Does anybody else here do this?

[deweysmith]

The computers can indeed save you but won’t if it thinks you want to turn. If you’re losing control in a turn, steering into the skid is the right advice because of you hold the wheel in the turn it will correct as if you intend to continue turning. You simply have to tell it where you want to go. The traction control system on these trucks is really, really good.

It’s not going to defy physics so all bets are off if it can’t find traction at all, but it’s very good at straightening out a fishtail or a spin out, especially scary ones at high speed. Braking individual wheels is highly effective at steering in an emergency.

 

[JExpedition07]

Yep, but it can’t beat physics, hence why I say to steer with the slide. If like most drivers you start to slide and you jamb on the brakes and steer against it the Advace Trac isn’t doing anything for you. If your wheels are against the slide no amount of braking will change the outcome. Never slam on the brakes if you start sliding either, that’s game over, only forward momentum can regain control.

 

[deweysmith]

Yeah. AdvanceTrac knows that too, which is why it pushes back.

Traction/friction is like a bank account, we learned in my motorcycle safety class years and years ago… if you write a steering check and a braking check at the same time, one’s gonna bounce!

 

[cekkk]

99 has a point, although living in the Rockies, I found AWD helpful on ice and 4WD would let me drive out of trouble in situations where RWD would require a call to AAA. Rarely had to lock hubs but five miles of slick rocky road required it a few times.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Job security for fire fighters and ems personnel. That’s piss poor advice. 4a and the truck will know what to do

Lol.

Seriously. Lol.

Been driving for 24 years. All of them in areas that get snow/ice. Most years driving “dumb” vehicles without ABS or traction control. Very few years driving 4wd or AWD vehicles. NEVER been stuck, wrapped around a pole or off in a ditch. Never rear ended anyone or done any kind of vehicle damage.

But maybe you're right. Next time I’ll let go of the wheel, close my eyes and trust that a4wd will make miracles happen. Computers are smart!

 

[rjdelp7]

Lol.

Seriously. Lol.

Been driving for 24 years. All of them in areas that get snow/ice. Most years driving “dumb” vehicles without ABS or traction control. Very few years driving 4wd or AWD vehicles. NEVER been stuck, wrapped around a pole or off in a ditch. Never rear ended anyone or done any kind of vehicle damage.

But maybe you're right. Next time I’ll let go of the wheel, close my eyes and trust that a4wd will make miracles happen. Computers are smart!

They used make to vehicles without AC or power windows. Now find one without either. I been driving in Buffalo, since day 1. The Expedition is excellent in the snow. The worst I owned, was a 2wd, 92 Ford Ranger. I don't care if your Dale Jr., driving in snow blows without 4wd.

 

[JExpedition07]

Not to mention good luck in 2HI when there is 3 inches of snow on the road with never ending traffic and you have to quickly accelerate, you aren’t going anywhere accept into a car while your rears spin away.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

They used make to vehicles without AC or power windows. Now find one without either. I been driving in Buffalo, since day 1. The Expedition is excellent in the snow. The worst I owned, was a 2wd, 92 Ford Ranger. I don't care if your Dale Jr., driving in snow blows without 4wd.

Even Jr. just punched a tree driving his rear wheel drive car.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2018/01/icy_roads_dale_earnhardt_jr_he.html

 

[deweysmith]

Next time I’ll let go of the wheel, close my eyes and trust that a4wd will make miracles happen. Computers are smart!

In 15 years that will no doubt be a reality!

 

[USMCBuckWild]

First thing I do when starting out in inclement weather conditions is stab the brakes from 30 and see how everything responds. I grew up in the middle of BFE and learned to drive on country roads in RWD vehicles without power anything and was taught to make sure you have an idea how long it would take you to stop. It made sense and the idea has stuck with me. Another way I’ve familiarized myself with the handling of new vehicles is after a nice helping of snow I find a car and light pole free parking lot, turn off all the driving aids and perform various driving and braking maneuvers to see how the vehicle responds. Then I turn everything back on and do the same thing. Gives you a good idea what you can expect in similar real world driving situations and what systems you need to turn off and how/when to do it. Much better than finding out after you’re already stuck in the tulips or you’ve hit something or been hit.

Exactly how I was taught to drive as well. People rely way too much on their vehicle to do everything for you. ABS is nice, but on slippery roads gently pumping your brakes will bring you to a stop in less distance than just holding that pedal to the floor.

Being comfortable going into a skid or when the ass-end slips out is the most important part of maintaining control. Having experienced it in a “controlled” environment allows you to maintain calm and apply corrective measures.

Using some common sense while driving in poor conditions is still most important. Doesn’t mean you can’t still have a little fun. Personally I won’t mess around if other drivers are around, but, on an empty road I’ll have a little fun.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My daughter has it on her Expedition and uses it often. She claims it makes a difference but I wonder what percentage of the is just psychological.

