1. Only use 4 wheel drive when needed.
* you will be amazed about what 2 wheel driving can do.
2. 4 wheel drive does not really help on pure ice.
* It does help when you go slow and can't get a grip on the road.
* the front tires help pull instead of just sliding out your back end.
* when you engage the 4 wheel drive.
3. Go slow.
4. Doesn't help stopping at all.
* does help slow the truck down. AKA lower gear.
* at least it did in my 2.8L. don't know about the 4.3
5. I have never noticed when the back is loaded if that helps.
6. Shovel is your friend if you go off road or in deep snow.
7. board is also nice to keep along.
8. don't be afraid to rock it back and forth.
* sometimes even with 4H or 4L. There is to much snow in front.
* Backing up and going again works great. Just get a bump up and
* over the snow.
9. Keep a eye on how deep or how much snow you are pushing.

Biggest problem I have. I got a 4.3L now and to much power out the back end. Like learning how to drive all over again. Since I had my 2.8L

As for personal experiance only got stuck twice and once I dug myself out. The other I had to wait to get pulled out. Didn't expect to drive off of some ones drive way. I went striaght and the drive way had a bit of a curve to it. Thus, ended in a ditch. Couldn't tell since the snow had it all look the same. The lady said that was normal. More than one person was stuck each winter.

ttfn,

Josh

 

I keep a shovel, recovery strap, emergency kit, deicer, scraper all in the truck. ive got remote start to warm the engine and cabin. I switch to 4x4 in neutral at a complete stop. dont turn to sharp with 4x4 engaged. Dont use 4x4 on dry pavement. go slow. leave a lot of room for braking. if you slip dont hit the brakes or gas. The truck will do wonders :] takes right off with the right tires. my BFG ATs rock! havent slipped once in this blizzard this weekend.

 

i have the exact same tire on my 2wd 91 jimmy and they suck on packed snow but amazing in mud, i out drove a 4wd jeep tj in the mud. and as for weight in the back i had a 82 cuttless 4door and i had old snow tires on the back and 60-80 pounds in the back for the winter, i took it out one day drove around the block and put it back in right away. it made a masive diffrence.

 

As soon as the roads are covered with snow, I lock it in auto 4wd. I paid for the option, why not use it for the peace of mind! Anything more than 3 or 4 inches and its in 4hi. That along with the g80 diff, makes it a tank. Fantastic winter vehicles.

 

Hi.
I am new to this form however I have driven all kinds of vehicles over my 47 years.
I have seen kids get a 4x4 and think that they are gods and nothing can stop them.
The way I drive a 4x4 is it stays in 2wd unless I 1. the tires start to brake traction. 2. I get stuck. then I use 4x4 to get out of there because I have no business there in the first place.
I have driven taxi for years and almost all that time has been in a Jimmy or Blazer.
As for tires I always run Buckshots in the winter 4x4 or 2wd they have never let me down.
The cost of them is not the highest nor the lowest but for the amount of stress that I don't have to deal with I will pay it with a smile on my face.

 

bring out your dead! LOL