First Truck - Snow Driving Experience Typical?

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Yup, 100% I understand what you're saying, however I strongly disagree. There isn't such thing as a natural situation in which only some spots are slippery on the portion of road that's being driven. Unless its a grease spill, oil spill, etc. (i.e. not natural), the surface will be slippery in its entirety regardless if we can see or feel the slippery patches or not, though it will most likely not be uniformly slippery. Switching from 4WD to 2WD because the driver feels the road has only slippery patches is just not expecting the expected.

Well, I have to disagree with that.
The back roads that I normally drive here in North Central, Indiana, they aren’t straight. These roads, with trees close to the edge, create spots that get very little, if any sun. Other areas may get sun might be clear. One hundred feet later, you’re in a shady spot that’s complete ice.

Not everyone drives on interstates that are plowed well and salted like popcorn.

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[Calson]

In mountain country the areas on the west side of the mountains could stay frozen while the sunny areas were fine. When I lived in Dallas the winter ice would stay for many hours on bridges and overpasses and the smart people stayed at home.

I would not expect any vehicle to come from the factory with "snow tires". Most people do not need them and other than on sand their handling is not the best.

 

[JExpedition07]

Coming from my beloved Expedition EL to the truck was a shocker to say the least. A 400 HP V8 sending power to wheels with no weight on them is quite the change up from my old 5.4 sending way less power to wheels with 50% of the curb weight on them. Pickup is spin city.

The Expedition was a lot more planted period. The Expedition EL/MAX would steam roll any F-150 in an accident with its hundreds of extra pounds of curb weight.

 

[HutchinWpg]

Snow tires, not all season and weight in the back is the best thing. You could always chain up

 

[Goldeneye36]

Well, I have to disagree with that.
The back roads that I normally drive here in North Central, Indiana, they aren’t straight. These roads, with trees close to the edge, create spots that get very little, if any sun. Other areas may get sun might be clear. One hundred feet later, you’re in a shady spot that’s complete ice.

Not everyone drives on interstates that are plowed well and salted like popcorn.

I agree with your disagreement (lol). I grew up in the Northeast in a suburban area with lots of trees and patchy back roads were a thing. I have a distinct memory of driving home from my HS grocery store job at midnight in freezing temps and the entire drive was fine except the last intersection before my house. I was being cautious and slowed early for my left turn but as soon as I applied the brakes everything locked up and I sailed straight through the intersection. Luckily there were no other cars but it was eye-opening to say the least.

 

[Jerome10]

Even with the crappy Hankooks my 5.0L doesn't get squirrely in the rear under braking in slippery stuff, regardless of what drive is selected.

While I agree dedicated snow tires are the key to safe winter driving, this does sound like a nuance of the PB, and requires more attention to driving one of those in the snow. Seems pretty dangerous to regen off just the rear brakes in an already tail-happy vehicle, imo.

I keep hoping Ford will make 4A available on XLT, like RAM does with equivalent Big Horn. Or maybe should just make 4A standard on Powerboost.

 

[Jerome10]

Coming from my beloved Expedition EL to the truck was a shocker to say the least. A 400 HP V8 sending power to wheels with no weight on them is quite the change up from my old 5.4 sending way less power to wheels with 50% of the curb weight on them. Pickup is spin city.

The Expedition was a lot more planted period. The Expedition EL/MAX would steam roll any F-150 in an accident with its hundreds of extra pounds of curb weight.

Yeah this is exactly what I mean when asking if this whole thing is kinda the nature of the beast with pickup trucks for exactly this reason. Just more balanced front-rear on basically any other type of vehicle.... sedan, SUV, crossover. If your Expedition was much better than your pickup then I think that pretty much answers it since they're very similar vehicles otherwise (though Expedition has independent rear axle, correct?)

 

[Dakar09]

I agree with your disagreement (lol). I grew up in the Northeast in a suburban area with lots of trees and patchy back roads were a thing. I have a distinct memory of driving home from my HS grocery store job at midnight in freezing temps and the entire drive was fine except the last intersection before my house. I was being cautious and slowed early for my left turn but as soon as I applied the brakes everything locked up and I sailed straight through the intersection. Luckily there were no other cars but it was eye-opening to say the least.

Patchy black ice is definitely a major concern up here, Damn near impossible to see and no snow tire is going to help in that situation.

 

[Goldeneye36]

I keep hoping Ford will make 4A available on XLT, like RAM does with equivalent Big Horn. Or maybe should just make 4A standard on Powerboost.

That would be amazing but I wouldn't count on it. 4A has been a Lariat+ thing for over a decade at least and it's an option that could push buyers to a higher trim level so it's intentional.

If you are handy though it's apparently not as hard or expensive as you think to swap your ESOF transfer case for a TOD.

 

[Captain Dirty Beard]

Yeah this is exactly what I mean when asking if this whole thing is kinda the nature of the beast with pickup trucks for exactly this reason. Just more balanced front-rear on basically any other type of vehicle.... sedan, SUV, crossover. If your Expedition was much better than your pickup then I think that pretty much answers it since they're very similar vehicles otherwise (though Expedition has independent rear axle, correct?)

It's a Powerboost/hybrid thing. This guy talks about it in several moments throughout the video. Leave it in 4A/4H whenever the roads are slick

2021 Ford F 150 Powerboost Hybrid Deep Snow Driving Performance and Review

 

[Groovicles]

Yes. Central and northern Ontario are also very prone to uneven pavement and are absolutely surrounded by trees in some spots and farmers fields a few kms down the road. The sun has very little to do with slippery roads in slippery wintery environments. In any case, there appears to be a few people who think driving 2wd in slippery conditions has some sort of benefit in very unpredictable conditions under very short driving times (think seconds), so I sincerely wish those folks safety when they drive, but I honestly pray no one listens to their advise.

 

[KC WHEELS]

One other trick is to put your trucking to neutral before you reach the stop or turning point. This way the rear is not trying to push as your front is trying to stop you.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

Yes. Central and northern Ontario are also very prone to uneven pavement and are absolutely surrounded by trees in some spots and farmers fields a few kms down the road. The sun has very little to do with slippery roads in slippery wintery environments. In any case, there appears to be a few people who think driving 2wd in slippery conditions has some sort of benefit in very unpredictable conditions under very short driving times (think seconds), so I sincerely wish those folks safety when they drive, but I honestly pray no one listens to their advise.

four wheels are much better than two, except on ice. When on ice, often the only thing that will save you is that pucker factor. 4wd often gives a driver more false confidence than 2wd.

Most people would do quite a bit better if they would just slow down.

 

[JCsTruck]

I suspect because you were in 2wd and you have a power boost truck that the electric motor attempted to recapture energy and that is what caused the rear end to squirm. If you had it in 4wd and or selected the slippery mode (assuming) then it would have been much better in those conditions and you likely would not have experienced any back end squirming.

 

[SonarChief]

I suspect because you were in 2wd and you have a power boost truck that the electric motor attempted to recapture energy and that is what caused the rear end to squirm. If you had it in 4wd and or selected the slippery mode (assuming) then it would have been much better in those conditions and you likely would not have experienced any back end squirming.

Agreed, I tested my PB on both flats and down hills with light and heavy braking stops on a mixture of snow and some ice, when in slippery mode it produced very little regen, and not once did the rear end try to become the front end. The Scorpion AT plus tires performed exceptionally well, hoping to try next in 8+ inches of snow.

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