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zoodlemaker
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2017 16:19 - Edited by: zoodlemaker
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I need to be able to drive into my place all through the winter, the last kilometer of which is plowed but not sanded.
There is one hill in particular that runs maybe 200 feet on a fairly steep grade. Up one side and down the other. I need something that can get along a snowy road and be my only vehicle year-round.
This past winter i put chains on and off my tires everyday from Dec. 1st to April 1st.
I will look at 4-wheel drives, does anyone have any suggestions? I'll likely be buying used.
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Smawgunner
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2017 16:41
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I've always driven fords. I love my Ranger 4X4...2011. My old 150 was just too big to get up our drive and turn around at the cabin. 74000 and zero problems. It has 2 jump seats in back but for very small passengers on short trips.
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DaveBell
Moderator
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2017 19:00
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Weight provides more ground pressure, more bite.
Traction as with BF Goodrich All Terrain tires or similar.
Limited slip differentials.
(4x4 is not true 4x4 driven wheels unless you have locking differentials.)
Manual hubs less likely to fail versus auto-locking hubs.
Velocity helps.
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Cowracer
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2017 19:59 - Edited by: Cowracer
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A vehicle with a true limited slip (or a locker) will go places a 4wd with open axles won't. Especially in snow.
With that said, My little old Toyota Rav4 is a monster in the snow,and its a front-drive only one too. If it's little wheels can touch the ground, its going. It has traction control that works 95 percent of the time. And it has a locking diff (controlled by a button on the dash) that get the job done the rest of the time.
I'll put it this way. I have a lifted diesel Excursion, and the Rav4 is my 'work' car, and I will take the Rav4 in the snow over the Exy most days.
Tim
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AK Seabee
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2017 22:02
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4wd with studded tires for the winter. If studs are not permitted siped tires are ok. Cables are simple to place and remove so provide control while descending steep grades.
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2017 22:10 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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I'm a Toyota technician by trade and have a fleet of Toyotas. But when I go to the cabin, I use my 2010 Ram 2500 crew cab long bed, 4WD, 6 spd manual shifter Cummins and always with a trailer in tow. I tow a 7X16 enclosed, always full of stuff and now, I have a 18 foot car hauler I will use to drag the Kubota over there when I need dirt work done. I go over 3 mountain passes, the old Cummins just grunts everything over those hills in high gear with ease. Bought the truck new.
Wife will drive her Highlander when she goes over there.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2017 23:05
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Gas hog
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darz5150
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jun 2017 23:56
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'92 Ford Explorer. Over 250k miles.
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skootamattaschmidty
Member
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# Posted: 18 Jun 2017 05:51
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We have a 2013 4 door Jeep Wrangler that goes through anything for us. I have not made any modifications to it since buying it new and out of the factory it performs well in mud and snow. It is fully trail rated and e have fun with it in the summer trail riding. It is also powerful enough to pull our 5'x10' utility trailer.
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Gary O
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# Posted: 18 Jun 2017 06:11
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I bought our ‘99 Wrangler in, well, ‘99
When we bought our property
To get to our property
Aside from that one time we went down the mountain, bug-eyed mouth open screaming and sideways, it’s never given us concern.
Like skoot, It too is stock
Oversized aggressive tread tires, but all else is factory
And now
Since we live at our cabin
We use it to get to town and back in winter
In summer our ’93 Jimmy ½ ton seems to be all we need
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Littlecooner
Member
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# Posted: 18 Jun 2017 09:47
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DaveBell has some very good tips for the first time 4x4 owner. I live in the "Deep South" but have not been without a 4x4 for the past 46 years. They are a "must have" in my opinion if you are going past any paved road. Over the years, some of these SUV vehicles are more urban "show your neighbor you are cool" vehicles that true off pavement going machines.
