best upgrades for snow (1 Viewer)

[keepit100]

Hi all. I recently purchased a 1999 LC with 189,000 miles on it. I live in Bozeman, Montana and work in Big Sky, Montana. My commute to work forces me to drive through a pretty treacherous canyon that gets nasty in the winter time.(annual snowfall in Big Sky, Montana is 400 inches.) I want to gear my rig as my wintertime canyon commute vehicle and of course ill be having some fun with it on weekends . Looking for the best upgrades for deep snow and snow commute. Ill obviously be getting some studded snow tires but as to what else i should get please help.

 

[cap80]

A plow??
Studded snows are a great start. I've always thought these trucks would be awesome with them.
A set of chains for if it gets really awful.
I always carry tow straps with me in the winter here in Washington and have yanked a bunch I people out of ditches on the way to skiing and in the resort parking lot.
Really good wipers.
Basic winter emergency gear.

 

[DanInDenver]

A few things come to mind
Safety
Recovery
Survival
Rescue

Safety
Slow and safe so you don't get stuck.
GY DT studded with chains.
Extra driving lights on front bumper with appropriate intensity and color to aid in seeing when driving in blinding snow.

Recovery
Winch and straps
Snow anchor
Snow shovel - test it and try and break it before you need to use it. HF are sure to break.

Survival
Extra clothing, coat and boots in case you get wet and need to change.
Warm sleeping bag
Food and water
Extra fuel
Dual battery in case you kill the primary

Rescue
Cell phone and charging cable
HAM radio
Road flares

I would also add a front windshield defroster. In heavy snow my windows get heavy buildup and the wipers will get heavy with ice. I have seen them for large trucks and found some that will fit. It's on my list of mods once I get a dual battery installed.

 

[mr jits]

40"+ Iroks and a CTIS.

 

[keepit100]

A few things come to mind
Safety
Recovery
Survival
Rescue

Safety
Slow and safe so you don't get stuck.
GY DT studded with chains.
Extra driving lights on front bumper with appropriate intensity and color to aid in seeing when driving in blinding snow.

Recovery
Winch and straps
Snow anchor
Snow shovel - test it and try and break it before you need to use it. HF are sure to break.

Survival
Extra clothing, coat and boots in case you get wet and need to change.
Warm sleeping bag
Food and water
Extra fuel
Dual battery in case you kill the primary

Rescue
Cell phone and charging cable
HAM radio
Road flares

I would also add a front windshield defroster. In heavy snow my windows get heavy buildup and the wipers will get heavy with ice. I have seen them for large trucks and found some that will fit. It's on my list of mods once I get a dual battery installed.

Thanks for the response. All of your recommendations sound great. ill have to eventually check all those off the list. First few purchases will be studded snows, extra driving lights like you recommended (any specific color lighting in mind for snow?), slee tube-sliders coated in line-x, and im thinking about the slee blueberry front bumper.

 

[keepit100]

40"+ Iroks and a CTIS.

haha i guess you could call me a "newb" because the only thing i understood from that is 40" tires. Whats irok and CTIS?

 

[cap80]

haha i guess you could call me a "newb" because the only thing i understood from that is 40" tires. Whats irok and CTIS?

Check out the Icelandic trucks in a recent thread for some snow truck inspiration and glacier driving pics.

LC 100 from 38 to 42" tires
https://forum.ih8mud.com/index.php?threads/LC-100-from-38-to-42"-tires.874800/

CTIS - central tire inflation system, the Icelandic guys use them because they are constantly adjusting tire pressure for different snow types.
IROK - tire made by Intreco, burly mud/snow/rock crawler tire. (Probably not what you are looking for)

 

[oftpiste]

Being a skier with a LC I would siggest really good headlamp bulbs and fog light bulbs.

 

[fumetsu]

Underbody coating, maybe fluid film if your area pours out as much road salt as they do here in Michigan.

 

[Sandroad]

Just to state the obvious, spend the time and money on complete preventative maintenance to make sure your truck's in good shape. Also, it looks to me like getting studdable tires really limits your tire choice. Winter tires for sure, but are studs really worth it?

 

[chuckscap]

A few things come to mind
Safety
Recovery
Survival
Rescue

Safety
Slow and safe so you don't get stuck.
GY DT studded with chains.
Extra driving lights on front bumper with appropriate intensity and color to aid in seeing when driving in blinding snow.

Recovery
Winch and straps
Snow anchor
Snow shovel - test it and try and break it before you need to use it. HF are sure to break.

Survival
Extra clothing, coat and boots in case you get wet and need to change.
Warm sleeping bag
Food and water
Extra fuel
Dual battery in case you kill the primary

Rescue
Cell phone and charging cable
HAM radio
Road flares

I would also add a front windshield defroster. In heavy snow my windows get heavy buildup and the wipers will get heavy with ice. I have seen them for large trucks and found some that will fit. It's on my list of mods once I get a dual battery installed.

Awesome response, lived in Western Montana for 10 years. Focus on safety, survival and rescue tips, they are cheapest (except tires) and most important

 

[cruiserpilot]

In winter on studs, you will want to experiment with tire pressure a bit. I will run 34 psi regular, but when the snow is flying and
its getting icy I run down to 25 lbs. Gives a bit better grip in my opinion. Probably going to get a whole bunch of response to this.
But I use a mud tire, not necessarily a winter ice tire. Which is what I would recommend, the very best ice tire you can afford.
If you get chains, put them on before you need them. You need to know how they work and install before you are on the side
of the hwy facing a roadblock.

