Tips and Advice on driving in Winter and Off Road with a RWD

[exvin]

Hey All, its 2:50Am EST and I cannot sleep, so I was thinking about the upcoming winter and spring time for off roading and I was wondering if you guys have any tips and advice for driving a RWD vehicle in snow/ice and also off roading

For example I know that FWD vehicles are better in snow because it pulls the vehicle instead of having to push it, which can cause the tires to slip/spin so a set of winter tires will be able to prevent this from happening on a RWD

Does anyone else have any tips or advice...anything...anything at all

[exvin]

Here is a good article: http://4wheeldrive.about.com/g...7.htm

[REZN]

i got the rear wheel drive pathfinder.**** i was even thinking about a conversion to 4wd.guess its not worth it.plus... i can do pretty much the same thing my boy with the 4wd does... except he gets out easily when he gets stuck..

[exvin]

i got the rear wheel drive pathfinder.**** i was even thinking about a conversion to 4wd.guess its not worth it.plus... i can do pretty much the same thing my boy with the 4wd does... except he gets out easily when he gets stuck..

I am confused, you mean your pathfinder cannot go part time into 4WD and you wanted to convert it to a full time 4WD/AWD?

[QX4ME]

I am not sure which years, but the 4WD is an option to Pathfinders and QX4s. If no 4WD option, then it has 2WD (rear drive). Take my 2002 QX4 as an exsample, if it's a 2WD, then the 2WD/Auto/4H/4L switch does not exist, but a pop-out little tray instead.

[Qxxx4]

instead of salt bags like trucks do to add weight to the back end...get some heavy *** subwoofers in the back :p

my two cents haha

i have the part time 4wd but find myself using the rear wheel drive most of the time....we get alottt of snow but its not that bad driving the rear wheels only as long as your easy on the gas.

4wd is useless on a snowy turn anyways. i get major understeer with the 4wd, i feel safer turning with the rear cuz i can slide a little and get controllable oversteer.

[exvin]

instead of salt bags like trucks do to add weight to the back end...get some heavy *** subwoofers in the back :p

my two cents haha

i have the part time 4wd but find myself using the rear wheel drive most of the time....we get alottt of snow but its not that bad driving the rear wheels only as long as your easy on the gas.

4wd is useless on a snowy turn anyways. i get major understeer with the 4wd, i feel safer turning with the rear cuz i can slide a little and get controllable oversteer.

I have 1 sub -- an L5 so hopefully that helps

Last year was the first year I had the truck and I slid around really badly, plus with the inclusion of some crappy all season tires. News years I slid and hit a snow bank in 4WD and I also donuted (is that a word?) on progress avenue on scarborough. I have some winterforce "snow" tires this year so hopefully that will help better.

I have found some really good links on oversteering and understeering, check it out: http://4wheeldrive.about.com/o...d.htm

I remember also reading somewhere that you should not have overdrive engaged while in 4hi or low, is there any truth to that? My OD is always on, I dont take it off

[Densetsu]

I remember also reading somewhere that you should not have overdrive engaged while in 4hi or low, is there any truth to that? My OD is always on, I dont take it off

I haven't heard anything like that. In theory it should be moot, since you shouldn't be going OD speeds in conditions that warrant having 4HI engaged anyways. Right?

[exvin]

I haven't heard anything like that. In theory it should be moot, since you shouldn't be going OD speeds in conditions that warrant having 4HI engaged anyways. Right?

Quite tru because I think it gives you a greater chance of losing control of the vehicle.

I think the biggest factor with RWD or in fact any vehicle is to slow down and when you slip try to keep it steady

But any other suggestions would be beneficial

[SixGuns]

If you're inexperienced driving in the snow, don't risk your life or others'...be smart, get some snow chains (I'm assuming that by the degree of concern regarding controlling the vehicle that you're driving in some heavy-*** snow)....either chains or cables - cables don't damage your tires, like chains will if not used properly, but chains give you more control...don't go for that strap junk they sell on ebay...those things are garbage. If you're running snow tires, you shouldn't have any problems anyway, but most importantly, slow the hell down, don't be stupid and try drifting, unless you are well practiced at it and know exactly how the vehicle will respond. And if you don't want to slide the rear end out around corners to compensate for understeer, then drive in 4-hi...doesn't matter about OD on/off...if you need to be in 4 wheel drive, then you shouldn't be pulling speeds that will kick the transmission into overdrive in the first place. Be safe.

[exvin]

If you're inexperienced driving in the snow, don't risk your life or others'...be smart, get some snow chains (I'm assuming that by the degree of concern regarding controlling the vehicle that you're driving in some heavy-*** snow)....either chains or cables - cables don't damage your tires, like chains will if not used properly, but chains give you more control...don't go for that strap junk they sell on ebay...those things are garbage. If you're running snow tires, you shouldn't have any problems anyway, but most importantly, slow the hell down, don't be stupid and try drifting, unless you are well practiced at it and know exactly how the vehicle will respond. And if you don't want to slide the rear end out around corners to compensate for understeer, then drive in 4-hi...doesn't matter about OD on/off...if you need to be in 4 wheel drive, then you shouldn't be pulling speeds that will kick the transmission into overdrive in the first place. Be safe.

Chains are illegal here in Toronto...but I think the 4HI understeer may just work

Also love the bluntness of the message

[SixGuns]

Hey that sucks about the no chains.....can you use cables? They technically should be legal 'cause they're worried about road damage, right? cables don't really damage anything...so I'd check on that..not AS good as chains, but still not bad. Yeah, sorry, wasn't trying to come across like a d!ck....you said you wanted advice, so...there you have it. Hope everything works out for ya.

[Adnan]

i say the proper tires play a critical role..sure you might not get away with things a 4wd could but a decent set of snow tires and a mature driver who wont give any more throttle then needed can endure a Canadian winter

[SixGuns]

i say the proper tires play a critical role..sure you might not get away with things a 4wd could but a decent set of snow tires and a mature driver who wont give any more throttle then needed can endure a Canadian winter

Or you could not live in Canada, then you get to drive like an ******* all year long in the South! LOL