SnoBall 2025 - first time - equipment feedback & tips

[leonardopessoa]

Hello everyone,

Will be joining SnoBall (https://www.runraptorrun.com/events/the-snoball-2025/) in January and now working through the list of prep items. If you can't tell already, I don't have a lot of off-roading experience (Snowshoe, WV/Chillicothe, OH/Serra da Canastra, Brazil). Would love to get opinions/advice/recommendation.

Read through the awesome guides posted around here for basic radio, straps, tips and tricks, and now consolidating that with the "What you need to bring" from the event page.

I'm trying to spend just what is needed without compromising safety. Here's where I'm currently landing:

Needs to be installed (taking recommendations in the Cincinnati, OH area too):

1. Spare tire support for bed - TBD, haven't picked one yet
2. Rear facing amber lights (assuming it's the one top back of the truck) - currently looking at GJ Motorsports

Need to purchase:

1. Flat tow strap - (heard Yankum is a good brand) https://yankum.com/products/3-inch-flat-tow-strap?variant=39734978871502
2. Recovery rope - https://yankum.com/products/off-road-recovery-kit?variant=41219240657102 - comes with soft shackles
3. BAOFENG VHF Radio - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MAULSOK/?tag=fordraptorforum-20

Other than general feedback on the above, questions:

1. Tires:
   1. Currently running low on tread on Nitto RidgeGrapplers 35-12.5x20. Don't like their wet performance although ride noise is decent and love the look. Thinking of getting MT Baja Boss (https://www.mickeythompsontires.com/light-truck-tires/baja-boss-a-t) as it's 3 peaks certified and seems to have better wet performance. Thoughts?
2. Tunes:
   1. I have a Cobb AP that came with the truck when I purchased but never installed it. Should I do it before the trail to enjoy more HP with the Stage 1 out of box map? I don't have any performance modifications on the truck yet, just run 93 all the time.
3. Traction issue:
   1. 4H/4L have been finicky this season ... I had replaced the actuator, did the trick for a while. Tried engaging both a couple of months ago, got the dreaded yellow wrench. Been trying again the past couple of weeks, working ok. Ford shop says it's all good. Any further testing or checks I could do to ensure I won't end up stuck?

Thanks for tagging along with me on my first Raptor trip. I'll be sure to write about my experience with pictures.

 

[Rick at FMS]

Kinetic rope is a must. I have a 7/8' 30'. I just have a regular flat towing rope I bought at Oreilly's. I have never used it but have used the kinetic rope a lot of times.
A handheld radio is handy when outside the truck but inside you really need a mounted 50w one. I personally have the upgraded Baofeng 9w handheld. Radio communication for Snoball is a must and required.
Any new 3 peak tire will do. Even new KO2's are fine. We sell MT tires and always get good reviews from our customers.
I wouldn't load the tune, leave like it is and do it afterwards. You aren't breaking trail so you don't need the more HP. Control of the throttle is more important on slippery surfaces.
Carry a set of IWE's with you? I haven't heard of the electric ones failing as often as the vacuum operating ones.
Hope you have lots of snow, that does make it funnier and more memorable.
I've been a couple times but meeting like minding individuals and becoming friends, is the best part of the event.

 

[leonardopessoa]

Kinetic rope is a must. I have a 7/8' 30'. I just have a regular flat towing rope I bought at Oreilly's. I have never used it but have used the kinetic rope a lot of times.
A handheld radio is handy when outside the truck but inside you really need a mounted 50w one. I personally have the upgraded Baofeng 9w handheld. Radio communication for Snoball is a must and required.
Any new 3 peak tire will do. Even new KO2's are fine. We sell MT tires and always get good reviews from our customers.
I wouldn't load the tune, leave like it is and do it afterwards. You aren't breaking trail so you don't need the more HP. Control of the throttle is more important on slippery surfaces.
Carry a set of IWE's with you? I haven't heard of the electric ones failing as often as the vacuum operating ones.
Hope you have lots of snow, that does make it funnier and more memorable.
I've been a couple times but meeting like minding individuals and becoming friends, is the best part of the event.

