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How does the Transit do in Snow?

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#22 ·
Transit in the snow

we have the 148" extended Transit and it does great in the snow with the Nokian Hakapalitta snow tires. We drive it regularly up to Mount Hood to ski and haven't slid once in the snow. We have a bedslider in the back along with a water tank that adds some weight which helps with the traction as well. We carry chains and a snow shovel just in case, but havent had to use either yet. Good luck!
 
#23 ·
Doing my first winter with our T350 XLT 12-passenger (so it is the extended version)- I don't have the limited slip (dang). I do have it on stock size Continental studless snows. Running without weight and stock tire pressures, it was terrible. I added 420 pounds to the back axle (sand tube bags) and lowered the tire pressures to about 52psi. The weight and the tire pressures were huge changes to the traction and now it's manageable. My typical load is probably 6 people, so the lower tire pressures are acceptable. I'd have to air up for extended highway or heavier loads.

From what I could find, curb weight on my unit is just over 6,000 pounds. With my added weight and then normal passengers I calculated my distribution probably around 50/50, maybe a little heavier to the rear.
 
#24 ·
Our 350 is 8000lbs, open rear diff, has T/A KO2s and was a beast while were in Quebec and Newfoundland over Christmas and New Year's. Doodling around in 8"+, ice, slush, icy mix, sleet, high winds, etc with not an issue.

Now high winds...
 
#26 ·
Snow tires or AT tires that have been siped are a must. Also tire pressure is big issue, We have a Transit 350 mid roof, ext wheelbase but not the longest model. Recommend rear tire pressure is 71psi in order to carry the 3500lbs; front is 52psi. With the TPI system, you’re allowed a 25% drop from factory recommendation before warning light stays on. So I run 52 front & 58 rear, no TPI light and makes a big difference with traction. Finally, We have a Quigley 4x4, so when everything else fails, we can still make it to the mountain or back home. Our van was plowed in last week during a snow storm with Subaru’s & Explorers stuck but our van pulled out like it was nothing, albeit in 4x4 ?
 

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#29 ·
On my trip in Kansas City, I used the Tow Mode to help with slowing down the Transit without using the brakes. With the TM engaged, it will help when going down a hill and with a light touch of the brake, it downshifts the transmission to help slowing down without heavier braking pressure.
 
#30 ·
On Friday I picked up my new Transit from Matt Ford and began the drive home to Colorado. I bought a 2019 T250, HR Cargo, 148” WB, 3.5L, 3.31 LSD and had the dealer install BFG KO2 255/70R/16 tires before I picked it up.

I spent three days driving through heavy rain, sleet, snow and ice to include driving over Wolf Creek Pass (12,000’) on a snow covered highway. I drove conservatively, but was pleasantly surprised by how the van handled. This is my first time driving a RWD vehicle (my daily driver is an Xterra) and I never felt like I was going to slide off the road. The only things I had in the back of the van were the 4 original tires, so I’m guessing it will handle even better once I get it converted and have more weight over the rear axle.
 
#31 ·
2017 148" medium roof, eco, limited slip


Picked the van up over a year ago 3 hours away. Got it home with no issues. First light dusting of snow and I took the dog for her walk in the van and got stuck in about an inch of snow on a slight slope.


Replaced tires with KO2 started build. Still NOT impressed with traction.


Warmed up and I added more items. Not sure how the extra weight would do. Ran my van to the mountains and I was not upset but not really impressed.


Image


This year we have had very little snow. Last weekend ran to the mountains and I got it stuck on a paved road with some ice, NOT impressed.


We got a snow storm a couple days ago. Then yesterday I added a couple sand bags to the back end. The guy I bought them from said they are 75lbs each, I say 100 plus each.


Took the van out today and WOW BIG CHANGE!!! I am happy. Did a few tests like backing down a snow covered hill, stopping then trying to drive back up and not an issue. Even without the limited slip it is so much better. So today took it to a isolated lake with a trail around it. Pulled off the trail and parked on the snow covered shoulder and not a problem. Did a pile of turns and start and stops in the snow and no issue.


I can say that I am a lot more happy with the van now, I would take it to the mountains without hesitation now as before I was cautious.


My Build


My build and info on my blog
 
#32 ·
I have studded Nokian Haks. They are nice tires and bite well on ice. But if you have two -three inches of snow this van is a hand ful.

I have limited slip and carry a lot of weight in the van. It's heavy.

I find if it's going slower up residential hill or back roads it is best to turn off the traction control. It cuts the throttle and you lose momentum when climbing a hill. The tire spin is easier to manage to keep the inertia. But if you going down a road 30 mph etc, you should have it on, as it corrects slippage quickly and is safer.

But I do need to turn it off climbing a hill or I will be stopped halfway up with no throttle to use.

Ford is stupid to not just bring in a factory 4x4 or awd already. Yes there is a demand. If I switch to Mercedes it was for that reason alone.
 
#33 · (Edited)
We've had a pretty snowy week-end here in Quebec / north-eastern US.
Being the snow addict I am I went where there was the most snow (mid-Vermont) to get some good skiing.
Arrived there at the beginning of the snow storm, went through a small pass (Rochester Gap, for those who know). It's not that steep, but steep enough for the traction control to engage all the time on snow covered road. At some point the traction control was inducing gear changes so often it started to smoke... and I was not able to go farther ! Stopped by the road, waited some time, installed the chains, disabled the traction control, switch to "manual" mode and went again, slow and steady. No problem then, made it to my skiing spot easily !

