not that im looking fir a rule or mandatory just really dobt want to mess up my love by skidding out and crashing when I couldnt have avoided by usibg 4wheel also dont want to brake nothing . I believe I broke my axle hsg (which is replaced)

 

Could have

 

The way I approach it: Keep good tires on the ground, add at least 300lbs. of dead weight over the rear axle (I've got about 500lbs just now), and only shift into 4WD when I'm good and nervous about being on the road in the first place. If I'm that nervous there are slick spots enough to prevent binding the front end.

 

If youre not careful you can actually lose control easier in 4wd. Youve got the back pushing and the front pulling, so when it starts to slide you can go all over the place. We dont get as much snow down here as ya'll yanks up north lol, but when we get it i rarely use my 4wd unless im pulling somebody out. I just take it easy and get there when i get there.

 

Alot of people have provided good input to you. The main ones I'd really highlight are tires and weight in the bed as the foremost, then judging when to switch in/out of 4x based on conditions. Every region is different and the snow/ice mixture will vary. This will dictate particular driving methods. However, in my decade of being in Colorado the bigger problem was always the over confident drivers, which some of you have already commented on.

To really get you a better feel or comfort level of driving your beast rig, I recommend that you get on the road earlier than everyone else, if possible. I would actually be up ~6am to be on the road with less people. You get to make tracks sometimes, but most importantly you can experiment a little. Mostly prepping yourself for that extra stopping distance. I can't tell you how many times I left a turd in my pants upon breaking and the thing went down to ice. Scariest thing coming up to intersections or when someone just decides to cut you off.....

The other is to go to a big parking lot with no other vehicles. Don't do donuts and shiz as you'll toss the LSD clips. But practice going in/out of 4x, stopping, turning, etc.

Hope this helps. Ultimately, while you may be doing what you're supposed to while driving in/out 4x, others may flub that up. Oh...if you come upon a hill or grade and start to see people slow down or gather up....then you're more or less effed. Keep momentum while NOT breaking the tires loose. Engine breaking/speed control is key with a good feathering on the skinny pedal.

 

Certainly good info. Ive done my share of "wild" driving. fish tailing on purpose and playing. So ive become pretty good with handling.
since i came home two yrs ago Ive owned a 91 plymouth acclaim that was a beater. It was MY first car. It was like the chevy song that got posted the other day. No muffler (fell off) no blinkers, no radio, worst part no heat. driving down the road wiping the window as i drive lol. with a pregnant girlfriend. Junked that and got a 93 dodge caravan. was driving down the highway with my wife 5yr old son and 2 month old daughter at the time and got cut off applyed my brakes and ended up in the next lane striking a 18 wheeler. (luky we hit the cab where the stairs are and as we were swerving i pulled it to the left and we ricocheted off the 18 wheeler) i got a 2 wheel drive durango. That was my favorite (2nd to my ram) it had the 318 but only two wheel dr so it was light. damn near beat my brother in a 14 mile race (on highway and town rds)in his dodge charger but he cheated lol.. that thing sucked!!! in snow damn near died in that trying to get to work. i merged got off the on ramp from one highway to another and when i went to merge over the truck continued to slide ALL the way over all the lanes i pulled it back to the right and slid ALL the way over the right facing the huge snow bank so i pulled it to the left and ended going up the snow bank on two wheels (my passenger wheels) than back down and into the driving lane going straight and normal talk about ****ting my pants... really g;lad no other cars were around me on the highway. eventualy i upgraded that durango for my ram. In which case i will never buy anything other than a truck!!! (also nothing without 4wheel) ive already driven my Ram in the october snow storm we had so im deff. going to go with some added weight. Thanks for all the comments

 

my durango... i beat it up off roading and taking it down paths to fishing holes. Was cool because on opening day its still chilly as hell in ct. so id lay the back two rows of seats down and put the futon mattress and there was my camper lol

 

i have a question about my 4x4 it seems to be sliping and clunking when i put it in 4x4 its a 2001 1500 4x4 5.9l v8 mag. and sugestions?

 

I recommend you start a new thread on this in the tech forum:

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen-ram-64/

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