What would you take?

Eldon (WA) · Dec 23, 2015

Getting ready to drive to SD for Christmas with the family. We have lots of snow out here, mountain passes are snow packed or slushy, chains or 4x4 required. I have the Dodge Cummins duallie studded up as well as studs on the Malibu. I hate duallies in slush, and it is a lot of excess weight to control, but it has 4 wheel drive. The Malibu only has about 5" clearance under the front spoiler, so deep snow could be a problem. Obviously it would be cheaper to drive. What would be your choice and why?

K Effective · Dec 23, 2015

Amtrak?

oldtanker · Dec 23, 2015

(quoted from post at 13:19:44 12/23/15) Getting ready to drive to SD for Christmas with the family. We have lots of snow out here, mountain passes are snow packed or slushy, chains or 4x4 required. I have the Dodge Cummins duallie studded up as well as studs on the Malibu. I hate duallies in slush, and it is a lot of excess weight to control, but it has 4 wheel drive. The Malibu only has about 5" clearance under the front spoiler, so deep snow could be a problem. Obviously it would be cheaper to drive. What would be your choice and why?

The Malibu, cause it ain't a Fiat/Chrysler product! :twisted: :twisted: But the car. Because on a long trip if you have to have 4X4 just to get through you shouldn't be on the road in the first place.

Rick

D beatty · Dec 23, 2015

I would take the truck and put some weight in bed of truck to hold the duals down.

Bill(Wis) · Dec 23, 2015

You could just remove the outside duals and carry them in the bed. Put them back on whenever you want. That will give you the option of putting chains on the single wheels front and rear if you want. I'm assuming you have a true "dually" where the rear outside duals make the truck wider. The inside duals are tracking just about the same as the front tires.

ss55 · Dec 23, 2015

1500 miles one way? How many people are going on the trip and how much stuff will you be bringing along? Any side trips or sightseeing?

Ron-MO · Dec 23, 2015

Depends on what type tires are on the car. I have a front wheel drive car, and with the normal "all season" tires, it is about helpless in any sort of snow or slush. Last year I bought a set of true winter
tires for it with directional tread. That car would go about anywhere I wanted to go in the snow, even mud. I believe it would go until it high centered with those tires on it. Now I swap off the all season
tires about Thanksgiving for the winter tires, then swap back in March or when I feel winter weather has passed. Not sure about the truck, but I have heard many who owned those trucks say they are very front
heavy, and the dual rear wheels make it worse unless you place a huge amount of weight in the rear to plant those dual rear wheels, and offset that front weight. My thought......buy a set of winter tires for
the car and head out.

big fred · Dec 23, 2015

I'd take the Malibu, for better comfort. The passes over the Rockies are a lot better than our Cascade and Siskiyou roads in winter, in my
experience. I've gone from Seattle Tacoma area to North Dakota and California several times, and the worst conditions I've seen are always in
the siskiyous, with Snoqualmie not far behind.

sd pete · Dec 23, 2015

The Car

Two Dogs · Dec 23, 2015

Home, Jack Daniels, and Coke. But easy on the Coke. TDF

OH Boy · Dec 23, 2015

Take the Malibu and wait for clear (enough) weather days for your traveling. Actually I would recommend that even if you were driving the 4x4. Who wants to drive hundreds of miles in four wheel drive anyhow? So wait for a day or two of clear weather and take the car. if you get held up for a day or two somewhere the savings in gas will pay for the motel.

VicS · Dec 23, 2015

I don't like traveling in a little car. We
always travel in a pickup or our
Expedition. Everything we own is 4x4. Even
took a f250 to Alaska and back. 10000
miles.

JDPhil · Dec 23, 2015

I also have a Dodge dual wheel not much in snow. BUT if you put 500 pounds in the bed it does ok and with studded tires I would take it, I hauled around 4 or 5 old truck tires all winter when driving it now I drive a Jeep and let the dodge set when snowing.

RayP(MI) · Dec 23, 2015

I would take the truck in a heartbeat. Drop outside duals off, throw them in the back along with sufficient ballast, a winter emergency kit, chains and a basic tool kit. Sorry, when I am away from home, I want to be able to put up a good fight before i succumb to the elements. There is a reason why everthing in the garage here is 4wd. Actually several reasons. Trip like that, I'd be packing heat if I leagally could. Good luck.

