Driving first time in snow.....

[AznBufDade]

Hey I'm new to this board and I got a '99 Ford Explorer XLT.

In one day, I'm goin up to Tahoe and driving in snow for the first time.....I have NO idea about if my car is 4WD or front wheel drive or whatever.....I've looked online for the info about my car, but can't find it anywhere.

I reallie dunno much about cars....basically use it alot to drive around and the only mod i have in it is stereo system material, but that has nothing related to this topic .

ANyways, can someone please help me find info about my car and tell me what should I bring with me when I drive in the snow and some tips could reallie help me out.

Thanx!

 

[smiley1]

Welcome to the site.

look under the front of your X and see if you have a front diff and axle shafts. If so, you are 4WD.

What motor do you have? OHV V6, SOHC V6, or V8?

You will need some chains to at least keep in your vehicle even if you are 4WD.

We need more information.

 

[taxx]

How do you not know? I would asume its 2 if you don't know unless its a V8. Chains are not needed somewhere that is used to snow and knows how to clean it up. Hell even if they aren't its jsut snow. Just need non bald tires. Just stay on the decent roads and drive with some sense.

 

[elkhunter]

It will probably have a button on the dash or shifter on the floor if it is a 4X4. Keep in mind that 4 wheel drive will get you going sooner and faster BUT it will NOT make you stop any faster! This is a very important thing to keep in mind! We have a lot of rich out-of-staters move here, buy a 4 wheel drive, and then ram someone because they couldn't stop!

 

[smiley1]

Chains are not needed somewhere that is used to snow and knows how to clean it up. Hell even if they aren't its jsut snow. Just need non bald tires. Just stay on the decent roads and drive with some sense.
__________________

The republic of Califorinia requires you to carry them.

 

[Jonny813]

Alternative to find out(Not recommended, but if you dont know anythig about cars)

Go to an open parking lot with NO ONE around. Come to a complete stop, hold the break down all the way. Give a LITTLE gas, get the Tach to up to 1250-1500 RPMs
and let go of the break and give it full throttle. If you have NO tire spin, you have 4WD, if the tires chirp/spin you have 2WD.

 

[mcG]

you get snow in cali?
make sure you start to brake a whole lot sooner than you normally would, and ease into it (especially when there's ice). brake too hard and you're gonna be sliding around for a bit.

 

[smiley1]

you get snow in cali?

Yes. We have a mountain range called the Sierra Nevadas. Yep, we have surfing, water skiing, and snow skiing. We have it all if you can put up with the left coast.

 

[old mechanic]

Yes. We have a mountain range called the Sierra Nevadas. Yep, we have surfing, water skiing, and snow skiing. We have it all if you can put up with the left coast.

Isn't that where they just got the 15' of snow?

 

[AznBufDade]

Reallie.....thanx all for your help about this. I reallie appreciate it as I'm reallie clueless about this topic.

My car is a v8 for ur information.

Dunno if this helps or not.....excuse the flat tire too....I've replaced it long time ago.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Get a closer picture of the area between the chrome foglight and the license plate, right by where the light shines through in the bottom pic. If you look in that opening and have AWD there will by a shaft going to the wheel. This will have acordian style boots on both ends. There will also be a shaft and a boot for the steering. If there is a shaft going to the center of the wheel, from the rear, it has AWD.