Next day, looots of snow (yeah !!! happy guy !), icy roads, van covered by almost 2 feet of snow... went skiing, then it was time to head back home... I removed the chains after I went out of my parking spot (could not get out without chains), the roads where kinda plowed, plenty if ice.
What I did is : first thing disable traction control for all the ride, and switch to "manual" as soon as I was on a long and twisty climb... Then I would stay on the same gear (3rd IIRC), steady at 2000/2500 rpm, and had absolutely no problem even on the steepest climbs I drove through.

As far as I'm concerned, on snow the traction control is you worst enemy, especially paired with automatic transmission (I hate automatic, gears change at the worst time all the time !)
Did not need chains on my way back home.
 
#34 ·
Ben said:
As far as I'm concerned, on snow the traction control is you worst enemy, especially paired with automatic transmission (I hate automatic, gears change at the worst time all the time !)
Did not need chains on my way back home.
Click to expand...

Cannot agree more. Read years ago about how well traction control works on a road with some slippery spots like a rainy road, read about how well it works on roads with icy "patches". But as soon as you try and find out about snow and ice the response is "shut it off".


Seems like something needs to be improved like having a snow/ice mode, but I guess that is what shutting off is for :D:D:D
 
#35 ·
Full time skiers here, currently in Terrace, BC (map)

I can't say the Transit is a snow-beast, but we're honestly impressed with its capabilities. We're backcountry skiers and we often have to use mediocre mountain back-roads; we can get pretty much anywhere we want!

As others have mentioned:
- Good snow tires, weight (from the conversion) on the rear axle and LSD are the key.
- On steep slippery climbs (not highway): de-activate traction control, use manual mode (to prevent shifting and loss of momentum during climb) and keep the engine revying even if the wheel starts spinning (so the LSD engage and both wheels have traction). But of course stop trying if you start tailgating too much...
- Carry snowchains (https://faroutride.com/thule-snow-chains-review/) at all time. Maxtrax (https://faroutride.com/maxtrax/) can help too (I used them to rescue a 4x4 pickup truck).
@Ben: Luc says hi :)

Image
 
#36 ·
Just curious where you find your weight over your front axles versus rear axle? I have a 2016 ford transit 250 Mid height, 148" WB. It's a cargo van built out into a light weight camper (build doesn't weigh much with bed, bike slides, electrical system, wood floors, cedar walls, wood ceiling, bench and shelving for storage). Trying to figure out how to get this thing to drive better in the snow. Last year I had studs (came with the rig) and 200 lbs of sand in the back. It did okay, but I'm looking into the LS differential and snow tires. Any other suggestions on weight in the back, tires, LS diff.

thanks,

Matt

GapRunr said:
Are you looking at a cargo or passenger van? It's been discussed on here several times that the amount of weight over the drive wheels isn't as important as the percentage of weight over the drive wheels. i.e. a long bed crew cab pickup has more weight over the drive wheels than a Honda Civic does, yet sucks in the snow compared to the Civic.

Using the Ford Specs document for published weights over axles, a regular 130" WB transit cargo weighs 800-1,000 pounds LESS at the rear axle than the front axle, depending on which engine you have. My T350HD cargo van has about 130 pounds difference between front and rear axle, so a greater percentage of the overall weight is rear biased with the high roof and extended body length. I would suspect that this would translate to better traction.

A T350HD passenger van weighs from 500-700 pounds MORE at the rear axle than the front axle.

In any of these scenarios adding weight to to the rear with a conversion will help with traction, and using actual snow tires will make the most noticeable difference.

In a nutshell, a short wheelbase cargo most likely sucks in the snow compared to a T350HD passenger van with the same tires, which explains the variety of reports on this forum regarding snow traction.
Click to expand...
 
#37 ·
Matt Kaiel said:
Just curious where you find your weight over your front axles versus rear axle? I have a 2016 ford transit 250 Mid height, 148" WB. It's a cargo van built out into a light weight camper (build doesn't weigh much with bed, bike slides, electrical system, wood floors, cedar walls, wood ceiling, bench and shelving for storage). Trying to figure out how to get this thing to drive better in the snow. Last year I had studs (came with the rig) and 200 lbs of sand in the back. It did okay, but I'm looking into the LS differential and snow tires. Any other suggestions on weight in the back, tires, LS diff.

thanks,

Matt
Click to expand...
I moved my two Group 31 batteries over the rear axle. Also add sandbags each year. I have the LS and snow tires. I would not say it is bad in the snow but you do need to drive for the conditions more in the van then in a lower/ smaller vehicle.
 
#40 ·
The main reason I bought a 2020 Ford van is for the AWD, I'll be testing it this winter around Tahoe and many other Icon Pass locations out West!
The tires that came on it are all season, do you think I'll need chains?
My Subaru Outback was good in the snow, I've been driving a Toyota Highlander recently and it's much better than my Subaru in the snow.
Image

Mt Rose HWY a few years ago!
 
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