I have always drove reardriven 2WD's , cars or trucks and I don't have a problem. I do add weight to the back in the winter. For the truck, I built a frame out of 2x4's that sits around the wheelwells and have a plastic "cement tray" that sits in the frame to put salt or sand or what ever. (Tina you should see THAT pic w/discription) Living in MI I learned a couple of things: A 4WD can't STOP any faster than a 2WD. If your good with the pedal, you can "hit it" and it whips right around where you want it. If in a slide, (which rarely happens) I just throw it in neutral and ride it out. I'm on the roads before the salt trucks even get out.

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98 F150 SC XLT 4.6, 3.55 LS Tow Pkg. CHIP K&N Airbox mod. Mobil One Oil
"Moonlight Blue"
Crome Rails (currently off to make room for)
New Fastback/spoiler
Lund Lighted visor
Lund Runninng Boards
(Above three in shop getting painted)
"Andthensometoo" in silver letters 3" high on tailgate, Crome Taillight covers, Smoked Bug and Rain guards, Shelf-it, Carpet dash cover, Red Wings license plate in front, Red Wings license plate frame in back, Little Detroit Viper hanging from mirror, Oh yeah, and one "Blacked-out" grill
LOOK-OUT!

 

North Man: Parking!!! Always way way out in the parking lot!! And then there's the dentist's office...this place is compact car heaven, big truck he##!! I have to back it in and keep a watch from inside to make sure no one else hits it. Boy I hate going to the dentist

 

I'm in the Ottawa area (land of the ice storm and many bad drivers). I stack 8 20-kg plastic bags of crushed stone up front in the bed - that's about 400 lbs for my Yank friends. Improves the grip.

With my Limited Slip, I get all the traction I need, but I don't go off road much.

The stock Firestones were okay for the first two winters, but this year they will get replaced by four real "ice and snow" tires on painted steel rims. All said, it's the tires that count most, I think.

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1998 XL SC short-box 4.2 5-speed 3.55LS, Pacific Green, A/C, factory box liner, factory dark tinted rear glass (like the XLT), cassette, carpet, Canadian XLS package (split bench, chrome wheels, side mouldings, box light, tailgate lock), sill guards, Windstar (driver's) wiper blade (the one with the air scoop). Oh ya: snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

 

I'm from the great white north too. The stock Goodyear Wranglers aren't to bad in the snow, but in the mud there's no chance. I hope to change this with purchasing a set of BFG mud terrains. Not sure if there any good in the snow though.

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'98 F-150 XLT Reg. Cab Flareside 4x4, Black, 5.4l, 3.55LS, tow package, K&N, GTS headlight covers, Alpine changer w/FM mod, Clifford alarm system / Future considerations: 285/75/r16 Mud Terrain BFG's, bed cover, tonneau cover, suspension lift.

 

Just my 2 cents, two winters ago I picked up a set of BFG AllTerain tires to use in the winter. I thought that they worked well.
However this past winter and spring I left on the stock Firestone HTs and believe it or not, it was actually better on ice and snow!
The BFG ATs were however grippier on hard packed dirt and mud.
Driving the BFGs on the highway wasn't too noisy but it did cost me ~100km in mileage per tank.

 

Fordification:
I had BF Goodrich Mud Terrains on my 95 F-150 4X4. They were GREAT in the snow and ice, didn't even need to use 4WD most of the time. They are also excellant on wet pavement, they never hydro-planed even in heavy rain and flooded roads. Road noise was acceptable.

 

Since we are all throwing are $.02 in, here's mine.

The BFG's AT's look good and they are quiet on the highway. They are horrible in mud, I won't comment on snow (not sure what it is, I live in TX) The Good year AT's are probably about the same. I had the GY ATS that come stock and I did pull out a Tahoe out of mud, shod in BFG AT’s

I have good year M/T's (siped) that really do well in mud and sand (pulled out two 4x4 jeeps 2 weekends ago). If my truck didn't have low range I would not be able to turn them over. The only problem with mine is that they whine on the road. I can deal with it by turning the radio up and the fact that I only put 10k/yr. I read in a magazine that these were quiet for a M/T. Any of you guys running M/T's got any comments? Any one running Super Swampers?


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99 SC 4X4 5.4 ORP 3.73LS Lariat Black over Gold on Tan.
Mods-K&N FIPK,Superchip,Dual Flowmasters,Westin Nerf Bars, 305/70/16 GY M/T's, Extang Black Max Tonneau

 

It's all down to the tires!!! Last winter I had 38 sheets of 1/2" drywall (1600lbs+)in the truck and still slid around till the tires were changed. My next new truck will have my choice of tires or no deal.

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97, 4.6, 3.55LS, Dk red 265/75/16, Leer cap, Rhino bed, rose wood dash, CD player,