Deep snow performance

[Tucker]

I'm trying to get a handle on how well my XJ will handle deep snow off road. How well does your XJ handle deep snow? Does it float well and not high-center? Which end is more likely to dig in? Do you use chains? Fore and aft? Just fore?

I posted this in the mod forum because I'll be running on 33x12.5's at 5.5" up and I don't really care how a stock truck handles this stuff. I want to know how well these things do after we've loaded them down with lift, bumpers, rails, tools, and spares.

Inquiring minds want to know :)

TIA

[TOZOVR]

Well it depends on what you compare it to.....I ran the Maine Winter Rover Romp in My XJ... http://www.authorizedvehicle4x4.com/ROMP.htm Pics here and the article here http://www.bsroa.com/winterromp2003.htm

at the time I was running 4.5" of lift and 31" trXus. The XJ, even loaded, was lighter than the Rangies and discos and did AMAZING...floated over lots of the snow (2-3' in most places...deeper in some) and when sunk in the TrXus kicked butt....The rover Guys were VERY impressed with the tires and the rig. I only aired down to 15 PSI.

[ChuckD]

I was really quite impressed with my MTR's in the snow, the first time in Dec, with 4-5' of powder. Lets just say, I was glad too see a couple toys with crawler cases, locked and 40 something DickCepek's.

The second run fresh spring snow but around 3'. This time with better technique, slow slow crawl, tires straight and when tires start spinning, stop and back up and pack it down. I also tried it out the other way by exercising the Rev limiter, :D.

33" MTR's air down to around 10psi worked out very well.

http://groups.msn.com/JeepCherokeeClub/chucksxj.msnw?Page=1

[Weasel]

We did a quick run of 3-4' of very wet and soft snow with my XJ and 31" Parnelli's. They worked very well at 12 psi and awesome at 6 psi. This snow required you to float it, if the tires dug you where dead. They floated over much better then my fathers BFG M/T's. I have some pics if I ever get them developed.

[Tucker]

Awesome ... thanks folks, I like to hear that. I did run some numbers based on available info and came out pretty favorable compared to pickups. I'm glad to hear the real-world info confirms it. Great pics, great info! Thanks again!