Mike M · Dec 23, 2015

I don't know which of yours I'd take ? Those mid size cars go good with decent tires ? But I reread your statement about the mountain passes and sounds like your are legally stuck driving the 4x4.
I'm in Ohio and it sounds like one would be able to drive a motorcycle this year !

Don Hopf · Dec 23, 2015

Daughter and SIL lived in Seattle and we were in SE South Dakota. The first grandson was
born Dec 8th. We took the Chevy 2500 Crew Cab just in case the snow got deep in the
Cascades. The car we had at the time was a Pontiac G6 GXP with low profile tires so no tire
chains. Didn't have a problem with snow or ice so the car would have made it, but it was a
nice ride in the pickup. We stayed overnight in Billings both ways. We arrived at the kid's
house on the 2 day at 5:00 PM, At 6:30 PM that night, they closed the Snoqualme Pass on I-
90 to clean up the struck/spin out vehicles.

MSD · Dec 23, 2015

You won't be out of place driving that Dodge around out here in SD or MT. Lots of them on the road probably for a reason. Flatlands a car would be ok but mountain passes this
time of year I would want 4x4. Elevation changes make a big difference in road conditions.

1Plowboy · Dec 23, 2015

Take the Malibu. I have a Malibu. In the winter I have a set of 4 directional studded tires that I put on. Aside from the clearance that you gain in the 4x4 I don't think you will gain much in the truck. I
have always said since putting the winter tires on that I would challenge any 4x4 in up to 8 inches of snow with the Malibu. (That will get some stirred up I know) If there is more than 8 inches of snow on
the road you probably should get a room any way. Stay safe.

Pair-a-dice farm · Dec 23, 2015

I've never been in that part of the country during the winter but I have driven in deep snow, I would take the truck. You might be able to make it fine in the car but it only takes one little slip to be thousands of dollars in damage. Last winter my son slid off the road in his Equinox and it did $5000 in damage. He didn't even need a wrecker. As others have said take off the outside duals and add a little weight to the back.

Eldon (WA) · Dec 23, 2015

(quoted from post at 14:20:29 12/23/15) I don't know which of yours I'd take ? Those mid size cars go good with decent tires ? But I reread your statement about the mountain passes and sounds like your are legally stuck driving the 4x4.
I'm in Ohio and it sounds like one would be able to drive a motorcycle this year !

I have a set of cable chains that would work on the car, so that would meet the requirements.

Eldon (WA) · Dec 23, 2015

(quoted from post at 15:13:26 12/23/15) Take the Malibu. I have a Malibu. In the winter I have a set of 4 directional studded tires that I put on. Aside from the clearance that you gain in the 4x4 I don't think you will gain much in the truck. I
have always said since putting the winter tires on that I would challenge any 4x4 in up to 8 inches of snow with the Malibu. (That will get some stirred up I know) If there is more than 8 inches of snow on
the road you probably should get a room any way. Stay safe.

Your Malibu must be an older one. Ours has a spoiler that sits about 5" off the ground. One of the things that bugs me about the car...it scrapes when leaving most parking lots.

Greg1959 · Dec 23, 2015

Take the Dually. Load about 1/2 ton of sand in bed and throw in a shovel. Keep all tires on. If
you get to a spot that the 4WD dually can't pull out of, get out and shovel some sand for
traction.

With gas prices so much lower, the price difference in fuel costs shouldn't really be a deciding
factor.

I'd much prefer the added safety of the truck while crossing those high passes.

hd6gtom · Dec 23, 2015

As stated I would put a set of snow tires on the Malibu and take it. After 22+ years in the tire business I am able to say all season tires are really 3 season, not worth a darn in winter. You will be amazed at the difference in traction especially if you get some Brigstone Blizzacks or a tire with similar tread.

MarkB_MI · Dec 23, 2015

It seems a lot of folks here don't know what a "chain law" is. When a chain law is in effect, chains ARE NOT OPTIONAL unless you have 4WD. Doesn't matter if you have studded snow tires; the highway patrol will send you right back down the mountain same as if you had four bald tires. They set up roadblocks and if you want to go over the pass you're going to need chains or four wheel drive.

It's a tough decision, but if you're certain you'll have to chain up I'd leave the Malibu at home. If there's a 50/50 chance you won't hit a pass when the chain law is in effect, I'd take a chance on the Malibu.