What every you purchase, make sure it has limited slip rear differential, very few true lockers available without aftermarket work. Myself and other friends here always run a mud and snow tire for continues driving. (95-98 % usage is on pavement). I currently run the BF Goodrich All Terrains on my F 150 pickup. They wear good, low pavement noise and go very well in snow and mud.
Pick a vehicle of your needs and desires, for comfort and usage, since it will be your full time vehicle. See, this runs the range, from a fun Jeep Two door CJ 5 original design (which is the all time best offroad stock vehicle) to a big 3/4 ton pickup or utility vehicle based on a 3/4 ton truck frame (Excursions, Suburbans, etc. It is more in the tires, running gears and limited slip than anything else for that moderate off road use in mud and snow. The rest it up to your taste.
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 18 Jun 2017 10:19
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Quoting: Littlecooner What every you purchase, make sure it has limited slip rear differential, very few true lockers available without aftermarket work
I special ordered my RAM with that, I never buy a new truck without it. My last new truck prior to the RAM was a 98 Tacoma, it had the electric E locker.
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 18 Jun 2017 14:12 - Edited by: paulz
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The road to my cabin is steep (30%) and muddy in winter. My old Blazer has locking diffs, low gears and mud & snows, no problem. Before that I kept a 4x4 beater on the property with chains all around but tired of having to switch trucks to come and go. It still sits here, makes it look like someone's around.
I find it much more....exciting....going down a slippery road than up..
I have an old truck because I'm old, I understand carburetors and points. Computers, sensors and check engine lights bewilder me.
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Borrego
Member
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# Posted: 18 Jun 2017 16:07
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I have both a Chevy 4x4 truck and a 2015 Jeep 4 door Wrangler, and they are a must to get to our cabin most of the time. (Sand)
I've always had trucks because I'm a truck kinda guy....but if you don't need a truck bed, I'd sure recommend the Jeep, their reliability and overall build cannot be beat. Plus they're just plain fun to modify, I'm on my 4th one.....
Make sure to get one after 2012 so you get the new engine and tranny, a big improvement over the 2007 models.......and if you get one with the towing package, you'll get the 3:73 rear end which is more rugged....
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Asher
Member
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# Posted: 18 Jun 2017 22:59 - Edited by: Asher
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I am kind of in the same boat as you... I am really looking at a Subaru forester, or a AWD mini van.. I don't need a high clearance vehicle to get to the cabin and once there I have my rock crawler jeep for the heavy lifting... But I need something that can haul a move down the highway with a weekend of supplies and tools, gets the best MPG, and can navigate lightly maintained winter roads... When I need to move something heavy I can use my trusty old 04 ram diesel, but 17-19mpg and rough riding empty makes for a long 5 hour drive when I don't need the hauling ability... Our other option is our 08 front wheel drive caliber at 28mpg but not much hauling ability, or my Miata which is a lot of fun, but useless for hauling and painful for me on trips longer then 2hrs...
So I am looking at ditching the Miata, and going with something wagon/minivan based AWD... I haven't jumped on a Subaru yet because I don't know anything about them and that flat 4 engine scares me to death (old VW beetle night mares just won't go away)...
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deercula
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2017 00:56
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F-150
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Kamn
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2017 07:47
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2003 F250 Lariat 4x4 diesel
Great hauling capacity with decent MPG for a truck that size
My road in to my (to be built) cabin is not maintained on a regular basis and is a little bumpy old gravel road.
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Cowracer
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2017 09:12
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By the way... This is my "going to the cabin" truck. Funny thing is, I am paved all the way to my driveway, and the driveway is only about 150 fee long.
Tim
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Kamn
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2017 09:22
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Nice Excursion
is it a 6.0L power stroke?
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Cowracer
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2017 10:38
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Quoting: Kamn Nice Excursionis it a 6.0L power stroke
7.3 Powerstroke. It's a bit of a PITA to own with people every week trying to buy it off me. No joke, I have had guys follow me into gas stations to see if I wanted to sell it. For the record, you would have a better time trying to buy one of my kids off me than that truck. I mean... push-come-to-shove, I can always have another kid, but 7.3 Exys are getting pretty rare.
