I've heard that a lot from jealous people that don't have 4x4 (and I'm well aware of how ice kills braking) because I don't let ice stop me from getting where I need to go. It'll take me a while to get there because I'm putting along doing 15-35 depending on how bad it is but I'm going to get there and if I happen to slide off the road I will actually be able to get back on it thanks to the four wheels spinning instead of two. This normally comes from people at work fussing about the plant not shutting down for an ice storm. There are also a few around here that'll do 50-60 in slush and ice and my only thought is that they're going to have a particularly bad day if they slide into me while I'm driving the right speed for conditions.

Last year I had a guy following way too close on solid ice for a half mile or so before I turned, I took a little longer to slow down than I needed to so they would be able to do the same without rear ending me. I turned, they attempted to turn and slid right through it and got stuck about 20' off the road. I laughed then called the sheriff (AWD Chargers that were everywhere) to go check on them. If they hadn't been driving like an idiot then I would have turned around and pulled them out but they were asking for it.

 

Happens here all to much. Just be warned in 4wd you only have one front wheel spinning and one rear (unless you have LSD or some sort of locker in the front and rear) and the tiring spinning will be the one with less traction. What I don't get is ABS was made to help stop you in bad conditions, but states will not help stopping distance in snow and ice. Then what could is it!?!? Lol

 

In my experience and opinion... it doesn't matter what anyone drives... 2 wheel drive... 4 wheel drive... or 100 wheel drive... icy roads treats em all the same.... loss of control... the best policy is driving slowly... and watch out for the other guy...but then its always the other guy's fault....huh???!!! LOL....

 

The main reason I'm covering my auto to a stick next summer is because of winter. When I drive me 86 Ram 4spd I just keep it in 2 and it never goes above 25 and for really bad roads I put it into creeper gear and it won't go over 5. I will someone put the auto into 1st on m going down hills if it's bad.

 

What are some ideas to reduce or prevent fishtailing. Any ideas??? I've put 2 60 pound sand bags over each wheel well. Didn't really work too well. I've tried driving in 4WD and that works on city streets... but not sure on highways... how fast can our trucks drive in 4WD? 20, 30, 40 MPH? mine is 99 ram 1500. That might be the max I would ever go on icy/snowy roads... thanks

 

I have Detroit TruTracs in both axles, all four of my tires spin.
ABS lets up the pressure on the sliding wheel (panic stop on dry pavement) but when all the tires are slipping then it loses its mind and doesn't know which tire to let up the pressure on before applying it again. Good thing I only have it on the rear or ice driving would be a little more tricky.
4x4 on pavement is a no no unless it's ice/slush so the tires can slip when turning the wheel. 4x4 high is 55mph - 4x4 low is 20mph.
My dad put four or five 18 gallon totes between the wheel wells one time and filled them with water, that added a bunch of weight that stayed put when it froze.

 

^ This. However as someone who lives in central Texas, I just don't drive when it ices up. Our roads aren't even remotely suitable for ice. They're sloped for flash floods and people who normally drive in the ice and snow "back home" always drive in the ditches here. (Military town, most are kids... late teens/early 20s.)

 

yeah people FREAK OUT when it snows here in my part of Tx or even if it ices over. I think I jinxed myself by my post the other day saying my 6-7 year old ac delco battery that was in my Ram when I bought it was still working fine, this first big bout of cold/rainy weather here in my part of Tx killed the poor thing, went to go to the store earlier and it just sounded so pitiful barely turning the engine over all weak then stopped. I got some side post adapters for ~4 bucks at autozone and hooked up the pretty new Duralast Gold rated 700 CCA battery from my old 92 V8 firebird and my truck started up INSTANTLY within one turn if even that of the engine, shocked me since it was a cold cold start too.

the old ac delco was 750 CCA so I don't think a 700 CCA here in my area will affect it too much, truck started up the best it ever has, and actually my random really low idle problem I'm sure is a bad or gunked up IAC wasn't that bad with the new battery, got a little lowish to 500 rpm when coasting occasionally but way better than 200 or sub 200rpm or stalling like it did the other week on the old battery, I heard a weakening battery can cause all sorts of weird issues in vehicles. And I didn't even wait 10 seconds to let the ECM learn the sensor data like I should have lol.

 

I checked voltage on this battery this morning and it read 12.24v. I read that 12.2 v translates to an AGM battery being only 60% charged and probably defective. Instead of buying a AGM battery charger, I will contact Amazon and attempt to get my money back. So the hunt is back on for a new battery.... and so much for buying a battery on line... I guess that's what I get for being lazy and not shopping in-person...LOL. Thanks for listening to me ....again.