Winter Marauder Drivers, and Sand.

[champ1173]

A couple of days ago I was involved in an accident, with my winter beater. (Ford Taurus) As I was driving down the street, doing 10 under the speed limit, (Because that's as fast as I could go!) a car decided to make a turn in front of me, from the opposite side of travel. I plowed into him, smashing his passenger door. The cosmetic damage done to my car didn't look that bad, but there is a couple things wrong mechanically, and it's to damn cold outside to try and fix right now! Unfortunately, I'm gonna have to drive the Marauder for a few days. Now I've driven it once with snow on the ground, and it was not fun! Doing 35, second gear kicked in, and I started fish tailing. I recovered it, but it really freaked me out. So, for all of you that drive your Marauders during the winter, how much weight do you put in your trunks to get better traction? I read somewhere to put in 4 50lb bags of sand. Is this right? I had one heck of a time just getting out of my parking spot, in my apartment parking lot! I don't need to be down another car. Any good information will help. Oh, by the way, the car I hit was a 2010 Gran Marquis. The guy said he had just put dual exhaust on, and a different throttle body. It looked nice until I was through with him.

[NavySeabee]

I keep my gas tank full and since we have cats, I keep 2 or 3 of these in the trunk. I have all season tires on but they suck in snow. I try to stay in or take my wife's car.

[Ms. Denmark]

You need snow tires for sure. Not sure about adding weight in the rear. I was told by some members here that it was not recommended because it might exacerbate spinning. Someone else may chime in with more info. Anyway, I never added any weight to the trunk in snow.

[2mercs]

Full tank of gas and snow tires on my marquis goes great in snow.

[ajdereicup]

I toss a bunch of the construction sacks of sand in the back of the beater pickup in the winter. RWD in a pickup with no weight in the back is terrible. The sand does help and the fact they're in tougher bags then the regular plastic bags you tend to buy sand in it helps to not have them tear open and dump sand everywhere. If you put too much in though it might hinder your ability to turn as well so keep that in mind. Just experiment with how much weight feels right for your car and try and get them as close to over the rear wheels as possible. Snow tires are meh. Some people prefer them others don't need them. I've never used snow tires and I've been fine every year in the beater pickup.

[champ1173]

I keep my gas tank full and since we have cats, I keep 2 or 3 of these in the trunk. I have all season tires on but they suck in snow. I try to stay in or take my wife's car.

Kitty litter! That's a great idea. We have two cats, so it could serve two purposes. I don't plan on driving the MM that much, so I don't plan on getting snow tires, but I gotta do something to have a lil bit more traction.

[Marauderjack]

Start off with the car in 2nd gear and it will accelerate slowly in 2nd gear only......much better for traction and no 1-2 shift!!:beer::bows:

Listen to me giving advice on Winter driving and I don't even have snow or ice here!!;):D

[Motorhead350]

Snow tires and floor jack in the trunk has been great.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

My grand marquis is great in the snow with decent all seasons. The posi on the MM is what will make it a pain to get going when at a stop, especially in uphill situation in a good amount of snow. Hope you get that resolved quickly with the daily. Make them fix it, it's their fault.

[Mr. Man]

I always found the MM and our old Vic had pretty decent rear traction but the front end would float over the snow making turning an experience.:eek:

Full tank of gas, snow tires and two/three bodies in the trunk made for good traction. Just got to drive really slow if you're in the snow. You'll piss off the 4wd crowd but that's why God gave you a middle finger.:D

[champ1173]

So I put 7 20lb bags of kitty litter in the trunk, and it's possibly a lil better. The weather tonight has been pretty brutal, but not as bad as the past few. Though I drove a front wheel drive car through that. I'm almost positive a vacuum line popped off when I hit the Marquis. I just gotta find which one. I'm thinking the brake booster, because my brake pedals not right. The pedal barely moves, and they're not working that great! I have ceramic pads, cross drilled & slotted rotors, new brake lines, and a new master cylinder. I can basically count all that out as the problem. Plus, the tach fluctuates up, then down, then dies! I had to put it in neutral at lights to keep it running, after the accident. Damn this snow! All I need is sunlight, and no snow to fix the Taurus. Then I wont have to worry about driving my MM til spring!