Thank you for the thorough answer! Will definitely be getting the kinetic rope and straps then.

About the radio, why do you think a 50W is necessary? Even when riding in groups? Maybe for the possibility of getting lost?

On tires, decided to go with the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T after reading a lot of good reviews on snow performance and better wet grip, although some find it loud - which I don't mind, only run my exhaust in sport, at least.

I don't have IWE's and never dealt with them, to be honest. Wouldn't know how to replace them either, lol. Should I?

 

[Rick at FMS]

Thank you for the thorough answer! Will definitely be getting the kinetic rope and straps then.

About the radio, why do you think a 50W is necessary? Even when riding in groups? Maybe for the possibility of getting lost?

On tires, decided to go with the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T after reading a lot of good reviews on snow performance and better wet grip, although some find it loud - which I don't mind, only run my exhaust in sport, at least.

I don't have IWE's and never dealt with them, to be honest. Wouldn't know how to replace them either, lol. Should I?

Handheld radios can be spotty. The lead truck and the chase truck is the most important ones to listen to. Everyone else just has a great time chatting when traveling. Sometimes the distant is too far from the front to the end and they need someone to relay to the messages to the front and rear. A better radio just makes the entire weekend more fun than messing with a handheld radio. We sell the radios that LVJ Motorsports offers since we have known Keith (he is leading the Bravo group) for a long time but you can go direct too. If you have a co-pilot to handle the communication so you can drive, that makes it even easier.

If you have an extra IWE with you, the folks in your group will help if not do it for you if it needs replacing. Lot of those guys have changed so many IWE's that they can do it in 20 minutes or faster. It's almost a contest for them to see how fast it can be done. Just watch and learn.

Have fun!

 

[Blast2hell]

First couple years at snoball, my brother and I only had a handheld. He in recent years upgraded to the mounted one which was nicer. Still need the handheld for outside the truck, doing extractions without a leader on a handheld just makes things harder. I just got a new truck in July and ordered my handheld and radio from Keith at https://www.lvjmotorsports.com/ as well. But if FreedomMotorsports sells it, that works too.

For third brake light, i also got the GJ with antenna mount and I like it a lot. There are other options out there, but no matter what ya get, I think ambers by the third brake light are best. The bumper mounts or low mounted ones get covered up in some snow conditions and make them very hard to see. Sometimes the snow powder is so much you can't even see the truck in front of you, just it's ambers. One year we only knew we were close to the truck in front of us because the ambers got too bright haha.

You are from ohio, so you probably already have winter style windshield washerfluid. Here in Orlando I had to make sure I purged the normal washerfluid by heavy use and been filling with winter stuff since then.

Things not truck related, more snoball related...we can get stuck for hours on a trail, so make sure ya have snacks and drinks to tide ya over in case. Kitty litter has been handy in the past for an icy road you are trying to do an extraction on to keep people from slipping and falling. Bringing fuel along is obviously not a bad idea, your fellow V8 raptors will thank you hah.

 

[thatJeepguy]

Those 20” rims you are running are not going to be fun for you in deep snow.

 

[leonardopessoa]

Handheld radios can be spotty. The lead truck and the chase truck is the most important ones to listen to. Everyone else just has a great time chatting when traveling. Sometimes the distant is too far from the front to the end and they need someone to relay to the messages to the front and rear. A better radio just makes the entire weekend more fun than messing with a handheld radio. We sell the radios that LVJ Motorsports offers since we have known Keith (he is leading the Bravo group) for a long time but you can go direct too. If you have a co-pilot to handle the communication so you can drive, that makes it even easier.

If you have an extra IWE with you, the folks in your group will help if not do it for you if it needs replacing. Lot of those guys have changed so many IWE's that they can do it in 20 minutes or faster. It's almost a contest for them to see how fast it can be done. Just watch and learn.

