I have a 2010 1500 ram 2 wheel drive and experienced a lot of wheel slip this winter even with extra weight in the bed. I noticed one tire would spin and the other did nothing and then at other times the other tire would spin and the opposite tire ould do nothing. Is this a problem with the rear end, it only had 5,000 miles on it at the time or is it some form of anti-slip? If so is there a better arrangement for the rear end. It was really fustrating getting stuck in the snow at the drop of a hat.

 

You've kind of described the limitations of 2WD pickup trucks and open differentials. Pickups are some of the worst vehicles in slippery conditions if they are not 4WD or not loaded up with a lot of cargo the back end is super light. And an open diff will behave like that. Limited slip diffs are vital for slippery driving conditions (with 2WD).

Rob

 

I had a 99 1500 2 wheel drive that would get stuck in wet grass i put about 300lbs of wood in it during the winter so i wouldnt get stuck!! i now have a 09 4x4 so i can go off the road. hope this helps you !!

 

Your thread doesn't show where you live, I guess my question would be why didn't you buy at least a limited slip rear end or maybe even 4x4? The former is almost a given to drive in snow. However, I certainly did drive plain old vinilla Chevy station wagons many years ago in snow all over the place while living in Missouri, Nebraska, Germany and Virginia. Never got stuck and never had to carry ballast. Anyway, you might want to change over to a limited slip rear end.

 

600 lbs in the bed and some better tires works fine on my truck in MN. You don't need 4wd or an LS to drive in snow, and we get more than most.

 

You guys have been in cars and 4WD vehicles far toooooo long. The 2WD Ram does fine in the snow ------ it's all relative.

I've been driving trucks far longer than I care to admit - let's just say I drove a 53 Chev pickup when it was almost new...... LOL

These trucks really do quite an admirable job, in snow and other slippery locales.

Yes, I've had 4WD, and even plowed a lot of snow for a long time.

2WD is really all most people need to get where they are going. 4WD is for getting out of being stuck......... Soooo, don't get stuck!

 

I'm with oldjeep. Maybe 600 lbs is too much but with good tires and some weight the 2wd open diff do ok. The biggest problem is going up inclines with the stock tires - the thread just fills up and it's slick on slick. The electronic traction control works well. Carry some chains for when you need them.

 

It's not a question of whether it can be done or how comfortable you are with a 2WD truck in the snow. The OP had concerns about it and I pointed out that a 2WD truck with open diff is about the most challenging thing you can drive in the snow. It can be done, but almost any other vehicle is easier to deal with. My IS300 is a RWD sports car that has been super to deal with in the snow in MN for 11 winters, primarily because of the balanced weight distribution and dedicated winter tires. My Ram in 2WD is WAY less capable than the IS300 in the snow and a real pain in the *** to try to stop on ice compared to anything else I've owned. The dynamics of a truck are just a fact of physics.

Rob

 

Better tires and weight in the bed. I've never had a 2WD truck, all seven (yeah I'm old) have been 4x4s. But it still didn't mean I went a winter when I lived up north without putting weight in the bed.

I usually put about 300-400 lbs. of sand between the tire humps, right over the rear axle.

Ain't ever seen a tire come stock on a truck be it 4x2 or 4x4 worth a damn on anything but dry pavement.

LSD might be a good thing to look into, but without the weight in the bed or decent tires, you'd be throwing away your money...

 

I once had a 4wd with open diffs front and back and it wasn't that much better than a 2wd with a locker