[champ1173]

I always found the MM and our old Vic had pretty decent rear traction but the front end would float over the snow making turning an experience.:eek:

Full tank of gas, snow tires and two/three bodies in the trunk made for good traction. Just got to drive really slow if you're in the snow. You'll piss off the 4wd crowd but that's why God gave you a middle finger.:D

You're not kidding about pissing off people with 4wd! I went through that tonight. Full tank of gas, 140lbs in kitty litter, and driving in 2nd, didn't help me go as fast as they wanted to go. I kinda felt like people that were driving around me, thought I was an idiot for driving a Marauder in this weather. (Damn those voices in my head!) I then saw a Mustang not really getting traction, and felt better:D

[VMARAUDER]

I live in the Chicago area just south of the city but grew up in the city.
I have always driven a large rwd sedan or coupe and never have had an issue with traction in snow and ice. And I did service work for 36 years driving a Ford E150 of Chevy S10 cargo van. Good all season tires and never worried about adding weight. I found most effective for me is to turn the traction off...thats for me and I am off in a flash, worried only about "someone pulling in front of me". Oh, I am driving the 03 Grand Marquis this winter

[JimmyXR7]

You're not kidding about pissing off people with 4wd! I went through that tonight. Full tank of gas, 140lbs in kitty litter, and driving in 2nd, didn't help me go as fast as they wanted to go. I kinda felt like people that were driving around me, thought I was an idiot for driving a Marauder in this weather. (Damn those voices in my head!) I then saw a Mustang not really getting traction, and felt better:D

Some 4X4 owners are over confident. Remember the front tires have less traction in the snow and ice. I have seen a few 4X4s off of the road.
Ice does not care if you have 4 wheel drive and bridges are always more risky.
Even though I have a Bronco with ABS rear, I agree with NavySeaBee as I can change my plans and stay home. Jim

[RF Overlord]

So I put 7 20lb bags of kitty litter in the trunk, and it's possibly a lil better.Don't expect much improvement without a set of decent snow tires.

It isn't just the tread that's different, it's the rubber compound as well. Snow tires are designed to remain pliable in freezing weather where regular tires will get stiffer.

[RF Overlord]

Some 4X4 owners are over confident. I have seen a few 4X4s off of the road.
Ice does not care if you have 4 wheel driveWhenever there's a cold weather event, I always see more 4WD trucks and SUVs off the road than regular cars. Their drivers think they're invincible because they're driving a TRUCK and they don't understand that "go" and "whoa" are quite different in ice or snow.

[MMcactusflower]

70 degrees and sunny here yesterday

ah but this am, the cold front blew in

38 and sunny outside now

gonna be VERY cold tonight...teens like

too bloody cold in the texas hill country...might have to put another log on the fire

[ncmm]

Don't expect much improvement without a set of decent snow tires.

It isn't just the tread that's different, it's the rubber compound as well. Snow tires are designed to remain pliable in freezing weather where regular tires will get stiffer.

+1 on that!

[champ1173]

I live in the Chicago area just south of the city but grew up in the city.
I have always driven a large rwd sedan or coupe and never have had an issue with traction in snow and ice. And I did service work for 36 years driving a Ford E150 of Chevy S10 cargo van. Good all season tires and never worried about adding weight. I found most effective for me is to turn the traction off...thats for me and I am off in a flash, worried only about "someone pulling in front of me". Oh, I am driving the 03 Grand Marquis this winter

The last time I had a RWD car was about 15-16yrs ago. It was a 79 Z28. I remember sitting at a light for, 4 cycles. It had Deep Cragars on the back when I first bought it, and was horrible in snow! But, then I put a set of original wheels on, with BFGs, and didn't have as many problems. Oh, and I lived in the Chicago area my whole life too. Southside suburbs when I was younger, then Dupage area later. (Or now.) Just about all my cars, up until 15-16yrs ago were RWD. Camaros, Chevelles, Monte Carlos, Caprices, etc.. For some reason, with all those different cars, I don't remember it being as bad, as it is in the MM! Snow tires would probably help.

[1stMerc]

All i've ever had to add to the trunk was a 50 lb bag of salt. That was with oem BFG's, Nitto 420s and current Cooper RSA's all seasons since 05. Course have trunk organizer in there as well.

[guspech750]

When I DD my Marauder. All I did was add snow tires on Grand Marquis rims.

No junk in the trunk. Car drove awesome in the snow.

Just good snow tires.

And traction control off.


Sent from The White House on taxpayers dimes.

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[Vortech347]

Snow tires rear only is the worst thing you can do. You've just made the car be able to accelerate faster but not turn or stop any better. Result? Insane understeer and lack of control.

ALWAYS put 4 snow tires on. If you do this additional weight in the trunk is not only unnecessary but hinders your stopping due to the extra kinetic energy. Otherwise, why would a lighter car stop faster? :)

When I daily drove my Fox it was great in the winter. Nimble, light, and with snow tires went anywhere most 4x4's would go unless there was snow so deep ground clearance became an issue.