How do you make a LMTV NOT suck in the snow?

[spankybear]

This thing is worse than a 1 ton pickup in the snow. How do you not make it suck? Not like tube sand is going to work. Unless maybe its the whole pallet.

I also have to ask with people with boxes on the back... Does the weight help?

 

[topo]

Weight can work for you and against you tire chains on all drive tires is the way to go .

 

[TomTime]

More throttle?

 

[simp5782]

Auto chains.

They are horrible in 6x6 even in mud much less snow.

 

[BERZERKER888]

move to Florida...

 

[Keith Knight]

Doing donuts is so awesome, then the move to Florida comment…..
If no chains bagging the tires is an absolute must.

 

[TomTime]

Doing donuts is so awesome, then the move to Florida comment…..
If no chains bagging the tires is an absolute must.

I’ve never heard of that before, so I’ve got to ask, “bagging the tires”? I gotta know!

 

[simp5782]

They are called an autosock. they don't work well on aggressive mud tires mostly just on smooth road tires

 

[TomTime]

They are called an autosock. they don't work well on aggressive mud tires mostly just on smooth road tires

I googled them.
Mmmm, doesn’t look like anything I would ever use. The maximum speed for them, per Autosock site, is 30 mph.

 

[Green Mountain Boys]

It depends on what your definition of "in the snow is" . If you are talking about driving the truck on a warm paved road (road temperature around 32F) with a half inch of snow, then I agree, it is not good. You can lower the tire pressure or put chains on and slow way down. Most tires are not good under those conditions. I use Nokian Hakkapeliitta studded winter tires on all my cars and light trucks. They are by far the best I have found in winter conditions. Sadly, they do not make them in 395-85-20.

If you are talking about an unplowed road or driving off-road in deep snow then my experience has been the truck is amazing. I have driven in some very deep snow, up to 36" of old corn snow (like little ice balls similar to very loose beach sand), over snow banks and snow piles. I have pulled large whole trees through deep snow up a slight grade without the slightest problem. All of this done when the temperature was well below freezing. (as cold as -30F) When you get close to 32F you will begin to have traction problems as the snow will glaze to ice under your tires. That is when the chains would help a lot. I do use CTIS to lower the tire pressure to the OFF ROAD setting. I do not even own chains for the LMTV, but I do have the factory installed self recovery winch. I use the winch often, but not for self recovery yet.

If you add weight on the truck to improve traction I would start with a ton and put it right in the very back of the bed because the front axle carries most of the weight of the truck when empty.

If I have to drive on snowy plowed roads I would never choose to take my LMTV over any of my other vehicles with studded snow tires. If i have to drive off road or on unplowed roads I'll take the LMTV every time.



Last December, we had a surprise snow storm. It was a surprise because we were supposed to get a foot of snow in the predawn hours and ending in the early morning. A quick foot of snow. But they were wrong, the storm began and ended as it was predicted but we got 3 and a half feet! It was snowing 6 or 7 inches and hour for 5 hours! The photo was taken after the snow had settled down quite a bit. It was over the headlights before settling down. The ground was completely bare before this storm so you are looking at 1 snowfall in this photo. I was too busy moving snow and pulling stuck vehicles with my skid-steer to have time to take my truck out in this storm but I am sure it would have done just fine. It was a cold storm. The air temperature was below 20F.

 

[Keith Knight]

Sorry bagging the tires, just means lowering the tire pressure so low they start to bag….like 8 -10 psi. Don’t worry you have beadlocks so the tires are not coming off the rim.

 

[TomTime]

Sorry bagging the tires, just means lowering the tire pressure so low they start to bag….like 8 -10 psi. Don’t worry you have beadlocks so the tires are not coming off the rim.

Never heard it put that way before. I’ve always said, “air it up” or “air it down”, but it nice to know a new way to call it.
Thanks for your reply!

 

[BKubu]

It depends on what your definition of "in the snow is" . If you are talking about driving the truck on a warm paved road (road temperature around 32F) with a half inch of snow, then I agree, it is not good. You can lower the tire pressure or put chains on and slow way down. Most tires are not good under those conditions. I use Nokian Hakkapeliitta studded winter tires on all my cars and light trucks. They are by far the best I have found in winter conditions. Sadly, they do not make them in 395-85-20.

If you are talking about an unplowed road or driving off-road in deep snow then my experience has been the truck is amazing. I have driven in some very deep snow, up to 36" of old corn snow (like little ice balls similar to very loose beach sand), over snow banks and snow piles. I have pulled large whole trees through deep snow up a slight grade without the slightest problem. All of this done when the temperature was well below freezing. (as cold as -30F) When you get close to 32F you will begin to have traction problems as the snow will glaze to ice under your tires. That is when the chains would help a lot. I do use CTIS to lower the tire pressure to the OFF ROAD setting. I do not even own chains for the LMTV, but I do have the factory installed self recovery winch. I use the winch often, but not for self recovery yet.

