how much snow have you driven through

[NorthWoodsDuce]

I've gone through snow to the top of my NDTs... they are about 70%. Only time I have problems is when you find a slick spot under the snow, or you get a little hung up and spin the tires too much... creates an ice patch under each tire, but once you get away from the ice your good to go again. I would love to have a set of 14.5 or 15.5's... but can't justify spending the $$ on the rims!!

 

[Pappa-G]

Dress warm and plan on getting yourself unstuck. Those Jeeps wont have enough power to pull a greased string out of a raccoons ass! Have FUN!!

 

[DMgunn]

"I was pushing snow up over my hood!!"

I hear that all the time.....but that's in powder. Once it goes through a couple freeze/thaw cycles, it's a whole different story. Then you are fighting anything that's halfway up your axles, as a general rule. I have taken a JD 4450 (front wheel assist tractor) on blown-in roads where the snow is barely over the top of the front axle tubes ('bout knee high), and had to lock in the rear diff and crank the wheel back and forth constantly just to get through it. This is with little momentum, but with very aggressive (obviously) tires running at low pressure, and lots of weight. This machine had the duals off, and all four tires set at the same width, which should be optimal in snow, but that hard crust is a bee-otch to get through.

Still fun, though. Just have a recovery plan......................and a camera.

 

[DaveP]

snowmobile tracks freeze the snow rock hard also. DMg you are so right, fresh snow there is hardly a limit what a 17 ton allwheel drive truck will go thru if driven accordingly. rizzo, i dont have clearance tween the tandems with the 16.00's to run chains.

 

[DanMartin]

Somewhat related (but fun)

Train snow plowing:

Plowing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlA2INOpT78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH5fYdWprYY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QenN5DVuLtw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urNv1PMLwHI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0beK11JXVuU

Getting Stuck:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF2ZPRmocs4

Getting un-stuck:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G-5l54f1GU Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te_-OqA3b5w Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MljtNVn0K4c Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my-KjSMjj2k Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06rMZZR2ZT4 Part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNH4Fe27iTI (Digging out with track hoe)

..and Derailed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql6MYFO4ihA

..and if you wonder why these plows need a spotting crew (the ones taking the above video)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl4G84D0R0Y

Tons of more stills and movies of the above adventure here:

http://www.dropshots.com/geoaco33

..including some great shots of the derailment and the recovery operations for the locomotives.

Sorry for the hijack...this was too cool not to post.

 

[BKubu]

RIZZO: Please take pics. I'd love to see how your truck does. I am sure you'll be fine.

 

[halftrack]

I have a complete set of chains for 11.00s that came with my wrecker that I will never use. If you want them come get them.

 

[ygmir]

snow can be so subjective..........
Here in northern CA, we get "Sierra Cement"......very "thick", crusty, heavy.
It can be hard to get your tires to "dig down" to dirt. You need weight, and maybe chains. When you spin at all, it turns to ice pack......
And,
If you're runing over pavement, it can be worse.
So,
I'd think that question would be subject to snow and terrain considerations?

That said,
I've gone through 2' or so of the stuff, but, you're riding on packed snow as you drive, not digging to dirt and pushing.
Also,
the crane/deuce I made weighs 20K or a little more......that helped a lot.

 

[rizzo]

thanks for all the pics, advice, opinions and very interesting stories

keep them coming

 

[yorkgulch2]

The 395r85 20' goodyears are fine in alot of snow but are not good on snow packed road or ice. I have a load of logs in the back and the weight still does not help much on a steep hill. Chains are the way to go.

 

[joec]

Just remember green is good and so is red. Good transportation also has 2 of the biggest articulated Case tractors in the state. Where i have burried a 8410 johndeere many times. And asked Scott to use to pull it out. LOL......I BURIED IT THE LAST TIME SO BAD YOU COULD WALK OUT THE CAB. AND GO RIGHT TO LEVEL GROUND. . It was like a elephant dragging a picnic table...lol Allways nice to have that when you bury a Deuce or 5T Truck. I Know off topic but fun to run around in the snow. 14ft wide..lol

 

[madsam]

I have chains on 6 of my wheels. It is not the snow, it is the ice underneath and the angle of the hill. Here in Cripple Creek Colorado in the winter the ground turns to ice, and the chains can't get a good bite. When it was above 0 and there was something to grab under the snow, the truck went through 3 feet of snow no problem. Now it has a harder time. Also some of the hills I go up are at least 30% grade. The 36000 lbs want to slide back down. That can get scary when you have that weight getting out of control.