Stuck in snow

[Ian@]

Got stuck in my 2 wheel drive Ranger pickup the other day , ice and up hill , not good !!



Would fitting the Axle off a 4X4 improve things much , ie give me real 2 wheel drive , has any one done this , is it a straight forward job , would the gearing be ok ?



Or I may go for a Ranger super cab 4x4 , as I move bikes about and lawn mowers and need a long bed , my pick up has a tail lift on the back so would need to change that over , so either way it's work .



4X4 back axle is about £250 , or £2000 and my ranger for a newer super cab hmm

 

[RangerX]

Swapping a 4x4 back axle won't do you any good, unless it has a limited slip in it. You could also install a limited slip into your current axle.

Supercabs don't have a longer bed than regular Rangers, unless things are different in England.

 

[Ian@]

Would have thought the 4x4 would have a limited slip dif as standard ?
Could fit a limited slip dif to my axle , easy to fit the axle in one unit , as a full axle and just a dif are about the same price !



Pick up has a 8ft bed , supercab is only about 20inches shorter , kingcab would be no good for me

 

[eXcali]

I don't really think the limited slip would help you to much due to 2 front wheels having no power, heck even a solid axle in the rear wouldn't give you much help in this situation. You'd be better off carrying a load of sandbags in the rear of the truck.

 

[rookieshooter]

I don't really think the limited slip would help you to much due to 2 front wheels having no power, heck even a solid axle in the rear wouldn't give you much help in this situation. You'd be better off carrying a load of sandbags in the rear of the truck.

Best idea yet When I was a kid that's all my dad ever used. Went everywhere like that. Plus you have the use of the sand to pour on the ice if need be.
I have a limited slip rear and it's still not the end all solution. On off camber rides in the snow you may find that it will make the rear slid more down the hill.
I still add weight to the rear in mine whether it's full tank of gas or bags of sand, firewood or even 50 pound bags of corn that I use in my game feeders.

Then again one time on a hunting trip when even 4x4s could not make it up the snow and ice covered roads. My two wheel Chevy Nova did just fine.....Chains.
In fact if I can find those simple one at a time strap-on chains or similar traction strap-on for my 33s on 10" rims I would promptly buy them.

 

[manaen]

if you have an open diff, you could look into an aussie locker it will help some to drive with both wheels. However weight in the back is the key with those super light weight rangers. My dad used to run studs in the winter on his 2wd ranger with sandbags over the axle.

RS I have not seen those single strap chains in years. I think there were too many problems with idiots strapping them on and then trying to drive too fast or spinning the tires. They tend to become missles when flying off a spinning wheel. Even JCWhitney doesn't offer them anymore.

 

[rd_turbo]

+1 for adding some weight back there but strongly recommend snow tires. The compound is formulated to deal with just what you described. I got stuck going uphill on a sheet of ice in my 4WD two wintes ago just because of poopy tires. It was quite embarrassing to be sitting there spinning one wheel at the front and one wheel at the back while people were passing me with a puzzled look on their face. Bridgestone Blizzaks are the only thing I buy do deal with what winter throws at me these days.