If you add weight on the truck to improve traction I would start with a ton and put it right in the very back of the bed because the front axle carries most of the weight of the truck when empty.

If I have to drive on snowy plowed roads I would never choose to take my LMTV over any of my other vehicles with studded snow tires. If i have to drive off road or on unplowed roads I'll take the LMTV every time.

View attachment 854379

Last December, we had a surprise snow storm. It was a surprise because we were supposed to get a foot of snow in the predawn hours and ending in the early morning. A quick foot of snow. But they were wrong, the storm began and ended as it was predicted but we got 3 and a half feet! It was snowing 6 or 7 inches and hour for 5 hours! The photo was taken after the snow had settled down quite a bit. It was over the headlights before settling down. The ground was completely bare before this storm so you are looking at 1 snowfall in this photo. I was too busy moving snow and pulling stuck vehicles with my skid-steer to have time to take my truck out in this storm but I am sure it would have done just fine. It was a cold storm. The air temperature was below 20F.

I concur. While we don't get these types of snows down in MD, we do get them. I drove my M925A2 through 34 inches or so of snow, and the truck did well. You knew it wasn't summer, but the truck pulled through it all. I was by myself, with no back up to help, so I was worried a bit. I did not have anyone who could have gotten another of my trucks and dragged a chain through the snow. Fortunately, it was not needed. The truck just pulled through the snow.

I also had an M917 that could not pull itself up a slight grade in about 2" of snow. But, that truck had street tires on it. I tried to pull it out with the M925A2 and I just ended up digging holes.

 

[B-Dog]

It depends on what your definition of "in the snow is" .

If I have to drive on snowy plowed roads I would never choose to take my LMTV over any of my other vehicles with studded snow tires. If i have to drive off road or on unplowed roads I'll take the LMTV every time.

^^ Exactly.
I used to have a lowered 335xi, I'd take that on plowed icy road over anything I've ever owned, by far. In deeper snow you can air down and try to "float" - think Jeep on 40s. Or, you can stay aired up for clearance and use chains so the chains grab the ground. Based on my years of wheeling and living in CO, those are the basic scenarios that I have experienced. Albeit, conditions vary.

Never heard it put that way before. I’ve always said, “air it up” or “air it down”, but it nice to know a new way to call it.
Thanks you the reply!

Keith lives in Florida - nuff said?
I kid! I kid!

 

[coachgeo]

To bad your all they way over in WA. I cant ship there via fastenal.... unless you arrange ship thru another company.

AKA. I have two pairs of snow chains for 16r20's left to sell. they can be cut down to OEM FMTV size. Just sent two Pair to George Lenard in CO.

 

[kendelrio]

I concur. While we don't get these types of snows down in MD, we do get them. I drove my M925A2 through 34 inches or so of snow, and the truck did well. You knew it wasn't summer, but the truck pulled through it all. I was by myself, with no back up to help, so I was worried a bit. I did not have anyone who could have gotten another of my trucks and dragged a chain through the snow. Fortunately, it was not needed. The truck just pulled through the snow.

I also had an M917 that could not pull itself up a slight grade in about 2" of snow. But, that truck had street tires on it. I tried to pull it out with the M925A2 and I just ended up digging holes.

I love looking at 10 feet of snow!

On the internet.

From my 70° porch

In Louisiana.

 

[Keith Knight]

Yea, yea I live in Florida!
But I was rock crawling Jeeps on 33”, 35” and 37”back before it became a trend in the mid 1990’s but airing the tires way on slick wet rocks is what got you up and over them. I would laugh at the people that didn’t understand it. It’s not so you can float on the snow which these truck will never do. It’s about putting a larger footprint on the surface. Why do you think top fuel drag cars have giant rear tires, more surface contact = better traction. I’ve out wheeled people on 40” tires with my 33” bfg all terrains. Simple because they didn’t air down.

 

[kendelrio]

Simple because they didn’t air down.

I heard a new to me reference for airing down called "bagging the tires"....

 

[Green Mountain Boys]

I love looking at 10 feet of snow!

On the internet.

From my 70° porch

In Louisiana.

Yeah but you got skeeters the size of small birds, snakes that will kill you and some ancient reptiles that would like to take a bite while you are swimming.

 

[Reworked LMTV]

Look up Broke Overland's snow straps....

There is some new technology I saw a while back. Basically it drives a platform mounted underneath and parallel to the frame, down into the cement to stop a truck. Don't recall much else.