 

[Oilyrailroader]

I live in Belgrade, and commute to Livingston everyday. The best advice I can give is, don't be in a hurry, give yourself plenty of time to get to Big Sky and back, cause you won't be able to pass anywhere in that canyon.

 

[keepit100]

In winter on studs, you will want to experiment with tire pressure a bit. I will run 34 psi regular, but when the snow is flying and
its getting icy I run down to 25 lbs. Gives a bit better grip in my opinion. Probably going to get a whole bunch of response to this.
But I use a mud tire, not necessarily a winter ice tire. Which is what I would recommend, the very best ice tire you can afford.
If you get chains, put them on before you need them. You need to know how they work and install before you are on the side
of the hwy facing a roadblock.

Didnt give much thought to lowering PSI with studded tires but that makes sense. I will be getting 285/75-R16 Kelly Safari TSR with #16 metal studs.
http://www.kellytires.com/en-US/tir...save&webprodid=316&productcode=35758429800000
I've gotten a bunch of good reviews from people in the area who have a set of these for the winter (studded) and a set for summer (non-studded) and they swear by them. Also, i will be removing the stock running boards for more ground clearance.

 

[keepit100]

Didnt give much thought to lowering PSI with studded tires but that makes sense. I will be getting 285/75-R16 Kelly Safari TSR with #16 metal studs.
http://www.kellytires.com/en-US/tir...save&webprodid=316&productcode=35758429800000
I've gotten a bunch of good reviews from people in the area who have a set of these for the winter (studded) and a set for summer (non-studded) and they swear by them. Also, i will be removing the stock running boards for more ground clearance.

Forgot to mention the tires will be siped down the middle for maximum traction.

 

[MT Dweller]

Go to tire rama and get some of the cooper M&S studded, they are cheaper than the STT Maxxes and have a better tread pattern for the snow....the M&S are already siped for traction and they are great heading up the canyon...I'm in Gateway area and am up in the sky 3-4 times a week for work and play. Don't get chains until you read the threads about them...you may encounter problems with fitment in the fronts. .All the stuff Dan posted is great to have, but not really necesary for Gallatin Canyon....there is way too much traffic in there these days, and the canyon itself does not get alot of snow, its in a shadow from the Spanish Peaks. There will always be some grandma driving super slow or a semi slowing eveything down. First thing I'd do is go to Rising Sun in Bozeman and have them do a full checkout of the rig, lose the running boards, and get some snow tires and you will be all set. Your sig is incorrect you have a UZJ100 not an FJ100...

 

[Devils Paw 80]

ATRAC would be nice, I would think. Was it available in '99 or not until later?

 

[keepit100]

Go to tire rama and get some of the cooper M&S studded, they are cheaper than the STT Maxxes and have a better tread pattern for the snow....the M&S are already siped for traction and they are great heading up the canyon...I'm in Gateway area and am up in the sky 3-4 times a week for work and play. Don't get chains until you read the threads about them...you may encounter problems with fitment in the fronts. .All the stuff Dan posted is great to have, but not really necesary for Gallatin Canyon....there is way too much traffic in there these days, and the canyon itself does not get alot of snow, its in a shadow from the Spanish Peaks. There will always be some grandma driving super slow or a semi slowing eveything down. First thing I'd do is go to Rising Sun in Bozeman and have them do a full checkout of the rig, lose the running boards, and get some snow tires and you will be all set. Your sig is incorrect you have a UZJ100 not an FJ100...

Thanks for all the great info and suggestions! Especially because youre a local with a LC who drives to big sky haha thats great. Thanks for the tire recommendation from tire rama. never been there before, i usually use interwest tire in belgrade but ill check them out! and yeah ive driven gallatin canyon 5-6 days a week for the last couple years. It can get pretty bad in the winter time if a storm is ripping through. the roads can definitely get sheeted in ice so thats why i wanted the studs.

Rising Sun? ive never heard of them either but thanks for the suggestion! Do they work on a fair amount of cruisers? i was actually looking for a good shop to take her too. And thanks for the sig correction...im obviously still green haha.

 

[Topmounter]

ATRAC would be nice, I would think. Was it available in '99 or not until later?

00+

 

[Topmounter]

Go to tire rama and get some of the cooper M&S studded, they are cheaper than the STT Maxxes and have a better tread pattern for the snow....the M&S are already siped for traction and they are great heading up the canyon...I'm in Gateway area and am up in the sky 3-4 times a week for work and play. Don't get chains until you read the threads about them...you may encounter problems with fitment in the fronts. .All the stuff Dan posted is great to have, but not really necesary for Gallatin Canyon....there is way too much traffic in there these days, and the canyon itself does not get alot of snow, its in a shadow from the Spanish Peaks. There will always be some grandma driving super slow or a semi slowing eveything down. First thing I'd do is go to Rising Sun in Bozeman and have them do a full checkout of the rig, lose the running boards, and get some snow tires and you will be all set. Your sig is incorrect you have a UZJ100 not an FJ100...

A good set of studded snow tires should be more than sufficient. I did do some research on chains a few years ago for emergency situations and sorting out what tire, wheel and chain combo would work was anything but straight forward. As silly as it may sound, Snow Socks made a lot of sense for emergency situations, they don't have any of the fitment complications and wear rate will be the least of your concerns if you find yourself in a situation where you actually need them.

That all being said, the worst of the worst winter conditions that I've experienced in my LC had nothing to do with traction and everything to do with visibility due to either white out conditions or just running out of wiper fluid.