If you need it you have it......

 

nothing feels better then driving thru a huge snowbank, getting stuck, popping the puppy into four paws and crawling your a$$ out! Can't wait for winter, but let me give you these words of advise before you buy a 4X4:

1. you get excellent traction, but you can't stop any faster then any other vehicle on the road, 4x4 which provides all that traction on snow doesn't do anything for your stopping, you'll slide like everyone else (get ABS)

2. don't eat yellow snow. nuff said.

------------------
David
'99 F150 XLT SC, STYLESIDE
4X4 ORP 5.4L, AUTOMATIC,
139wb, Rhino, K&N,
BugGuard, RainGuards
Superchip

 

I go 'wheelin all the time, but since I bought by baby in Jan. have only just taken it off road this last weekend. Since most of the trails here in Co. are narrow, I scratched the $%*&#@ out of my truck. I picked up a product called Scratch Out by Kit Wax, it took most of 'em out and it looks good. We played on some nasty trails and the beast did very well. I have owned a Toy and a Mitsu 4X4 previously but the Ford seemed to do much better with less effort.

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Mike Boardman '99 F150XLT 4X4 RC,FS,4.6,5spd,3.55LS,ORP,
Towing pkg,K&N GenII FIPK,FLowMaster,SnugLid,Luverne Nerf bars,
bug shield, DK Toreador Red.
When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

 

I maybe only need 4x4 5-6 days out of the winter. But I do like to have fun. I guess you could say that I use it 35% of the time. I could get by fine with just limitedslip

 

Anybody see todays Trucks! They put on a Mattracker on a Bowtie, and it looks impressive, and the shovie needs it.

[This message has been edited by fast46triton (edited 10-16-1999).]

 

I have been using mine about 2 times a month off road. But like everyone else the first time was a narrow path ( it didn't seem so narrow when I used to go on it with my old CJ7) and I got a scratch or two. But now only wide open paths are used.

As for the stopping in the snow. You will stop faster with a 4x4 if you use your trans for the slow down. The lower gears will slow you down using all four tires. Don't hit your brakes until you need to use them. I will start slowing down a bit ahead of time , but in a situation that I need to stop quicker the engine does a great job (instead of locking up and sliding faster).

I live in Michigan and get plenty of snow time. It started two days ago.

------------------
1997 F-250 HD Supercab 4x4 w/ 7.5l 460!!
1980 F-150 Reg. cab 4x4 w/5.8l 351!!

 

This winter I am going to use the 4x4 more than ever. I use the old 89 for a
-farm truck
-hunting truck
-Mudding truck
-grocery hauler
-old truck
-work truck
-?

 

I know it is worth it here in New England.After driving my 93 Lightning through 5 winters, I will be glad to have 4 wheel drive again.
I also am glad to have 4 wheel antilock disk brakes on my 99 F-150. That rear wheel antilock system on my 93 was a joke, the rear wouldn't skid but the front would on icy roads.
This summer we will see how it tows my 20foot boat. The Lightning towed very good, but I did have some problems on slippery ramps, but allways managed to get it out.
Plus being up higher has it advantages, when stopped in rush hour traffic I can get a better look at the girls in the cars on the highway, yaaaa

 

Did your Lightning have Ls? That is a lot of fun on icy roads...