[John Galt]

As I'm sure LostBoy would agree, when living in Minnesota, one is sometimes offered with unique driving challenges, due to the weather. Last night was one of those very situations.

We had a BLIZZARD yesterday, which dropped somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-18 inches of snow on the Twin Cities in a matter of a few hours. I was driving home from my girlfriend's place at around 11:45 PM, and the highway looked like a snow-covered field! With the exception of the occasional rut from other cars, it was COMPLETELY covered in about 5 inches of packed snow! I guess the plow truck drivers figured WTF, and went home!

I had the X locked in 4hi the entire way. Now since I'm a bit of an adventure seeker, and I like to see how far I can push the envelope of handling on this truck, I was travelling nearly 60 MPH the whole way.

Now I'm sure you're all thinking that I'm a crazy bastard for putting all the other motorists, driving inferior vehicles ::read-FJ's, Priuses, X5's:: in danger, but at that hour of the evening, with the weather that bad, I was almost the only one on the road.

The X equipped with BFG AT's, handled amazingly! Throughout the entire drive, the VDC didn't come on a single time. I even got a little goofy and tried to get the back end to step out at a little slower speed, and the X simply refused to give up control! It would go wherever I pointed it! It's times like this that I'm constantly reassured that I purchased a great vehicle.

Thanks for reading,

-John

 

[VanX]

At first I thought this was going to be a story about how the X is terrible in the snow...glad its not...and glad you made it home safe.

Are you actually able to lock yer X in 4Hi? (did you make the mod to allow that to happen)...and if you were, then the VDC wouldn't come on? uh, I don't know about that last statement/question of mine...perhaps someone who has made that modification could answer. Typically you can only lock in 4lo...and while in 4lo the VDC is automatically disabled. I expect that if you make the mod to have the locker enabled for 4hi then the VDC would actually enduce some rear axle strain? or because the locker is enabled the VDC would not actually engage because you are not slipping? I suppose this is a mute point for most of us as we cant engage the locker in 4hi.

Anyways....glad you made it home safe

 

[X11]

I dont think he meant actually "locked" I think he just meant it was in 4-HI

correct me if I'm wrong John

 

[Spicoli]

I'm very impressed with the X in the snow. But driving in the snow has a lot more to do with tires, weight of vehicle and driving technic than the car itself.

Here in CO we have had a lot of snow this winter and my X has seriously amazed me with how well it does.

 

[bikemanj7]

Good to hear... We just had a dump of about 4 feet of snow and the X preformed wonderfully, but the BF Goodrich A/T Stock tires are CRAP!!! I was having major traction issues. I believe the ABLS was helping out a bunch.

 

[bluzfan]

We've only had snow a couple of times. I've been amazed at how well my X has handled in the snow. Granted it's only a 2WD. I even went into an empty parking lot and tried to get it to slip and slide. No dice.

 

[lostboy]

yeah, this past Saturday there was about 10 inches on the road and a plow ran down one side putting all the snow on the other side. So of course I took the other side with about 18 inches of snow on it and it moved along just fine. Slip light only came on once in about 2 miles of drving in the thick stuff.

The storm we got yesterday was nice. I went home at 3 and watched all these people in other SUV's slip and spin while my X just kept on going.

John Galt is braver than me with that speed, but I agree the X is a beast in the snow.

 

[norshor]

I agree entirely-this thing rocks in the snow. My Nitto's really amaze me.

Lostboy and John Galt, sounds like you guys are feeling the same pain we are. The lake made it a little worse on us. Still not dug out yet. Been fighting this snow for four hours now. Blew out a u-joint and yoke on my wheeler on Sunday, finally got the right parts last night, and was up past midnight putting them in and welding braces on my plow.

 

[PonyBoy]

Not a good idea to be locked in Snow/Ice road conditions if you need to turn. Trust me I know, since im always locked with the Detroit.

 

[Muzikman]

Not a good idea to be locked in Snow/Ice road conditions if you need to turn. Trust me I know, since im always locked with the Detroit.

Yeah, snow and ice is the one time where being locked isn't always better.

 

[Old Army]

These last couple of storms in the DC area have been largely ice events. But the X does quite well. With the stock tires, the VDC was called to action. I managed to get it to correct a couple of skids I induced. The traction control also works quite well. But I am most impressed by the ABS. It's the best I've ever experienced in a truck.

I also took the opportunity fool around in an empty parking lot. The X just plows forward with the VDC on. With it off, I could set it up in nice 4wd opposite lock drifts. Very controllable.

-Old Army

 

[oldmanterra]

I also like the way our OR drives in the snow. Winter treads, of course, would make it better. In the brief time we've had it, I have managed to get it stuck seeing how far I could push it on a mountain trail.

Speaking of which, it just started to snow again, my wife should have fun driving home. She really likes the X, says it drives 'safe'.

March and early April are usually the months we get the biggest dumps and drifts in SE WY.

 

[bikemanj7]

March and early April are usually the months we get the biggest dumps and drifts in SE WY.

Same for us in tahoe... Cant wait untill my new tires are on... What tires are you running?

 

[John Galt]

Are you actually able to lock yer X in 4Hi? (did you make the mod to allow that to happen

Oops- I didn't mean "locked" as in the rear was locked. I meant to state that it was "engaged" in 4hi the entire trip...sorry for the confusion, guys!

-John

 

[eXTra fORt]

... but the BF Goodrich A/T Stock tires are CRAP!!! I was having major traction issues...

Stock tires are either BFG Rugged Trail or BFG Long Trail...

I agree with you, they are good only to get grocerie on a sunny day.

I drive on BFG A/T Ko in the snow all winter long (I'm in Quebec upnorth) and they are great.

 

[bikemanj7]

oops.. yeah the so called "RUGGED TRAILS"! lol They will be gone and i will be happy.

 

[eXTra fORt]

I took my Rugged Trail off after 3 months (2,000miles) and put real BFG AT. Very good year around tire and pretty competent in soft core trails. For the real trails I have some TrXus )

 

[Wheelhorse]

I took my Rugged Trail off after 3 months (2,000miles) and put real BFG AT. Very good year around tire and pretty competent in soft core trails. For the real trails I have some TrXus )

I bought the X version with good-ol Generals on there, put 500 miles on them and upgraded to Dueller A/T's Revo's.

I kept the new generals, perhaps I can sell them to someone local.

 

[oldmanterra]

March and early April are usually the months we get the biggest dumps and drifts in SE WY.

Same for us in tahoe... Cant wait untill my new tires are on... What tires are you running?

Stock 'Rugged Trail'. We've only had the X three weeks. The stock tires are obviously not as good off pavement or in snow as the Wrangler M/T Rs we had on the TJ, but o.k. for now. Look forward to your feedback on your new treads.

I used to live in the Bay Area(worked for IBM in Palo Alto) and occasionally skied the Nevada side of Heavenly, but mainly stayed on the N. Shore. My ski club had a cabin there. Are they keeping Tahoe pristine?

 

[X11]

we just got about a foot of snow here in Maine, and my x is awesome, so fricken happy with this truck. My long trails did pretty good, I cant really complain (other than they look like girl tires, no offense ladies...). I'll throw some BFG AT's on 'er when its time.