For those of you that own a 2004 F-150 with 4x4 and limited slip rear end - What's your impression of it in the snow? Any need for weight in the bed? Does it feel like it's going to fishtail? How would you rate it on hilly roads in snow and slush?...on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best)? This is what I will be buying and I was just wondering about it. We got 4 inches of snow and then freezing rain yesterday so that made me think about this. Thanks

 

Lariatf150,

I've got 4x4 with 3.73LSD. Compared to my '97 F150 XLT 4x4 (no Limited Slip), there is a world of difference. I think that the additional weight of the '04 is a helpful factor. There have been a number of occasions this season when I would have had to engage 4wd in my old F150, but had no slippage whatsoever in my '04. We got almost 4" of snow last night and the rural road I live on is still snow covered. I engaged 4wd on it because it is winding and I was travelling at 30mph. The "main" roads were slush covered, and I was able to disengage 4wd and travel without problems.
I do keep weight in the bed. Right now I have 2 70 lb. sand bags, plus 100 lbs. of calcium chloride. Those, plus the weight of my Retrax (75#) and Line-X (60#?) add up to about 375 lbs. of weight in the bed compared to stock. I think the truck handles better in general with some extra weight in the bed anyway.
Now that I have the Limited Slip, I can't imagine not having it on future trucks. It's well worth it. I'd rate it an 8 out of 10...obviously there are extreme conditions in some areas that might require tire chains. Good luck.

 

4x4 (4.10LSD) I came from a 4x2 ranger, so I don't have anything to compare it to. But from my experiences thus far in the snow...it's amazing. I've been traversing deep snow, on inclines and the truck performs wonderfully. I do not keep any weight in my bed.

Zero fishtailing, just point the truck where you want to go and hit the throttle.

With more aggressive tires I would suspect even better performance. (heavy duty payload tires for me)

8 out of 10

 

If you get both wheels spinning and turn the wheel, you're going to fish tail (while in 2wd). I run around in 2WD most of the time just because it's more fun.

I went from a 4wd ranger with a limited slip to this and it's a lot better than the ranger when in 2wd. The added weight, wheel base, weight displacement, etc. all help.

The engine is so smooth and predictable fishtailing is really not a big deal on this vehicle. This is where a revvy hemi would be a handful.

I've cautioned people about how limited slip rear ends cause fishtailing in snow more than on non-limited slips. And like I said, if you get the wheels spinning it's going to kick out, BUT This truck is very smooth and handles so well I think I'd recommend getting it now for most everyone. We've had a lot of snow lately so I've been able to do some "testing".

I'll still go with 10 if you're an experienced driver, 7 if you're a little freaked out if the truck kicks out on you every now and then.

 

Thanks. I definitely understand about fishtailing if you break the rear end loose in 2wd. I always try to test my abilities in empty parking lots and empty streets to see what my vehicle does so I know what to expect. My wife just says I'm playing and I need to quit She just doesn't understand...hehe Anyway, I had an old S10 Blazer back around 94 and I could not get that thing stuck for anything. It did very well in snow. I could stop dead on hills and take off again with no prolem. That's what I'm hoping I find in the F-150 4x4. I live in a hilly area and sometimes idiots stop on the hill and you're screwed in most 2wd vehicles in that situation. My hope is that I can stop on the hill in my F-150, take a coffee break, read a newspaper, etc...and then hit the gas, throw snow everywhere and be on my merry way while I laugh at the other goofballs that stopped in the middle of the hill in their Camaros and such. Is that pretty much how it is?

 

You won't have any problem.

Yesterday was the second time I've had mine in a fairly decent amount of snow - this time with a nice layer of ice under it and the truck does fine (as expected). I've never put sandbags in a 4x4 truck, this one included.

Just throw it in four high and go. Uphil, downhill, straight - it doesn't matter.

As you alluded to, the biggest obstacle is people in Camaros, Mustangs and so forth.

I have noticed that the Scab does oversteer a little more than my short bed Dodge 4x4 did - whether that is a product of the added length or the tires I don't know. Its not bad, just a little more pronounced.

 

This morning was probably the deepest snow my FX4 SCAB has seen sofar (8"), for the most part I kept it out of 4 wheel drive just to play around some but when I locked it up it handled great.

I also want to mention that the friggin anti lock breaks in the new trucks work awesome, I tried to get them to lock up this morning coming down the road and it just tracked straight as can be and did not slide.

Hell of a job they did on the 04's

 

I have had 4x4's with and without LSDs. I will not buy another that doesn't have LSD.
Just remember in 4x4 without LSD, you still have only 2 wheels turning. 1 front, 1 rear.

 

That's good to hear about the anti-lock brakes. I have a 95 Cavalier and the anti-lock brakes absolutely suck! They lock up almost instantly on snow or anything at all slick. I'm not sure how they would do on wet roads, but even on gravel if there happens to be some on the road, they suck on that too.

 

My post would be identical to JohnAndDar's. Coming from two trucks with open differentials (the last one also being a '97 4X4) I can say without a doubt that I will never buy another truck without limited slip. The last week the roads have stayed slushy and slick and I have experienced none of the unexpected break-away of the rear end that I was worrying about. I've been pushing it and making it fishtail just to get the feel of it for when I need to recover, and it is not a problem. I used to have to switch into 4X4 at every intersection even if it was only raining with my '97 and the '04 takes of solid even in snow.

Bottom line for me is it's the only way to go in snow.