Cj5 in snow???

I've never driven a Jeep in the snow or a vehicle with such a short wheelbase for that matter... any pointers or suggestions??? Also my first 4x4 as well I'm used to rear wheel drive mopars that you need half the cars weigh in the trunk just to get going (doing donuts in the snow are fun!)
speaking of which.. Is a stock Cj5 too unstable to horse around in a parking lot???

 

Yeh the throttle is not your friend. Just take it easy and a short wheelbase vehical will not cause many problems.

 

Untill the roads get really bad, CJ's won't be much better than most newer model cars on light snow and ice. (All that traction control nonsense actually works!) The biggest difference is that when you slip off the road,you can get back on!

 

I've had alot winter driving experience, that big blizzard in 96 or soo when Pa roads were shut down by the governors orders. I drove my 79 Diplomat home that saturday night through 4 foot of snow.. I had snow chains on and very aggresive treaded tires but that sucker went past a 4x4 that was stuck in the snowR)

Well for the record I've driven my own vehicles and my various work trucks over the years in sleet freezing rain, snow,ice and everything in between and have never had an accident since I was 16. (I'm 36 now)
Plus I log around 400 to 500 miles a week with work in a pregnant whale of a truck.R)

 

Yeh I was not sure how to explain the whole throttle can help but not always concept.

 

what he siad...

 

Ive done alot of driving on snow for a southern guy , I used to pick up all moms help at the truck stop. With that said if its ice the jeep is staying home , Deep snow Im going playing

 

4wd won't help much on ice, but it is nice in snow.

If I had to drive long distances in snow I'd prefer something a little heavier and larger, like a 3/4 ton truck or a Cherokee.

Besides, the larger vehicle has a heater and defroster that actually work....

 

You mean you have driven in snow once right?

Ice=bad, my first ever lesson on snow driving dad did not go out first to see what the conditions where. needless to say I am getting yelled at for how I was driving till dad got behind the wheel and apologiesed for putting me out onto ice R)

 

Jeff you rode with me in snow before , remeber the cops wont chase you in the mess but the ambulance will R)

 

I remember. I was thinking about that trip earlier today. You did a good job except for that near roll thing R)

 

I was talking about 460 not audrey R) R)

 

In my experience, low speeds and transmission braking are the keys. Short wheelbase Cj trades ends very easily on slick roads. As long as I keep it to 35 mph or less, I have never had one spin. Downshift to decelerate unless and even if your brakes pull evenly. Be very careful when there are ice/snow ruts on the pavement as Cjs track width does not correspond to most cars and you can easily be sucked off the road.

 

Depends on what kind of driving you are going to do. In rural driving in a couple feet of snow with muddy road or frozen dirt roads-- you are only going 20 MPH. A CJ5 with lugged tires and even with chains running in low range is very capable under these extreme conditions. For general winter driving on pavement it is totally different.

 

CJ's are a allot of fun off road in the winter. I have had mine in as much as 4 to 5 feet of snow. As long as you don't get a heavy foot you are fine. I have a friend that took his sprint car slicks and made wheels for then to fit his cj7 and went miles past where I had to stop. I thought he was nuts for using slicks but it was impresive. If you are just driving around town and hit a bump on pack be ready to face the other way, it happens so fast you dont know what happend. Have fun in the parking lot it is a good place to start.

 

Oh. You did a good job on 460.

 

Well on snow covered roads with tire ruts from all the traffic I always drive to the right of everyone elses tracks. My reason for doing this is unpacked snow will allow you to stop quicker than the packed down like ice in those ruts.
I've always driven rear wheel drive vehicles and actually don't like front wheel drive in the snow. I've never got stock in my 79 Diplomat.
I guess the first snow over 3" I'll be in a parking lot, getting chased around by the cops..Happens every yearR)