Eldon (WA) · Dec 23, 2015

(quoted from post at 13:52:59 12/23/15) Home, Jack Daniels, and Coke. But easy on the Coke. TDF

That's looking more and more like what might happen. They are telling people to stay away from one pass because trees are falling on the road! The next is blocked while clearing an accident. If I don't go I face the wrath of 9 sisters because I messed up the family picture...but it might be better to stay home and be alive to tell the tale....

Donald Lehman · Dec 23, 2015

Personally, I'd take the duals off, and put 500 pounds of sand in the box and the shovel mentioned below, and throw a set of chains in the back just in case. Go and enjoy yourself.

We had a Malibu. Hated it in the winter. With studded snow tires it was tolerable and that is being kind. Ours had the spoiler, too. More than about 2 inches of snow and it acted as a snow plow. It was downright treacherous in slush, too. Take the 4WD.

onefarmer · Dec 23, 2015

I'm with the others as far as take the dually. BUT I'd drive as is AND be prepared to take the duals off and chain up when/if needed. Also have some added weight in it.

Leroy · Dec 23, 2015

I would not even want to drive that car for 10 miles. I have driven thousands of miles in cars in winter on all kinds of roads and conditions and was stuck many a time. Try shoveling your way down the road a quarter mile to gret thru foot deep drifts and find out how good those front wheel drive cars. And you would only have about 3" of snow clearasnce in that car before it would be high centered. I needed a 4 wheel drive for the job that I drove those thousands of miles in. 140 mile a day delievering newspapers. So I know what a car will do. If the cab is big enough to get your stuff in take the truck, take duals off and put a ton of weight in the bed and take plenty of chains to tow out the stuck cars so you can get thru. along with the shovel.

ditchwitch · Dec 23, 2015

Personally i would drive the truck. You'll have a little more iron between you and the elements in case something
was to go sideways.

Farmaller · Dec 23, 2015

Weight the dually down, I usually carry minimum of 750lbs, and it will do much better, and lot safer too, and don't forget to take tow strap or chain!

notjustair · Dec 23, 2015

I've done a similar trip in my dually (4x4). They are
like a hog on ice. There were comments about
ballasting the back on the truck. That's going to give
you the best traction. Don't use anything that you
have to shovel out - use your front loader to fill the
back of it with a large amount of wet snow. There's
your ballast and it will melt out on a couple of
warmer winter days. I always use snow - there's
nothing worse than shoveling sonething out of the
back of a pickup.

01gentdc · Dec 23, 2015

aint no way I would take a nice NEW Age gm product like a Malibu in the harsh weather up north ,,. it would be my luck the computer would freeze up and stall the car and freeze me to death ,,.. I am not kiddin ,..

Kenneth Ronald Ohnstad · Dec 24, 2015

get something about halfway between the two...
4x4 halfton

NoNewParts · Dec 24, 2015

spent most of my life getting to work every day in harsh winter weather.
So, for me, this question doesn't really have any options at all.
Take the truck.
(lol, I always wanted one of those nice cars at new car time....but I had to get to work....sigh..another 4x4 truck to buy)
couple other things....in truly harsh conditions...pack cold weather gear too just in case.
Another truck plus,
many, many, drivers will foolishly attempt
to make it in a car in bad winter weather.
So your chances of getting hit by a car (that shouldn't be on the road at all in those conditions) are very high.
Big steel around you helps.

ericlb · Dec 24, 2015

the truck, it will get there, the malibu might make it but it will get stuck in snow high centered, we have a subaru in our farm fleet, and in light snow its great with awd, but if the snow gets over 4 inches on these mountain roads it will pack up under the car and stop it, our 4x4 trucks will always get thru

Eldon (WA) · Dec 24, 2015

(quoted from post at 13:19:44 12/23/15) Getting ready to drive to SD for Christmas with the family. We have lots of snow out here, mountain passes are snow packed or slushy, chains or 4x4 required. I have the Dodge Cummins duallie studded up as well as studs on the Malibu. I hate duallies in slush, and it is a lot of excess weight to control, but it has 4 wheel drive. The Malibu only has about 5" clearance under the front spoiler, so deep snow could be a problem. Obviously it would be cheaper to drive. What would be your choice and why?

Thanks for all the insight....but it is now a mute point since we decided to cancel the trip. The weather hasn't improved and they are advising no travel over the passes in Idaho. I guess one missed Christmas in 6 years is still pretty good odds. Merry Christmas everyone....may it be a safe one!

What would you take?

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