IMHO, long wheel base RWD vehicle (EL/Max) are pretty easy to drive in the snow. If the rear end wants to "come around" just take your foot off the gas and it will get back in line with the fronts.

Two things I wonder about are

• How well does the new (for 2018) electronic locking differential aid in driving on hard pack snow/ice ?
• How well do WINTER tire aid in driving on hard pack snow/ice ?

 

[JExpedition07]

Generally you only want to use the locking diff when you are stuck or at low speed. The locking differential on the Super Duty is automatically cut by the computer over 12 MPH, pretty sure the new expy is the same. Locking diffs as the name says locks the speed of the rear wheels at a constant, meaning turning can’t be facilitated without serious driveline binding while enabled.generally the locker is used for plowing, low speed straight line maneuvers, or when stuck.

 

[deweysmith]

Locking differentials are scary beasts that can blow up pretty easily if used improperly. No surprise that there's some safeguards there.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Exactly how I was taught to drive as well. People rely way too much on their vehicle to do everything for you. ABS is nice, but on slippery roads gently pumping your brakes will bring you to a stop in less distance than just holding that pedal to the floor.

Being comfortable going into a skid or when the ass-end slips out is the most important part of maintaining control. Having experienced it in a “controlled” environment allows you to maintain calm and apply corrective measures.

Using some common sense while driving in poor conditions is still most important. Doesn’t mean you can’t still have a little fun. Personally I won’t mess around if other drivers are around, but, on an empty road I’ll have a little fun.

Don't over drive your tires and your vehicle, In slippery conditions speed is not your friend. Slow down and don't let centrifugal force pull you out of a turn

 

[USMCBuckWild]

Don't over drive your tires and your vehicle, In slippery conditions speed is not your friend. Slow down and don't let centrifugal force pull you out of a turn

To caveat that, going uphill and traversing inward inclined slippery corners does require SOME momentum.

Momentum to get uphill is a given, although some still can’t grasp that idea. 100mph is not the answer, but getting up a little head of steam knowing that you will lose quite a bit of your forward energy and maintaining tire rotation (not tire spinning as tires require friction to maintain traction) should see you through.

On an inward inclined corner if you go too slow the lateral force (as little as it may be) will overcome the friction coefficient of the tires and you will slide sideways down the inside of the corner. If steady forward movement is maintained it will help overcome the lateral force (kind of the opposite of centripetal force) and see you through the corner. Once again tire spinning (or deceleration from braking) will change the friction advantage of the tires. 100mph is not the answer, but 1.5mph is also not the answer.

But all this comes with with experience. Driving in snow or slippery conditions once or twice will not give you the baseline experience to draw from to properly diagnose the situation and make an educated decision (from experience) on what is appropriate.

Just my $0.02

(Not arguing or countering your point, just add-on information)

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

To caveat that, going uphill and traversing inward inclined slippery corners does require SOME momentum.

Momentum to get uphill is a given, although some still can’t grasp that idea. 100mph is not the answer, but getting up a little head of steam knowing that you will lose quite a bit of your forward energy and maintaining tire rotation (not tire spinning as tires require friction to maintain traction) should see you through.

On an inward inclined corner if you go too slow the lateral force (as little as it may be) will overcome the friction coefficient of the tires and you will slide sideways down the inside of the corner. If steady forward movement is maintained it will help overcome the lateral force (kind of the opposite of centripetal force) and see you through the corner. Once again tire spinning (or deceleration from braking) will change the friction advantage of the tires. 100mph is not the answer, but 1.5mph is also not the answer.

But all this comes with with experience. Driving in snow or slippery conditions once or twice will not give you the baseline experience to draw from to properly diagnose the situation and make an educated decision (from experience) on what is appropriate.

Just my $0.02

(Not arguing or countering your point, just add-on information)

Where I used to live there was this banked turn that came from a flat road, lead into a descending left hand turn that was banked to the left. Under the right conditions, glazed roads, if you didn't carry enough speed to balance centrifugal force against the weight of the vehicle you could literally slide out of the turn to the left. I had it happen once. Then a couple of years later, under the same condition I was following a kid who was driving that turn a I was about a football field behind him. He was going too slow, slid down to the left out of the turn and blocked the road. I had no choice but to slow down and slid out of the turn and hit him in the right rear door (the softest spot on the car). I got a little paint on the bumper and fender of the 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix I was driving He got a big dent in his door. I think he had an old mid 70s Chevelle. This was around 1988 if I remember correctly.

 

[Habbibie]

Well again I do what I always do, snowed 18 inches over night, this morning traction control off, advance trac off, 2wd only and I managed to be the fastest moving car in traffic.

I drive like a forklift lol I let my back wheels do the steering for me not the fronts and all I do is pedal the throttle to my liking!

This is one thing I'll really miss if I move to a state that doesn't get snow