Have fun!

Makes a lot of sense. As it will be my first year and I'm not even sure if I'll be able to do runs again (although I'd love to), I didn't want to spend a dime more than I needed, so was looking at the cheapest radio options. If yours are within de 150-250$, please send me the options over DM. Thanks for the heads up.

About the IWE, wow, might get one spare just in case then.

First couple years at snoball, my brother and I only had a handheld. He in recent years upgraded to the mounted one which was nicer. Still need the handheld for outside the truck, doing extractions without a leader on a handheld just makes things harder. I just got a new truck in July and ordered my handheld and radio from Keith at https://www.lvjmotorsports.com/ as well. But if FreedomMotorsports sells it, that works too.

For third brake light, i also got the GJ with antenna mount and I like it a lot. There are other options out there, but no matter what ya get, I think ambers by the third brake light are best. The bumper mounts or low mounted ones get covered up in some snow conditions and make them very hard to see. Sometimes the snow powder is so much you can't even see the truck in front of you, just it's ambers. One year we only knew we were close to the truck in front of us because the ambers got too bright haha.

You are from ohio, so you probably already have winter style windshield washerfluid. Here in Orlando I had to make sure I purged the normal washerfluid by heavy use and been filling with winter stuff since then.

Things not truck related, more snoball related...we can get stuck for hours on a trail, so make sure ya have snacks and drinks to tide ya over in case. Kitty litter has been handy in the past for an icy road you are trying to do an extraction on to keep people from slipping and falling. Bringing fuel along is obviously not a bad idea, your fellow V8 raptors will thank you hah.

Understood, thanks for sharing your experience with the radio. At this point, I'm confident I'll get a mounted one, but concerned about installation costs tbh. Also, I'm thinking of the third brake light as well.

Good thought about snacks ... is lunch typically provided? Saw someone pulling a grill out in the middle of the trail in one of these past year videos lol.

Those 20” rims you are running are not going to be fun for you in deep snow.

Do you have any experience or research I could look into or could expand further? Googled a bit and got mixed messaging with no real data to backup claims of loss of traction/performance comparing wheels to the same tire size.
Just replaced the Nittos with same size Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT.

 

[thatJeepguy]

Makes a lot of sense. As it will be my first year and I'm not even sure if I'll be able to do runs again (although I'd love to), I didn't want to spend a dime more than I needed, so was looking at the cheapest radio options. If yours are within de 150-250$, please send me the options over DM. Thanks for the heads up.

About the IWE, wow, might get one spare just in case then.



Understood, thanks for sharing your experience with the radio. At this point, I'm confident I'll get a mounted one, but concerned about installation costs tbh. Also, I'm thinking of the third brake light as well.

Good thought about snacks ... is lunch typically provided? Saw someone pulling a grill out in the middle of the trail in one of these past year videos lol.



Do you have any experience or research I could look into or could expand further? Googled a bit and got mixed messaging with no real data to backup claims of loss of traction/performance comparing wheels to the same tire size.
Just replaced the Nittos with same size Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT.
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View attachment 473636

Yes in deep snow i like to be around 16-19 psi (single digits with bead locks) . Typically the biggest rig cuts the trail and everyone follows the ruts. Trouble is if you catch a turn wrong it puts a lot of levrage into the sidewall in deep snow. On 20 inch rims you have less overall bead pressure due to less sidewall.

 

[leonardopessoa]

Yes in deep snow i like to be around 16-19 psi (single digits with bead locks) . Typically the biggest rig cuts the trail and everyone follows the ruts. Trouble is if you catch a turn wrong it puts a lot of levrage into the sidewall in deep snow. On 20 inch rims you have less overall bead pressure due to less sidewall.

Makes sense, thanks for the explanation. Any recommendation/guess on tire pressure for my setup?

 

[thatJeepguy]

Makes sense, thanks for the explanation. Any recommendation/guess on tire pressure for my setup?

Like 30 . I wouldn't go any less.