O/T 4X4 Traction

As I’ve mentioned here before, I bought a couple of parcels of land up here in the hills because it is so pretty & nice in the summer. The fact is, the State of Nebraska has a State Park right across the highway from me; it is just a darned nice location.

I should have looked at it in the dead of winter. Because, after the first 1” of snow, all of that “pretty” comes to a screeching halt. It is just almost an impossibility to get up this 1/8-mile drive in the winter.

Sadly, the guy who previously owned one of the properties was killed when he was going down the drive and onto the hi-way on a snowy day and slid right out in front of a semi tractor-trailer.

Okay, so reality sinks in, I understand full well that the wife’s Ford Windstar van is not going to be able to get in and out of here in the winter, so I go into town and buy a little Chevy blazer 4X4 to better be able to navigate the winter roads.

Wrong! The first snowy day, I did the same thing; slid right down that road, the anti-locks working like crazy, and out and across the state hi-way I go!

It really shook me up, but I regained my composure and went on about my tasks for the day. When I came home, the little Chevy couldn’t make it up the hill again! All four wheels are just spinning. Rats! Now, I’m mad! I’m leavin’ cuss marks on everything within earshot!

Since I realize that my old beater ½ ton ’78 Chevy pickup has no problem at all navigating the area, I take the little Chevy blazer in to town and trade it off on a heavier GMC Yukon.

At last, the problem is solved, I can come and go as I like with no concern for the weather. I don’t spin a wheel anymore and since that time, I haven’t given it another thought till yesterday morning.

I’m having a contractor add a garage on the house and they are just finishing up all the little things that come with such a project. He has three men on the job plus the local electrician is putting in the wiring.

Yesterday morning, we got 2 ½” of snow. The contractor gets up the hill with his Jeep Cherokee; the electrician comes in with no problems with a little Dodge 4X4 pickup.

But, the three hired men have to leave their vehicles parked down along the hi-way and walk in. A Ford ½ ton 4X4, a small Chevy 4X4, and a small GMC 4X4. They can’t get up the hill!

It must be in the weight distribution differences in all these different vehicles is all I can figure. They just are not all the same.

For what it is worth,

Allan

A driveway that causes problems to ANYBODY is a dangerous driveway. It is a lot like a chain which is only as good as its weakest link. A driveway is only as good as the WORST driver to use it. If one of your family or friends is killed or injured on that driveway, how will YOU feel?

If this causes you offence but still causes you to fix the driveway it will have served it purpose.

Like Indydirtfarmer, I don't like hearing of needless deaths and hope to hear more from you as well as others on this board and I'm not talking about your epitaph.

Hope this moves you to a better driveway.

You have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.

"If you don't have XXX brand tires and extra weight for traction, you are not welcome here."

Legal aspect:
Unless you are going to put in place one EXTREMELY comprehensive insurance policy, these days a driveway HAS to be SAFELY negotiable in ALL weathers, by ALL vehicles, driven by drivers of ALL levels of competence, fitted with ANY type of tire and with ANY amount of weight or you run the risk of having the pants sued off you.

Moral aspect:
With due consideration for the safety of ALL who might choose to use your driveway, would it not be a good thing to make sure that it is asfely negotiable in all weathers by all vehicles with all types of tires and drivers of levels of competence?

Common sense aspect:
If the driveway IS dangerous -- and this one provenly is dangerous -- fix the thing before some-one else, maybe some-one you love, comes to grief.

Just my 2 cents worth - which, being Australian, is probably only worth around 1 1/2 cents U.S. at the moment.

You have a wonderful day. Best wishes. Deas Plant.

Look, the previous owner had to have known about the problem. He evidently did nothing about it and it killed him.

Since you also know about it but haven't done anything, the only difference between him and you is that it hasn't killed you....yet. Hate to talk like that, and am sorry to say it.

What about the safety of other people comming and going to your place? What about the safety of those on the highway?

It is just my opinion, but I would be spending all my efforts to make some sort of major change to the grade or design of the driveway instead of what kind of vehichle is best for it the way it is.

I would hope that you are already doing this and was just curious about what everybody thought about the differences in 4X4s. But, honestly--get this taken care of. We all want you to be around for a long time.

I have a friend who has a very narrow half-mile long winding driveway through thick woods. I can barely get my 3/4-ton Dodge through there and anything bigger, forget it. Toss in rain and you have to have FWD. UPS has even given up trying to make it to the house.

How any county could give a Certificate of Occupancy to a home where emergency vehicles cannot negotiate the driveway is beyond me.

I think Indydirtfarmer has hit both nails on the head.

I could tell you numberours stories about guys with equal trucks but one has poor tires and there is a world of difference. As well as the number of times I have had to drive someone esles truck out of a situation because they don't seem to know when to give it gas and when to lay off.

I hope you take T_Bone's advice and put a curve in that driveway so that you don't meet the same fate as that other fella.

I think the first thing I'd do is turn a straight road into a switch back road before it enters the hi-way. Hate to see someone else aquire your land the same way you did, with the owner dieing!

As the others stated, the driver plays a big roll in how well a 4wd vechile handles on slick roads. Slower is best. Weight added to the empty bed would also help.

Another thought would be to make a piece of equipment to break up the ice on your road. Maybe steel deep cleated wheels ran up and down the road a few times to make a few grooves for tire traction as maybe your getting snow melt on the road turning to ice?

T_Bone

Yeah, I hear you there, but that southland is getting awfully crowded in the winter and I'm just not much of a "people" person.

I think I'd opt for stayin' with the old cows and I really envy you and what you do. One day the dry spell will break; it always does.

I'd like to see a picture of your critters.

How are ya comin' with that Ford tractor engine project?

Allan

I guess I'm not ashamed to tell ya, I really miss the flatland! Who ever heard of putting tire chains on a tractor??? :>)

But, sometimes these little issues sure give some new and different spice to our lives!

Thanks for the hollar,

Allan

I don't know what it is. My neighbor has an old '80s something 4x4 and a new 1/2 ton Ford 4x4 and he comes and goes at will with both rigs. Not a problem.

I dunno.

Allan