Keeping the rear end from sliding

[ogo]

I used to throw some kitty litter in the back of my truck when I was younger. Good for weight in the rear and it'll do in a pinch for helping get some traction if you do get in an icy rut. Also good for sopping up oil if you miss the drain pan when changing your oil :D

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[tehfrr]

Someone suggested my rear end is too light and should weight it down. I usually look to cut weight not add. Any merit to that possibility or is it nonsense

 

[Left Field]

I'm from WA also and sometimes have had the same experience on the winter forest service roads including just a few days ago. For me it is very much snow condition dependent. In this case it was 12-14" of fresh snow, a slight uphill grade and full tire pressure. I had lockers on, which while improving total traction can also force both wheels to spin resulting in a loss of sideways traction.

My leading theory (at least in this case) was that all four wheels are slipping some, but the front is cutting a track. The back would get on that freshly compacted wheel track and due to some road off-camber, some wheel spin and the lockers, the back slides sideways off the freshly packed front wheel track.

In this case it went on until getting stuck as the snow got deeper. Got out, dropped my tires to 15 psi and then went merrily on my way. In the past I was always more with the @J0E technique - chains on all 4 and full tire pressure. With no chains for my current tire size this was an experiment.

I'm ok with added rear end weight in pickups and RWD cars, but agree, doesn't seem to make sense in the Jeep.

 

[Ratbert]

Someone suggested my rear end is too light and should weight it down. I usually look to cut weight not add. Any merit to that possibility or is it nonsense

There's merit to that for a typical truck, but Wranglers aren't that far out of whack front / rear. Adding weight to your rear couldn't hurt, but probably won't solve the issue.

Are you absolutely positive that your fronts have power? If you floor it in the snow the front tires spin, right?

 

[tehfrr]

I’m pretty sure the fronts are moving fine but I’ll monitor better next time it happens.

on weight balance, I drive an unlimited. I permanently removed the rear seat. Put a modified springtail platform in. Modified it by replacing the 1/8 aluminum with 1/8 steel soI’m thinking it’s heavy enough to make up for the rear seat..

 

[58Willys]

Nothing will help more with traction than putting weight in the back. Throw (4) 60 lb sand bags in the back, use 4WD, use just enough throttle to keep wheel turning but not spinning. Adjust your speed coming into the corner and use neutral throttle through the corner. Run deep traction tires. I've spent 40+ years running forest roads in the PNW.

 

[AKLespaul]

I ran in 40 plus inches of snow on unplowed roads. 20PSI on BFG KO2 33's. Did not have any issues and the people I ran with were pissed and tried to get me stuck, it didn't happen. The guy with 38's had to winch out and was not touching the bottom.

May be the driving style and tire pressure giving issues. I have a stupid youtube video of the ride... not exciting at all, I was learning how to edit video.

 

[aldo98229]

As someone already mentioned: it all depends on the snow.

When it’s cold, like say, 10 degrees below freezing, the snow is dry and more forgiving.

The worst conditions is when it’s +/- 5 degrees around freezing. At that point the snow is usually wet, and/or gets easily melted by the friction from the front tires so that by the time the rear tires hit that spot, the snow is already half melted into ice or slush.

I’ve been in situations when the snow was nice and dry in the morning when it was cold, and then on the way back it was a skating rink as temps raised just enough to turn the trail into a slushy soup.

 

[TheBirdie72]

Someone suggested my rear end is too light and should weight it down. I usually look to cut weight not add. Any merit to that possibility or is it nonsense

Depends. Is her ba-donky-donk bigger than yours? Maybe she likes more cushion for the pushin’ too. ?

Whatever you do, just don’t ever tell her that she needs to lighten her back end…

 

[Roky]

OP, please fix the title, it’s killing me……

 

[tehfrr]

thank you was unaware

OP, please fix the title, it’s killing me……

 

[stumblinhorse]

I think I have said it in half a dozen posts. That is why I hate limited slip. That is what is doing that to you. Always will slide you sideways. Either get lockers or put on chains. A open diff would do better…

 

[Deleted member 59498]

I have never had the rear end slide when in 4h have had all 4 slide around a bit but traction control works pretty well. How weird that your rear end is slipping and sliding.

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