Does anyone know how the 1500 2WD handles in the snow? I am thinking of buying one, and I wasnt sure how it does. It is a 2004, 5.7 hemi.

 

I dont know for a fact but i would suspect that with the hemi powering it it wount be easy in more then an inch or two of snow. but you have to see what others say..

 

Yup Im gonna experiment this winter with some kitty litter in the back or bags of concrete...

 

Actually, The truck handles fairly well. I live in snow country and drive 42 miles to work and 42 back each day. The best thing I've found so far is to put some serious weight in the back over the axles. I strongly recommend tubes of sand rather than kitty litter or concrete. If you wet the sand down before it starts to freeze outside, but also give it time to drain out so the sand is just wet, not standing water in the bed, the tubes will freeze and lock everything in place. I usually run about 500lbs in the back, and keep the tires at the normal inflation rate. One word of caution, start out EASY!!!!!---the hemi has lots of torque, and it will turn you sideways in a second, I learned on mine the first few days of snow. Also get familiar with the ABS brakes feel and use them to your advantage---Easy up, Easy down.
You may want to buy a couple of 20' ****** straps with fabric looped ends (no metal), a couple of 1/2" clevices just in case. I've gottem but never had to use them to get pulled out, only pulled others out

 

Besides the weight in the rear that all 2wd p/u need for winter driving, a good tire that is rated for severe snow is required. I have a 4wd and I have a set of All-Terrain 17's for the winter since the GY 20's are just barely passable in the rain. One thing to watch out for is the rating of the tire. Using BFGoodrich's T/A KO as an example, not all sizes meet the industry's severe snow service requirements.

 

I live in new england and my dad got along fine with his old ram (a 99 2wd and a v6). The new ram is great though. 4wd in the snow with pretty bare regular street tires and it will still grip (with a hemi and no weight over the back). In 2wd though it is really easy to break em free.

 

Make sure it has a limited slip rear...if not I would put an aftermarket one in. A one tire fryer truck would be the worse thing possible in the snow.

 

It wasn't too bad, but beware steep uphills. Some dumbass decided to come to a complete stop (before making a left turn on a completely empty road) and all the momentum I had built up evaporated. I ended up going up the rest of the hill almost sideways (and somewhere between 2nd and 3rd gears!).

 

you'll be just fine. you don't need weight in the back nothing really.. just learn how to drive in the snow.. don't go slow and try to accelerate up hills.. gain all speed before the hill, take it easy on corners, stay outta the gas. play around in a parking lot and get used to what happens in sudden braking or getting into the gas. best advice i can give you is just be calm. no big deal if she slides sidewaysss, just turn into slide get back into the throttle and she'll come right on back for ya.. talk to dirty to her to and she'll listen lol.... I don't have a 2wd i have a 4x4 but i never use 4x4 in the snow unless a toolbag trys to go up a hill slow and forces me to use it.

 

Really all you need to do is take it easy. Throwing some weight in the back isn't a necessity, but it sure helps. Still, the biggest thing is just takin it slow.