Im going to be driving out to Lake Tahoe next week to go snowboarding and I'm going to be taking my 04. I have never really driven in icy/snowy conditions so I would like some advice. I have heard a lot about weighing the back end down with sand bags but my question is how many do I need? My other question is should I get snow chains or snow cables? Any other helpful advice is appreciated!

 

You actually want to keep the least amount of weight in the truck as you can. But the best advice is to hammer down and never use the brakes, when you start to drift just close your eyes and pretend to be in the Fast and Furious, the truck will do the rest

lol



Yes you want to throw some (3-4) sandbags in the middle of bed. When leaving stop signs/lights remember to be easy on the gas, get traction first before you try to gain speed. When approaching stops let off the gas early and lightly use the brakes. I've never needed snow chains in my 6 years of driving in the snow, but considering you have a 2WD, you might want to grab some just to be safe

What kind of tires do you have?

 

The rule of driving in the snow is that 4wd can help you get up to speed but there is nothing that's going to help you stop faster no matter 2wd or 4wd. Watch out for steep hills and ice. Do not lock up the brakes. If the vehicle starts to slide let off the gas and steer, the vehicle will straighten itself out.

 

there is no snow in tahoe lol

 

theres no snow out east either lol!
adding 4 sand bags ~225 pounds, has changed my truck completely. so much i dont think i'll ever drive without it. that said, do as Edge was saying and put them in there.

my bed liner has a 'slot' for a 2x4. i built a small frame around where the bags sit directly over the rear axle, now they wont wont slide up against the bed front (negating their weight). With this set up i can still fit a full gear load for snowboarding, and the truck handles so much better.

if your in deep pow, just keep it smooth and keep it going...

 

if the back end starts to come around GET OFF THE GAS!! or counter steer and enjoy the drift :)

 

Lol I know there isn't any snow now but I'm hoping and assuming there will be when I go in two weeks. I have Firestone firehawks 255/60/15. I think I'm going to do something like b747 with the sand bag placement. Thanks for all the advise!

 

never slow down on a hill.. soo many idiots do that around here whenever we actually get snow.

Weight in the back will make a huge improvement, id suggest anywhere from 200-250pounds would sure get the job done

 

Drive slow and give yourself plenty of braking room...in other words, don't tailgate, keep your distance. If you need to slow down, get off the gas, and lightly pump on the brakes. Don't over steer, here again going slow will make a huge difference on whether or not you can recover from a tailspin. Speed kills, especially on ice.

Better yet, stay home and have some hot chocolate instead of taking a chance on roads if the weather is really bad. Do you really want to take a chance of going into a ditch and having to have a tow truck get you out ?? I rarely go out driving in bad weather anymore. If the weather is too lousy, I just stay indoors as much as I can. I don't want to get my truck banged up for some stupid errand that could have waited.

 

Bring a tow strap and all that other "when **** goes down" gear.

 

you're not a snowboarder or skier DJ...

we drive INTO the worse possible storms, taking great risks, forgoing all common sense with our eye on the pow prize :)

 

bring chains, chp will stop you if you dont

 

Well then, don't come crying to me when your truck gets banged up or you break a leg or some other stupid thing happens....Hospital bills can add up fast !! You've been warned !!

 

Like snowmobilers...except we have a trailer full of sleds behind us.

 

^^ talk about upping the ante! lol! That nuts!! :)

 

I give up, don't ask me for advice, I did a 180* turn on a major busy road today and managed not to hit anybody !! Boy, did I get lucky !! There were cars coming from both directions, I was only going about 15 mph and all of a sudden the truck started skating around. I managed to get off the highway fairly quickly, but man that was a close call.

 

Best advice has already been said...just take it slow. Easy on the gas and brakes. No sudden maneuvers.

I'd bring chains to be safe. Tow bills are expensive, so try your best to keep it on the road!

Good luck

 

Yeah I'll take it nice and slow. Any tire chains that you guys can recommend? As in easiest to install and decent price? How about cables or are they no good?

 

I'd bring a strap, you are bound to find someone in Tahoe with a larger more powerful truck then yours. Slip em' $20-50 if they pluck you out. Weight is good too. I put a couple small bags of salt in my bed just in case. I wanted sand but home hardware didn't have any.

Idk what else to mention that hasn't been mentioned in here.
Have fun and be carefull?

 

i just got the ones from wal mart... be sure they fit your size tire(it'll say what sizes they fit) and be sure to get chain tighteners... my advice is to go as smoothly as possible... slow and deliberate inputs are less likely to break traction... and with a 2wd pickup, momentum (and then wheelspin) is your friend... carry some speed up a hill... usually just an extra 3-5 mph... and if you have an open diff you can spin some to keep it going(be careful if you have a LS), but only after it starts spinning...

EDIT: and add weight to the bed... i'm running 260 pounds or so

 

Thanks for all the great advice guys!

19bonestock88 how did the snow chains from Walmart work for you?( if you used them) I want to get a decent pair of chains that will reduce the chance of them whipping around and messing up my rear end.

 

SCC are a decent brand of tire cables/chains:

http://scc-chain.com/Traction%20Page...omparison.html

Just bought a pair of Cobra Jr. tire cables (fits 245/75-16)...cheapest of the three quotes. CAD$100 plus cost of spider tensioner and taxes. The other two suppliers wanted CAD$220-$254 before taxes. Ouch!

Had several sets of SCC cables in my other truck (RWD Mazda B3000)...smaller 14 inch tires....cheaper at $60-$80 a few years ago.

Note that maximum speed with the tire cables/chains is typically 30 mph (50 kph).

Dave

 

Definately Some sand bags over the rear axle but not behind it and about 250lbs not too much more you don't want to take any weight off the steers! Like everyone else sais look far in to the corners and turs before you get to them and let off the gas in every turn then re apply gas as you cas see through the corner! and never brake in the corner only before and to achieve that all eyes on the road and look far ahead the whole driving trip!

 

As for chains I hope the state allows them probobally ask a local about them!

 

lmfao if you need chains for the highway, just stay off them. I live in Canada where snow originated. Put five sandbags over rear axle, deflate tires too 32 pnds psi, drive a reasonable rate, if you fish tail countersteer your rwd let go off the gas till you straighten yourself out, once straight easy easy go back on gas get moving again. If you seriously go for the ditch, you were either going to fast, or you didn't countersteer the fishtail quick enough. Chains are not going to get you out of a ditch, bring a tow strap if you want cheap tows. And if your looking for fun, just rock the truck since the tires are deflated you have more traction to dig in deeper. And floor it back out to the road. Whatever you do don't take driving too serious, NOT saying get high or drink, but if your more relaxed you'll pull through just fine.