I'm new to the F150 this year and live in MN. I previously had an AWD SUV that really gripped the road. Now, I've noticed 2 things about the F150 that have me worried.

First, traction is terrible when its been wet this summer. My passenger side rear tire spins when I need to go and its wet.

Second, I'm worried when I'm in 4wd as it seems that there is no compensation when you turn. Both tires will spin equally when you turn wich means one will spin. Hope I explained that right. So, I'm worried about not having the traction this winter that I had last winter. Looks like I can't drive in 4wd all winter like I did with my SUV...or can I?

How do you drive your F150 in winter?

:santa:

 

Sure you can, gas mileage might not be so hot, but just keep it in 4W-HI and you can cruise it up to about 50(You can go faster, but i wouldn't advise it)

 

Ihad my f250 in Boston for 5 years. THe key is loading down the bed to add weight on the rear tires. You can use sand bags, bricks, logs really anything you have around the house. I used roofing shingles one year. I generally added between 200-500 lbs. I actually found my truck ran better when fullyloaded anyways. I miss that truck because my 150 is too nice to tear it up doing work in.

 

I would not put it in 4wd HI with the intention of keeping it there all winter unless your roads will be slick the entire winter. 4wd is not meant for dry road conditions even if they are just patchy. In a straight line, this might be okay, but when you try to turn on a dry road, you will experience some binding in 4wd. While 4wd might help in icy road conditions, you might try some of the suggestions above such as adding some sand bags to the back of the truck to distribute the weight evenly.

Realize that most trucks probably aren't going to handle as well on snowy roads as maybe an AWD car or SUV might.

 

Sounds like you have the open diff and not the limited slip. That's why I traded my last truck in and made sure I got the limited slip again on my new truck (power to both tires, instead of spinning just one wheel).
I've gone as fast as 60-65 with my truck in 4HI, but wouldn't do it for a long period of time or on any dry pavement. I only do it when the roads are really slick and haven't been plowed yet.

 

as for the spinning tire- do you have the LimitedSlip rear diff? that could be part of it. first snow I put about 5-600 lbs in the bed across the rear axle to up my traction, and it works wonders on slick inclines, and overall driveability in the winters up here.

 

I had no problem driving all winter with my 2WD I just made sure to buy one with a LSD

 

The only thing I found on my window sticker was this....

3.73 RATIO REGULAR AXLE

I'm sure that's the open diff.

Can I upgrade?

 

yea if it was the other way it would say 3.73 LS
well if you can find a wrecked f150 with LS you could take the rear axle and swap out- or go full aftermarket, as the stock LS kinda sucks- but that may be a bit of overkill if you dont do any off-roading etc... im not too knowledgeable about them, i'm sure some others will chime in to help-

 

never use 4wd on dry pavement unless u want to lock up the transfer case and break it in half 4wd is not the same as all wheel drive

 

If you are in a area that gets icy roads you just want the open diff. Limited slip can cause your back end to "kick out" when you are driving and hit a slick spot. I think you best bet will be to invest in some better tires. If they are spinning in wet conditions get something better.

 

Like you I came from an AWD SUV to a 4wd, F150 w/ 3.73LS.

He has an excellent point here. I live in the TC in MN too and when driving up to Grand Marias last winter before new years I hit black ice in 2wd and the back end kicked out and sent me sideways into a ditch.

This year I'm going to put some sand bags over the rear axle to weight it down and also put it in 4wd when there is snow on the pavement or I have a good feeling that it's icy (late at night, with temp below 30, windy and wet).

I used the 4wd last year on pavement when there was snow and ice and it was fine. Like the other guys said, I just wouldn't used the 4wd when it's dry pavement with no chance of ice or snow/slush. Usually it's the 4 inches of slush on the MN roads that gets you.

Welcome to F150Online.com and give me a honk if you see me around town.

Duke

 

if your kicking the *** end out LAY OFF THE GAS

 

Buddy, I am not talking when you take off from a stop, I mean if you are cruising down the highway at 90 km/hr and hit an icy patch, limited slip will cause your back end to kick out. In an open diff you just get wheel spin on one side and the other wheel will keep you anchored. I live in the great white north, I think I know how to drive in the winter.

 

You can hit black ice and be barely on the gas, just lightly touching it for that matter and you'll spin the rear end right around.

...and I'm not much further south!

Duke