Observation on the 20+ Explorer RWD in Snow/ Ice

[DoraAExplorer]

First off let me say that if you have a RWD Explorer then in most all cases if you are not running Snow or Stud tires then you should park it and not drive it. The RWD Explorer wants to fish tail and is easy to get out of control on a ice packed fully covered road. With that said if you do run the Ex on ice packed or snow covered roads then the best way to do this is in Slippery drive mode with traction control off. The computer won't kill power on wheel slippage and the computer will modulate the Rear differential to where it will act like a LSD by modulating the brakes on each side to lock the wheels and make them pull at a similar speed. With traction control on the computer will kill power which makes you slide more. Basically the RWD Ex with the Scorpion tires is a sliding automobile and you will lose control of it without any tire contact to a surface. The Ex has the weight but it doesn't have the control in RWD to handle a road surface that is completely covered with ice or snow. It is not if it will get out of control but when and when is the result of what type of wreck you will have.

Be Safe out there in the winter.

 

[Rick]

That pretty much describes every RWD 2wd vehicle I have driven on snow or ice. We used to put sand bags in the trunk of our cars for weight over the tires, and to use as a traction aid on ice. It could be done in the Explorer as long as the bags are strapped down so they cannot become projectiles.