Cj5 in snow???

I was coming down highway 24 from the high country into Colorado Springs many years ago. It was snowing in the mountains and raining in the Springs. Well, someplace in the middle it's going to be wet ice. As I hit that area, I downshifted into 2nd. The downshift alone was enough to break the wheels loose and send me doing 360's down the road. memo to self: always carry an extra pair of shorts in Jeep. R)

tommy b

 

Boy.. I figured this jeep would be as stable as atank in the winter, but now you guys almost got me scared..........ALMOST, now the adolescent side of me chimes in and says..COOL! an excuse to do donuts on the roads!!! Depending on how bad it gets this winter and how restrained I agn be it should be an interesting winter, and provide for much body work come springR) R)

 

I think the biggest thing is learn how to put it sidways and drive like that for a while. If you can keep it sideways and still move forward at the same time with out spinning the rest of the way around you will also be able to understand how to bring it back straight if you go sideways. Just like any vehicle, the brake is the enemy in the ice and snow. Don't do the typical woman thing and panic, close eyes, screem, and stand on the brake. Enjoy. Zach

 

Talking about snow-covered parking lots...

I recall being young and foolish and discovering that on ice I could use the brake and clutch to get the my CJ5 into (four wheel) reverse gear while still travelling forward at some speed... then hitting the gas, with very interesting and uncontrollable results.

The foolish part is I went back and did it several more times.

Amazing any of us live past our teens.

Pete

 

Jeeps are a lot of fun on the ice and snow. However please remember a couple of real important things about jeeps.

You can really hurt yourself if you suddenly hit a dry spot while sliding sideways. Jeeps flip real easy.

Notice the side protection you have. None! If you slide into another fixed object while skidding sideways and if it were to hit close to the drivers or passenger seat. Somebody could be hurt real bad.

 

Ditto to what Cliff says.

Pete

 

I remeber when I installed my power steering it gave me a much faster turning ratio, helped me in the snow. When the jeep decides to swap ends it happens reallllly fast!

 

X3

tommy b

 

If you really want to have fun get a limited slip or even locker in the rear diff. Nothing like having both rear wheels without traction to get your attention. Letting off the gas can be a thrill also as the rears can loose grip on a slippery road due to compression braking over powering surface friction.
Back in the day I was on a Ski Patrol at a little area called Alpental.
'65 CJ5, 283 v8. Never did chain up. Put it in 4X4 and just went.
The nice thing about a CJ in the snow is the world is covered in a white sheet of silence, and as you drive you listen to the engine revs, a little rise in rpm tells you that you are begining to slip, let off the gas and you can FEEL the tires re-engauging the road surface. There is a ZEN quantum gestalt that develops between a driver and a old jeep in the snow.
The lack of sound deadening, the closeness to the elements, the seat of the pants inertial feeling of the beast. It should be approached in awe.
Nothing else you will ever drive will teach you about driving in the snow like driving a jeep will. Front wheel drive is easier to drive in typical snow situations, plowed no ice underneath etc, but it does not lead to an appreciation of vehicular physics and human interaction. I say that because so many people operate cars on the road without driving them.
Its as if they have been given a banana evertime they managed to egt some reflex action correct without understanding the import of the action. So although a 12 year old can jump in a front wheel car and operate it, the the normal driver is little above that level in the appreciation of the nature of the activity taking place.
Yeah go and drive in the snow, learn what a jeep can and can't do and after going the the CJ5 school of driving go and drive that mommy van.
You will be a better driver for the CJ5 White knuckle experince.
IMHO

 

I have to say I could not have better said that my self!!!! I have drived rear wheel driven cars all my life and have gotten through snow deep enough that a 4x4 cop watched me doing donuts on the highway cause he was stuckR) R) (north east blizzard around 96-98 can't remember)

If it comes down to the "FEEL" of what the vehicle is going to or is doing.. I'll be good. Just like you said..I get in a zen like state with the vehicle when I'm driving.

Btw been driving since 16 and 36 now and NO accidents it any weather work truck already swapped ends on a bypass near hear and waved to the cop behind me with a look of "Ohh CRAP!" on his face cause he was following too close, cut the wheel and spun around and kept on going:twisted: He asked me the next day getting coffe in the morning how I did it.. I said ALOT of screwing around in a parking lot.

This jeep and I have a date in a snow covered lot! before any serious winter driving.