Tim
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Asher
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2017 13:35
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Toyo tech.... How reliable are those Toyota mini vans? I notice they had a AWD option... Seems like a decent snowy street option...
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2017 14:30
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Quoting: Asher Toyo tech.... How reliable are those Toyota mini vans? I notice they had a AWD option... Seems like a decent snowy street option...
Rock solid and the AWD's are like tractors in the snow.
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2017 14:36
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Quoting: Cowracer 7.3 Powerstroke
And a good thing, a 6.0 powerstroke was a pile and big $$$ repairs after the 50K mile mark, issues with head-bolts pulling out of block. I had a buddy who bought an 04 Excursion new, 6.0, he sold it with 50K, but before they became toxic, now, many Ford dealers dont even want them for trades ins (anything with the 6.0) but I rode in his Excursion many times and it was a animal and a pulling brute. He never had issues with his.
7.3 is a fantastic engine and highly coveted.
I went new Ram, just because it had the Cummins in it, and it was the only mfg still selling manual trannies because I didnt trust any Chrysler automatic any further than I could throw one. Biggest piles on the planet. I'd buy a RAM with an automatic now, as it would have to be the Aisan auto and available only on 3500's and is a $2995 option. But you get 900 ft lbs torque when you go that route. I have never liked anything MOPAR, ever. If it wasnt for the Cummins (well, Mercedes Benz was owner in 2010) I'd never of bought a MOPAR of any kind.
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Cowracer
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2017 15:47
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These days, If a 6.0 is still running, it has all the serious work done to it, and should last a long, long time. People are still scared of them, but I'm not. I just prefer the simplicity of the 7.3
I do covet that great turbo whistle on the 6.0 though. Sounds like a miniature J79 jet spooling up.
Tim
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offgridjunkie
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2017 17:51
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If you don't need a truck and are not towing, a Subaru also makes a great snow car. For plowed roads, it works great with standard tires. I use it in the winter and never have been stuck or needed to chain it up.
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2017 20:41
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I love my f150 off grid 4x4. Specially launching a boat over rock down a 30 degree slope. or running through two feet of snow heading into the back 40.
but my gals little toyota echo went through snow like a knife threw butter. front wheel drive with winter tires. no worries.
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bldginsp
Member
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# Posted: 20 Jun 2017 00:33
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Tires matter a lot. I was going down the hill in the snow as a neighbor was going up, no room to pass due to snow. We both screeched to a halt, or slid. I was able to shift into reverse and go uphill in reverse when he was not able to start up again going forward. Both 4wd trucks, mine Toyota Tacoma his ford ranger. But- I had new Michelin AT tires, he had something else, but badly worn.
I've never heard anything bad about the Subarus. Only reason I have a truck is because of how much junk I haul up there.
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Wilbour
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jun 2017 10:23
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Winter: 2005 Highlander
Summer: 2013 Smart Car - Ottawa to Kingston and back $15
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jun 2017 11:17
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Quoting: bldginsp I've never heard anything bad about the Subarus. Only reason I have a truck is because of how much junk I haul up there.
Same here. If Subaru made a pickup (again) I'd get one. I had an old VW rabbit diesel pickup, 45mpg, but it wouldn't make up my hill, was a death trap and eventually blew up.
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LoonWhisperer
Member
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# Posted: 21 Jun 2017 11:29
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2009 AWD Toyota Venza
Our driveway is pretty narrow and fairly steep as you get up towards the cabin. There is also a pond on each side so you can't really punch it. This pic doesn't really capture all of that but you get the idea.
With even a little snow, the Venza will get stuck so we have to park at the top and haul our gear to the cabin during late fall and winter.
Next ride will definitely be a 4x4 of some kind.
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