snow performance

hi everyone, i'm thinking about getting a ranger because i want a truck but i don't feel like putting gas in a full size truck. so my question to you folks is, how does it handle in the snow? my father fishtailed into a telephone pole with one once, and he doesn't think it's a good idea for me to get one, but i don't think he had ehough weight in the back. what do you guys think? how is your handling in the snow? how much weight do you put in the back?

-RGN

i read the 4wd version does ok. but the 2wd is marginal i barely could get up a hill in front of my house. that my 4wd sportage had no trouble getting up nor the fwd cars. this is even with 180lbs of weight in the back, plus snow shoveled back there.

ive got a 95 2.3l 5spd
put 280lbs in sand bags in the back
drive nice and slow, no need to get in a hurry in snow.
it does very well in the snow, just gets stuck when the blows block it in... haha

mine is a 4x4 and it does great

i have a 2002 that gets around prety good with a little wait in back of truck..ragers out way s-10's to shame.....good luck....

Ah. Depends. My '83 sometimes didn't have enough ass to get up my driveway. The '89 I have seems to do okay. Don't drive fast, there's no use. When you feel it start to fishtail, just let off the gas and realign yourself, then go. No brakes. Adding a little weight to the backend does help in deep snow. I have snow tires on my '89. Seems to help a little, but it vibrates a lot past '65 mph. Both of mine are 2wd.

Sounds to me like your dad was driving too fast. It's pretty slick outside right now, but I take my time on the backroads and do fine. It's more the driver than the truck in things like this. You've gotta realize you can't get up to speed fast, and you can't break fast. Every sudden turn of the wheel will throw you off in any vehicle. On ice, 4wd doesn't help so much anyway. You do have traction from all four wheels, but you also have four wheels pushing you, so it takes that much longer to stop. If your winters aren't really severe, you could get by with a ranger. If you anticipate deep snow, you might want something different. Just drive cautious in winter, always.

how much weight would be enough? 4 bags of gravel on each corner? or everything on top of the rear axel?