4WD and ice question

It depends, it depends.

In general, I agree with Salmonslayer about leaving your vehicle in 4WD when you have patchy conditions-like dry pavement mixed with packed snow and ice. I make deliveries in a one ton dually truck, which has a sizeable load going in, and of course, no load coming out.

You must learn your vehicles mass and will get a lesson about inertia in a hurry if you don't. For example, in really greasy conditions-4 WD or not-it is critical that you don't break traction, period. (I am talking rain on top of ice, etc) This can mean idling to a stop instead of braking, or using a combination of gear and feathering the brakes to get stopped. Once you have broke traction you are sliding and will have few options to gain control-one is to drop gears and feather gas pedal, and the other is to steer in the direction of the slide, while gently applying the gas. I generally can get where I need to without troubles, its pulling hills without a load on the rear axles that sometimes cause me grief, lol This delivery truck is a sled, and knowing that, I do use 4WD any place there is packed snow and ice on hills in the winter. Heck, I have been stuck in the summer with those duallies more than any other type of vehicle. Because it's a diesel, you can't get the rpm's up to scratch your way out of muddy or soft areas.

But, you will not find me behind the wheel of our V10 truck for any amount of money if the roads are slick and icy. The blasted truck has entirely too much torque and a touchy accelerator and it breaks loose sideways without warning. So each individual vehicle is different in that regard-I much prefer my little front wheel drive, five speed, SUV type with studded tires all around. Yes, I still slide a bit at intersections that get polished, but it handles most road conditions much better than the one ton pickup with the snazzy performance engine parked at home

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It absolutely helps on ice.

This morning I debated putting my truck in 4x4 as I got on the highway. It didn't look to bad so I left it in 2x4. There are a couple big hills on my route, the kind that will downshift an auto trans if things are right. As I hit the first hill the trans downshifted and the suddenly added torque combined with the limited slip rear end had both rear wheels suddenly spinning and the rear end of my truck attempting to pass the front end.

No big deal for me because this isn't my first rodeo and I sorta expected it to happen so I quickly got it under control but I did switch it into 4x4 for the rest of the trip.

I don't understand your husband's logic. Both snow and ice will create situations in which you can lose traction. Why would 4x4 be good for one but not for the other?

My pickup won't move from a stop on ice in 2wd. There's not enough weight in the back. I leave it in 4wd.

The 4wd also helps you to get up to a higher speed before you lose control and comes in handy when you need to drive out of the ditch.

It helps to have it in 4wd but that is no substitute for smart driving. Watch 2 or 3 vehicles ahead of you so you can react slowly, drive according to conditions, and make all moves smoothly, brake early and slowly if possible.

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I've rarely ever used 4wd-HI. If I need 4wd, then I need to drive SLOW. And I have been out when ice storm moved through and all the cars got afraid and hid in the ditch. 4wd-LOW gave me enough traction to make an uphill right turn onto hiway and to crawl to my county road. One idiot was in a hurry and passed me. I waved to him in the ditch about mile up the road. He was going to have long wait for wrecker that evening.

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The main problem with 4WD on ice is the guy who thinks he can pass everyone in 2WD.

Yeah, I agree.
Though 4WD and slow is really the best thing.

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LOL Nope 4 WD and HOME is the best!

What you say is true until you break traction. The tendency is to let off the gas when you break traction. With 2 wheel drive the vehicles drive wheels (if rear wheel drive) will tend to keep you going straight. In 4 wheel drive you'll wind up doing loop de loops down the highway, not good!:baby04:

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Every now and then, men can be right. Thank goodness it doesn't happen very often.

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Becky

Same here. My wonderful and beautiful new studded snow tires are terrific also. I love them when they're new. So grippy on the sheet of ice that is our county road.

Depends on your vehicle, and how you drive. I would use 4WD Hi to drive slowly on a highway. 4Lo is too torquey . That is with my 93 S-10 Blazer. If yoiu do it a lot, you can use the accelerator to keep you going the right direction. Keep fairly high RPM's, and either goose the accel pedal, or let off, and drift the other direction. It is really fun once you figure it out.

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Studded tires are the solution for ice.
All tires studded.
Nothing beats them.
Okay, studded tires plus four wheel drive plus creeper gear all together...

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You still have to drive the 4WD like a 2WD on ice and snow. You still correct skids the same way and have to slow down way early for stops and turns. The one advantage is if you drive properly you will skid less often. Other than that you still can lose control just like any vehicle on ice.

When correcting a skid with either 2WD or 4WD, look the way you want to go and steer that way. You never have to think about what way to turn the wheel in a skid if you use this method.

So, if you do everything properly, it will be the other driver slamming in to you and not you slamming into them. It is better to not drive on ice unless you have to. SRM