Conference ssdevo::4wd

    I read through 1370 but it did not really answer the questions I have.
    
    I live on a little hill and need to go up a slope driveway.  From time
    to time, the driveway ice up and becomes very slippery.  My front wheel
    drive car with snow tires does not always make it up the driveway. 
    Hence, I am considering a 4wd vechicle.
    
    Questions:
    1) Will a 4wd vechicle help me up a slope & icy driveway?
    
    
    2) I heard a lot about low end torque, is that required to help me up 
       that slope & icy driveway?
    
    thanks
    
    jimmy

Try the simplest (and cheapest) solution first:
    Have you tried going up backwards?  May not help, but worth a try.
    (When going up a hill, more weight shifts toward rear wheels, hence
    off the front.)

IMHO, you are probably best off clearing the snow from your driveway.

Ice is still slippery, no matter how many wheels.
ymmv,
--roger

    If you just *want* 4-wheel-drive, then buy one! :-) But do you really
    need it just to get up your driveway a few times a year? You'll be
    amazed how quickly you'll drive up that ice covered slope if you just
    stop and spread a thin coating of sand across it first. It doesn't take
    much sand to provide just enough bite for the tires. 
    
    You can send me 10% of the money you just saved. :-) :-) :-)
    
    Harry
    

I have a 4wd Grand Cherokee and a driveway that slopes up towards the garage. 
Not only that, the entrance to the garage is on the north face of the house so
there is no melting.  4wd and low range and creeping STILL provides no traction
on ice - not particularly surprising. 

The rear wheel drive Volvo has NO problems getting up the slope.  It has 
studded snows.

If I had studded snows on the 4wd, I would expect it to get traction on ice.  A 
more cost effective solution is to spread a light layer of a mixture of sand, 
rock salt and fireplace ashes.  

Much cheaper than any other solution.


Dave

    I have to echo -.1
    
    I have a 4WD Wrangler and my brother has a 96 RAM 1500 4WD truck. The
    hill to my driveway has a very good slope and also faces north so the
    snow doesn't melt. 
    
    Going slow in 4wd does no help much at all. going fast in 4wd works
    pretty good if I get a running start at the bottom of the driveway. A
    good layer of sand works best.
    
    Brian

    Thanks for all your inputs....
    
    It is very easy to mix up needs and wants.
    
    Thanks again for clarifying.
    
    /Jimmy