What's the deepest snow you've ever taken your Jeep through?

ryno · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:30 pm

I was reading some of the other topics and people were talking about pulling trucks out of snowy ditches and it got me thinking... What's the deepest snow anyone has successfully driven through in a KJ? (I expect a good showing from you Colorado boys.

)

For me it was about 18-20 inches when we went "drift-busting" in Kansas. The snow was impacted all around my fog lights and I could see where my skidplates had dragged. That front skid plate hangs down so low that it acts like a plow in the snow!

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:42 pm

Here in upstate NY I had my KJ drive though 30" - 32" of that fluffy snow. It was not too hard to do once you gained momentum.

The whole front end of the KJ was full of snow. All my lights, grille, and the entire under side was packed with snow.

This was in 04 December

Pote · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 2:53 pm

last winter we got 3' of snow in four hours. I was 37 miles from home at work as the hardest part of the storm hit and made it down 15 miles of unplowed highway, across 6 miles of turnpike and another 16 miles of unplowed back road without a single slip in 4x4. People were sliding into ditches, sliding backwards down inclines on the road and spinning tires everywhere, even the guys in their explorers, pathfinders and Xterras were in trouble. At one point getting onto the turnpike and making our way up the incline towards the toll booths, a couple semi tractor trailers where stuck spinning their tires and had the entire exit backed up. As others had to stop behind the semi, they gradually began sliding backwards down the hill. I put it in low, and krept easily around the stuck semi, around the sliding cars (bumper to bumper traffic) and made it up over the snow covered hill easily. It was awesome in the KJ. I was amazed at how easily it ate up the snow. all these other SUVs were going nowhere. Well it snowed all night and the next morning I made my way back to work. There were SUVs all over the road in the ditches and berms. abandoned by their owners the night before. I made it back to work and back home again that night much in the same fashion and never had an issue...I had only had the KJ for a couple weeks at that time, and it simply solidified my love for this vehicle. It was pure pleasure driving in deep deep snow. 2-3 feet was a cake walk. Now with the new ATs on this fall, I am looking forward to anything old man winter has to throw at me...

SD-KJ · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:11 pm

I have had the same results in snow. Never had a problem and i have gone through some really deep stuff up here in SD.

The ONE and ONLY time i have gotten stuck in snow was when i was out in a parking lot on the outskirts of town and the wind had been blowing really hard and made very compact drifts of snow. So hard that i almost could drive onto them. Of course i didnt know that until after i went flying through it! The drift was up to the fogs and the jeep was basically floating on the snow. The lower a arms were just like plows and stopped me dead in my tracks.

-Nick

ps i can't WAIT for snow! :twisted:

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:18 pm

I have been through drifts that was over the hood, had to back up due to the snow coming over the hood and covering the windshield, took 3 days for all the snow to melt out from under the Liberty!

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:27 pm

we dont get that much snow here. usually about...12-15 inches or so.

So im sure my jeep will get through it no prob but i still am dieing for it to snow.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:41 pm

The issue isn't driving through the snow itself.. More you need to be mindful not to get the belly high-centered on about 8" of compacted snow or ice. I've been up to the headlights in the fluffy stuff but never tried driving through any of the super compacted snow

Freshmud · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:35 pm

BRING ON THE SNOW :twisted:

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:44 pm

sleeve84028 wrote:

The issue isn't driving through the snow itself.. More you need to be mindful not to get the belly high-centered on about 8" of compacted snow or ice. I've been up to the headlights in the fluffy stuff but never tried driving through any of the super compacted snow

yes I always get out there before the other stupid drivers and the snow plows and play a little before it gets piled up and hard to get over! :wink:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:50 pm

My KJ about 36",My '01 Grand about 36",and my '79 Grand Wagoneer I'm going to guess about 48"-50" or whatever the height of the hood was that thing would go through some snow.

scoobysnax · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:05 pm

I can't wait for the snow in my Liberty b/c I just got her over the summer. In my old Cherokee I was messing around on a friends property up state and we were going through snow always up to the top of the bumper and at times the top of the hood (brief fluffy snow drifts.) I sort of made a track out it all and eventually I was sort of jumping across the road that was raised a bit (think farm land) and come down on the other side. After repeat attempts I ended up getting stuck in a snow drift where the body of the jeep was resting on the snow and the wheels had no traction at all. It took 10 guys to dig that out. On the drive home on 87 I kept hearing the scraping sound. I pulled over at a rest stop and I had a solid block of ice beneath my transfer case about 2' long and 1' wide and hanging only 2" off the ground. The only thing I had in the car was a baseball bat and it didn't even dent it.

The moral of the story if you do get stuck for a while make sure you don't melt the snow into an ice block on your car. I'm sure it was not good take a trip home like that. After about 150 miles I had only worn the block down to 4" off the ground.

Albert · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:00 pm

In Upstate NY.....about 2 feet or so of unplowed snow. No problem in part time 4-hi.

Trying to get back into my driveway - about 4 feet of snowplowed in snow and ice chunks. Almost got high centered on ice/snow chunks coming in at an angle. Had to back out and go to 4-lo and then drove right through it streight on. It was really a mess because the driveway was not shoveled yet either. Skids were packed solid.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:01 pm

scoobysnax wrote:

I can't wait for the snow in my Liberty b/c I just got her over the summer.

It shouldn't get you into any trouble as long as you remember that stopping and turning still require proper driving skill and respect for the conditions. I love the Liberty in the winter but just becareful about what you are doing.

PS. Donuts in empty parking lots are great fun but watch out for potholes and burried curbs.

valvestem · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 222

I'm guessing maybe 14" up here in Maine is the deepest I've had to get through, no problemo.

hooperswish · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 12:23 pm

30 inches last year- no prob.
I am concerned that the mopar skids hang so low, last year I did not have them on yet. As others said, I guess they will act as a "plow."
Let it snow!!!! We sure got blasted last year...

Jeepman56 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 1:30 pm

Last winter I had a '93 Cavalier with the front wheel drive, it got around most of the time, this year I will be the guy pulling cars and Escalades out of the drifts. :twisted:

Bring it on!

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2007 2:44 pm

Went up on Casper mountain last spring to have some fun in the mud. Came to a "road closed" sign so I had to turn around. I didn't realize that the snow I was already on top of was over two feet deep until I started to turn and sank into it. Aired the tires down to about 20psi, threw it in 4lo and finished turning around in that packed/melted/refrozen snow.

JeepBeat · **Posted:** Sat Nov 03, 2007 12:51 pm

Mostly, what are you guys using in these snowy conditions......Full Time or Part Time 4X4??

chetos · **Posted:** Sat Nov 03, 2007 2:00 pm

Albert wrote:

In Upstate NY.....about 2 feet or so of unplowed snow. No problem in part time 4-hi.

Trying to get back into my driveway - about 4 feet of snowplowed in snow and ice chunks. Almost got high centered on ice/snow chunks coming in at an angle. Had to back out and go to 4-lo and then drove right through it streight on. It was really a mess because the driveway was not shoveled yet either. Skids were packed solid.

great...my garage is gonna be a watery mess this winter!!! :twisted:

ryno · **Posted:** Sat Nov 03, 2007 2:40 pm

JeepBeat wrote:

Mostly, what are you guys using in these snowy conditions......Full Time or Part Time 4X4??

I use Full Time until I start to notice a lot of wheel spin, then I switch to Part Time.

What's the deepest snow you've ever taken your Jeep through?

Who is online