How should I drive up an icy road?

Question

This is my first year spent in the icy north and I've read all about how to drive on icy roads. But our cabin is down a hill (unpaved) and driving up it with snow on it, I find my tires spinning. So far I've managed it by going slow in low gear but would really appreciate any hints. We have 2 vehicles...a Tracker with 4 wheel drive (that you have to turn the hubs outside) and a Chevy Silverado pickup with 4 wheel drive. I've never driven 4 wheel drive before either. Hubby is disabled, so I've got to learn this on my own.

Thanks! Really appreciate any opinions.

Answer 1

Just SLOW DOWN and think about what you're doing before you do it.  A four-wheel drive vehicle will give you better traction on snow, but won't help much on ice.  Remember that 4-wheel drive is not going to improve your braking on icy surfaces, so slow down and apply the brakes gently when you need to stop.

Put some weight in the back of the pickup truck... 3-4  sandbags or anything else that will add about 200 lbs directly over your rear axle will help keep your pickup balanced and keep the rear end from sliding.  

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Try to start off in second gear instead of first, and treat the gas pedal as gently as possible. Quite right to keep the speed right down, as this avoids harsh braking. Keep the 4 wheel drive turned on. Practice when there's no traffic about and you'll soon get a feel for it. Good luck.

Answer 3

Learn how to lock into full time 4wd.(owners manual). Then use a steady speed in second gear to get up the hill. On non icy pavement take out of full time 4wd. Throw some weight in the bed of the Silverado. A couple tubes of tube sand is good plus if you do get stuck you have the sand to put under tires.

Answer 4

Low gears produce lots of power to the wheels.

If the wheels cannot grip well (say, because of ice), then all that power will cause a wheel spin.

The answer is to produce less power - which is achieved by using a higher gear. Try to pull away slowly in second gear and that should solve your wheelspin problem!

Answer 5

Low and slow,  you got it already!

Make no sudden moves,  acceleration,   braking,  or steering.

Answer 6

Get a bag of sand, and scatter it all along your driveway.  We do this all the time and driving up and down is much easier.

Answer 7

Wrap chains around the tires.

Doing this will increase grip and driving on icy terrain will not be a problem anymore.

Good luck!

Answer 8

HI.  You will probably get several different answers but you already have most of the problem solved.  1, you have 4 wheel drive   2, you go slow in low gear  Both of thes are acceptable and if you have some rock salt to put on the driveway that would be a big help too.  As for the 4 wheel drive that is easy to drive and once in 4 wheel, leave it  engaged while you are in snowy areas.  Having lived in Washington state for 30 odd years, unless you live in eastern Wa the snow amounts in western Wa are minimal to say the least.  Best advice I can give is slow and easy does it and pretty soon it becomes old hat.