Is rear wheel drive good enough for rural North Dakota? (live in, vehicle)

[ND?]

I drive a rear wheel drive pickup and am curious if this will be adequate for a 30 mile commute to town everyday.

[soundman]

Why wouldn't it be? If you know how to drive, shouldn't be a problem. I've lived in North Dakota for almost 30 years and have only owned one FWD vehicle.

[TimtheGuy]

Originally Posted by ND?

I drive a rear wheel drive pickup and am curious if this will be adequate for a 30 mile commute to town everyday.

You wouldn't catch me driving a RWD pickup in rural ND. You better have a lot of survival gear in that truck for when you get stranded in a blizzard.

[parrotheadmomma]

How often do people get stranded in a blizzard in ND?

[marmac]

Keep a minimum of 500 lbs of weight in the back all winter.

I live in rural Minnesota all my life, owned 2 wheel drive trucks, and without weight in the box they are useless in winter.

[TravisW]

I drove a 2wd F250 during the winter of 96-97. It wasn't particularly fun, but it's doable.

[DeoGratias]

The original question interests me too. I've managed to get stuck in a few inches of snow in Kentucky (lost momentum in a sharp turn), with about 200 lbs. in the back. Luckily a guy in a Chevy 4x4 came by fairly quickly and pulled me out (and had quite a lot so say about it considering I was driving a Ford). I'm not sure if chains or snow tires would help, but I'm not sure that a rear drive truck should ever be trusted.

[DaninEGF]

Most people who have rear wheel drive trucks use tubes of sand in the back for the weight.

[DaninEGF]

Originally Posted by parrotheadmomma

How often do people get stranded in a blizzard in ND?

Not often as they are usually predicted quite a while in advance so people plan on leaving work early...etc for those who live out of town. Truckers and other travellers through the area often have to spend nights at truck stops when the roads are shut. But that doesnt happen too often...1-3 times a winter....sometimes more. Often the east-west roads are often worse and can be drifted shut as usually in a snowstorm the wind is from the north or northwest. Last time anyone died directly due to a blizzard was in 1984 I believe.... You have folks who get stuck (not in a blizzzard but in general weather) and there are usually a couple of folks who die due to the cold.

Always have a winter survival kit with you....always have candle/matches...make sure your fuel level is above 1/2 full....have extra blankets, etc.

Dan

[TravisW]

Chains + weight + ground clearance = nearly unstoppable. The aforementioned Ford, with about 1000lbs in the box and tire chains would go where half ton 4x4s feared to tread.