[Millennial Mountaineer]

My wife and I are snow chasers, and our 148" Extended, RWD with Limited-slip Differential will be used as our skiing basecamp.

As such, I am installing Nokian HAKKAPELIITTA CR3 tires (LT235/65R16 121R).

We live on Vancouver Island, Canada, and primarily deal with temperature ranging from 5C down to -15C during the winter. We have two main concerns: 1) black ice when the road temperature hovers around 0 Celsius and 2) deep, heavy, wet coastal snow.

I'll provide photos and updates of our winter travels this year once we get these tires on!

 

[Tijoe]

In the winter, I run K02s on the front and 4 studded tires on the duallys. I have an Eaton Truetrac LSD. (225/75/16s)

In town driving: With this set-up I have had no issues and the van handles about as good as comparable pick-ups and other dually RWD vehicles. Does pretty good on ice in town,

On Freeways and highways while it is snowing: No issues to date. Van drives well on fresh snow without long term ice that has built up on the road.

Up and down 2-lane mountain roads: Going up hill has been fine, but going downhill on slicker roads, or where Ice is starting build up in shaded road sections due to a day of traffic driving on the road, I have had a few hair raising experiences. Primarily because in early winter when the first storms hit, I usually forget to load up the back of the van with sand bags. Therefore while driving downhill, the CG shifts forward enough to make the rear-end lighter , therefore the back end has the tendency to pop out in the back. (I have had a couple situations where I started breaking on a straight downhill only to have the rear-end start to drift to one side or the other.)
Therefore I have to remember to put 300 to 500 lbs in the back in order to get proper traction. (Mine is a wagon without the seats in the back, so this makes it even lighter.)

 

[Photomike]

My last trip. Overall not a problem. I have started to drive slower but I do that with or without the snow as I like to enjoy the drive.

 

[Matt Kaiel]

Search for the "Body Builders Layout Book" for your year of Transit. It will show base weights over each axle for each configuration. Here is the page from the 2018 that might help. you'll need to know which engine and which GVWR you have.

View attachment 141657

Hey Gap Runr, thanks so much for sharing this. My van has about the same weight difference, roughly 900 lbs in the rear of the van. I've added a bed system, bike slide out, interior shelving and bench all framed in wood, but I don't think that would add more than 200 lbs. Just curious how you balanced out the weight in your van? Also, if anyone has suggestions about tire pressure on winter tires for the van? My summer tires are set up to 38 psi front and 70 psi rear, which makes me think an underweighted "cargo" van that is now a camper lacking weight increased the lack of traction in the snow.

 

[as3ffd]

Though it's not a Transit, I think this one would do well in snow. ;-)

 

[GapRunr]

Hey Gap Runr, thanks so much for sharing this. My van has about the same weight difference, roughly 900 lbs in the rear of the van. I've added a bed system, bike slide out, interior shelving and bench all framed in wood, but I don't think that would add more than 200 lbs. Just curious how you balanced out the weight in your van?

I've got the Extended high roof dually. There is only about 150 pounds difference from front to rear, but I also have a Quigley and the van is in TN so I haven't added anything to the rear. The need isn't there.

 

[Photomike]

Hey Gap Runr, thanks so much for sharing this. My van has about the same weight difference, roughly 900 lbs in the rear of the van. I've added a bed system, bike slide out, interior shelving and bench all framed in wood, but I don't think that would add more than 200 lbs. Just curious how you balanced out the weight in your van? Also, if anyone has suggestions about tire pressure on winter tires for the van? My summer tires are set up to 38 psi front and 70 psi rear, which makes me think an underweighted "cargo" van that is now a camper lacking weight increased the lack of traction in the snow.

At those tire pressures how do you deal with the TPMS??

 

[surly Bill]

At those tire pressures how do you deal with the TPMS??

probably the same way as airing down for sand: ignore the dash warning light.

 

[Photomike]

probably the same way as airing down for sand: ignore the dash warning light.

I was hoping for some unknown trick

 

[2020awd]

 

[Matt Kaiel]

Curiously, what tire pressures do you guys run in snow?

 

[koggedb]

Do any of you guys have experience with the Michelin Agilis Crossclimate tires? Normally I'd steer away (no pun intended) from all-seasons but these are actually 'Severe Snow Service Rated' on several tire sites so I am not sure what to make of it. Costco has them available so it would be easy and economical to get these thrown on for the winter. The other option is Firestone's Winterforce CV which seems to be a dedicated ice and snow tire.

 

[Kojak001]

Agree with the negatives on ther Cargo Van with short wheelbase. Even with snow tires, any ice or greasy snow and especially with a little wind can make driving these bread boxes "interesting". Weight in the rear is a good counter measure.

 

[Bazz99]

Agree with the negatives on ther Cargo Van with short wheelbase. Even with snow tires, any ice or greasy snow and especially with a little wind can make driving these bread boxes "interesting". Weight in the rear is a good counter measure.

I have a 2020 AWD 148 and it drives amazing in the snow, much better than my Subaru Outback and Toyota Highlander. I just have the stock all season tires on it.
We're expecting a few feet of snow tonight so hopefully I'm driving in the snow tomorrow to go skiing!!

 

[Photomike]

View attachment 142741

Let me know when you get some snow

 

[DaneNotDave]

I took my 2020 AWD ecoboost highroof/extended that I'm converting up to the mountains to test it out in the snow and came away pretty darn impressed. Stock tires were a lot better than expected, the AWD system worked quite well, especially since the van is still pretty much empty. No issue starting/stopping, felt stable under hard acceleration and deceleration, and felt confident in general. Kind of like a giant Subaru. The only thing I wasn't super thrilled with was how the traction control chose to apply power. Coming from a Subaru Forester I'm used to it erring slightly on the side of wheelspin/not cutting power when accelerating, the Transit thinks differently and cuts power to avoid wheelspin. It worked fine, it's just not what I'm used to and felt a little unsettling to me. Next time I'm up there I'm going to test it more aggressively to see how it does under more extreme/emergency type maneuvers and to further evaluate the stock tires, but so far I really like it!

 

[square1]

When Motorweek tests a new AWD model they compare it to Subaru as the gold standard. That a Subaru driver with experience in snow isn't terribly disappointed with the AWD transit bodes well for the Transit.

 

[2020awd]

I have to say I'm super impressed with the AWD (I know this thread was originally about non-AWD, so apologies if we're derailing too much). We had over 3 feet of snow this weekend, then rain, and our parking area was a disaster. The van got me out of everything I threw at it, including snow banks, hills, and pulling a trailer. Setting it to mud and ruts mode is the key, it eliminates the wheel spin and just muscles through it all. I do have Duratracs on, which I've found to be the best for deep snow traction.

 

[perchancetodream]

As just mentioned elsewhere, the crown of my neighborhood street was too much for my 2WD Transit with OEM Continental Vanco's when I tried backing into my driveway after a snow storm, despite the limited slip differential and traction control off. I've since added 360# of sandbags in back and replacement Michelin Agilis CrossClimate tires are under consideration for Black Friday.

Although it occurs to me - maybe limited slip diffs don't work in reverse?

 

[dcp6904]

Not well in my experience. I wasn't able to make it up a slightly inclined road near donner lake with studded snow tires and the limited slip differential. My buddies subaru with snow tires made it easily. YYMV

I can confirm Transit is "for ****" with factory tires.... even on flat grade you will not move on ice or hard packed snow. Have not tried different tires... just avoid winter driving.

NOTE: has limited slip option.