing plow trucks @ 60 in 4HI - actually a NH state trooper gave me a warning @ the gas station on one occasion - apparently not legal do that in NH Lol

A lot of people figure “tires are tires” but the right tire for the right conditions is huge. I would say the gap in performance between an “all season” or all terrain, or mudder type truck tire vs. a dedicated snow in the winter is greater than say the delta between how well a standard performance or all season tire would perform @ a track against a drag radial or slick.

That’s probably the best analogy I can give if you need convincing.

 

[JPW Colorado]

I haven't driven my 19 Raptor in snow yet but I did put a topper on it which probably adds a few hundred pounds. I'm in Colorado at 7800 feet so I am expecting a test drive in the snow soon. My 14 Silverado and my Raptor both benefited from the topper weight, smoothing out the ride.

 

[amREADY]

Great info... thx everyone. And interesting re truck switching itself from 4A to 4H. I'll need to watch for that.

I've noticed a lot of people like running 2H in a lot of conditions (snow and dirt). I get the fun factor, but seems like a good way to burn your tires. I've done a lot of 4x4 / gravel roading and the trucks guys would run 4H on gravel - especially if they were getting after it or going up mountains/hills had significantly less overall tire wear than the guys who hated switching to 4wd.

I get why slippery mode exists, but I basically don't like it in any conditions.

I tried to find the weight distribution front to back for the SCREW and couldn't find it. It feels very balanced offroad, but a titch light in the back. Running a retrax and rack now so adds a very small amount of weight and it feels better and better yet with some recovery gear and misc in the back. Nothing super heavy, but let's call it 100-200 lbs and I can see how that would be ideal for deeper snow.

 

[jaz13]

Great info... thx everyone. And interesting re truck switching itself from 4A to 4H. I'll need to watch for that.

FYI, 4A uses a clutch that overheats if there is are a lot of traction events. It works fine for dry pavement and continuous use, but on slippery surfaces where it is constantly engaging and disengaging, it overheats and the truck shifts to 4H automatically. But to get it to switch, you pretty much need to be goosing the throttle around every corner. Not that I would ever do anything like that....

 

[amREADY]

FYI, 4A uses a clutch that overheats if there is are a lot of traction events. It works fine for dry pavement and continuous use, but on slippery surfaces where it is constantly engaging and disengaging, it overheats and the truck shifts to 4H automatically. But to get it to switch, you pretty much need to be goosing the throttle around every corner. Not that I would ever do anything like that....

makes sense and thanks for the info.

 

[The Mav]

Couple bags of sand is never a bad idea. If not for weight, at least for traction aid if you, or someone else needs it! It won't hurt anything. I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[Terrain13crew]

I also got Nokian snows in stock size for my Raptor. I live in MA, got the Rap in mid February of this year only had a few snow events but even w/ fresh KO2s I could tell they weren’t going to be ideal in winter especially on hard packed snow, ice, or when turning/stopping @ speed on winding roads.

I have run snow tires on previous RWD sport sedans & had studded snows on my previous truck - GMC 4x4 w/ 6.2- once you drive a lifted 4WD truck w/ snows & realize how unstoppable/confidence inspiring it makes the ride, it pretty much became a necessity for me. You can pretty much drive like it’s normal & dry out.

I do a lot of work travel & often times visiting customers On back country roads, up/down the east coast, & the whole family skis so unlike a lot of people in the northeast when there’s a storm hitting we’ll drive into it rather than wait it out lol

So while my wife’s ride isn’t a bad winter vehicle by any means- 19 MDX- it’s nice to have vehicle that is uber equipped to handle the worst weather New England can throw at us.

No doubt we don’t NEED snows on the raptor, but once you experience how nasty a 4x4 truck is w/ snow tires you won’t wanna drive in the winter w/o em. I have driven in white out blizzards coming back from North Conway NH passing plow trucks @ 60 in 4HI - actually a NH state trooper gave me a warning @ the gas station on one occasion - apparently not legal do that in NH Lol

A lot of people figure “tires are tires” but the right tire for the right conditions is huge. I would say the gap in performance between an “all season” or all terrain, or mudder type truck tire vs. a dedicated snow in the winter is greater than say the delta between how well a standard performance or all season tire would perform @ a track against a drag radial or slick.

That’s probably the best analogy I can give if you need convincing.

I agree 100% snow tires make a world of difference . night and day

 

[Terrain13crew]

question with snow driving meaning moderate snow is weighing down bed with couple hundred pounds of something necessary or does the sand/mud mode do fine?

I pile all my emergency gear and shovel jack sand bog straps gas can survival supplies in the evenly seems to be bout the right load ... be prepared to help other good people or my family ...

 

[Terrain13crew]

negative. we had snows of 13 inches, 8 inches, and 4 inches a few times last year.

I always left the bed cover on, and never felt the back of the truck was too loose from not having any weight. The truck was very stable and never stepped out in the back until i wanted it too.

the raptor is the best truck made for conditions like these period .

 

[Terrain13crew]

Great info... thx everyone. And interesting re truck switching itself from 4A to 4H. I'll need to watch for that.

I've noticed a lot of people like running 2H in a lot of conditions (snow and dirt). I get the fun factor, but seems like a good way to burn your tires. I've done a lot of 4x4 / gravel roading and the trucks guys would run 4H on gravel - especially if they were getting after it or going up mountains/hills had significantly less overall tire wear than the guys who hated switching to 4wd.

I get why slippery mode exists, but I basically don't like it in any conditions.

I tried to find the weight distribution front to back for the SCREW and couldn't find it. It feels very balanced offroad, but a titch light in the back. Running a retrax and rack now so adds a very small amount of weight and it feels better and better yet with some recovery gear and misc in the back. Nothing super heavy, but let's call it 100-200 lbs and I can see how that would be ideal for deeper snow.

always be prepared