We're up in MT right now and there is some more snow coming our way just as we're ready to head south. On the way up, we hit a pretty good snow storm and I was in 2WD.....did fine but the diesel torque could cause some rear wheel spin if I wasn't real light on the go pedal.

I've used the full time function off-road while hunting and such and thought it was very fine but never in snow so my question is, for snow packed roads do you use the full time for part time function. Naturally for just light snow where there is still mostly pavement I wouldn't use the part-time but the more packed snow before the plow comes along is where I am wondering what most folks use.

FYI, my new Cooper ATR's seem to grip pretty much everything very well....much better the the stock tires.

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2006 Libery Sport CRD, Lt Kakhi, nicely equipped
*****GDE Hot Tune at 38,879 miles
*****Stock TC.....for the time being!!

I'd use the part-time 4wd for heavy snow-packed roads. If you press the go pedal even in full-time 4wd you can still make the rear wheels kick out. Mostly because 60% of the torque is sent there, and while spinning it requires less torque. In reality what you end up with on slippery roads is RWD if you press the go pedal. Use part-time 4wd to drive on slippery roads is my advice to you.

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L.O.S.T forever!
Silver 2002 Skoda Fabia TDI, 235,000km
Former car: Jeep KJ 2003 CRD

DIESEL - saving millions of liters of petrol every day!

Hmmm, I was looking at putting on a set of Cooper ATR's or HT's this week, 245/70's. What size did you put on and what's your overall impression of them?

Local Cooper dealer said I could get either ATR's or HT's for $450 out the door.

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Mitchell Oates
'87 MB 300D Diamond Blue Metallic
'87 MB 300D - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Sport CRD Stone White
Provent CCV Filter/AT2525 Muffler
Stanadyne 30 u/Cat 2 u Fuel Filters
Fumoto Drain/Fleetguard LF3487 Oil filter
V6 Airbox/Amsoil EAA Air Filter
Suncoast TC/Shift Kit/Aux Cooler
Kennedy Lift Pump/Return Fuel Cooler

I went with 235/70/16's because they would fit with no rubbing and no lift. We just did 1500 miles from AZ to NW Montana and they were as quiet as the stock tires and in the rain they were MUCH better then stock. When we hit the snowstorm going over some moutains just north of Idaho, they seemed to grip as well as could have been expected without studs. They really grip off-road running in the typical AZ conditions.

I also put these on my GC with similiar satisfactory results. Both sets were purchased from Mavis online and installed by the local Walmat store.

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2006 Libery Sport CRD, Lt Kakhi, nicely equipped
*****GDE Hot Tune at 38,879 miles
*****Stock TC.....for the time being!!

The only time full time has presented a problem for me is in mud going slow. I drime mine in full time most of the time in the winter if there is ice or snow. Also let the esp work for you, don't fight it.

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Dave

'06 CRD Limited, Lt. Khaki, MOPAR Slush Mats/Skids, DrawTite Front Hitch, Mag Lite, Yakima Bars, Thule Bike Rack, Fumoto, ORM, 245/70 Revo 2

Wish list: Lift, Boulder Bars, Something Bigger in the Front and Back, More Lights

I sometimes prefer FT (full-time) for snowpack and tight turns. In PT, the front and rear axles cannot turn at different speeds, and this can cause a loss of traction around tight turns when the slip is needed. While going through some switchback turns in Colorado passes with about 8" of snow on the road, it was easier to lose traction around the turns with PT than with FT. Otherwise, for straight line driving and having fun in snow drifts, PT felt more confident. Just go easy on turns and remember that the tighter the turn is, the more you should go easy on the throttle and cornering force.

- Chris

I have driven in many snowstorms using the FT setting on the road. Only once, when there was more than 14" of snow did I change to PT. I also use the FT setting on dirt trails/logging roads as a general rule. Only on rare occasion will I need PT to pull out of mud when moving up hill.

So none of you have tried to floor the gas pedal when the car is standing still on snow?

I tried it on sand, and I only got RWD - and some clunky noises. Perhaps I didn't select FT properly.

Just checking what you have found.

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L.O.S.T forever!
Silver 2002 Skoda Fabia TDI, 235,000km
Former car: Jeep KJ 2003 CRD

DIESEL - saving millions of liters of petrol every day!

I've only used PT to try it out on snow packed roads ... maybe twice

otherwise in the snow and/or rain I use FT ... works well enough for me .. and I have floored it from a stop ... just to see what happens .. no real problems there ... that said .. I only did it with noone ( or vehicle) around ... I tend to drive cautious in the snow anyway ... no real reson to floor it unless you pull out in front of someone and see em sliding in a circle trying to stop behind you.

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2005 CRD Limited
added Mopar plates, snow, mud
Detours backbone (w/lp8500)
Skink super sliders

The ESP might be giving you different results. FullTime with ESP off would work good in snow and/or sand. With ESP on you sometimes go nowhere.

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Founder of L.O.S.T.
2006 CRD Sport
Mods: GDE Hot Tune w/ 364#@2000rpm/Air Box /3" Str8 Exhaust/ASFIR Alum Skids/245-75R-16 Cooper STT PRO/OME LIFT w/Clevis & 4 Spring Isos/AirTabs/Rigid 10" S2 LED/4xGuard Ctr Matrix Bumper
Drag Strip:Reac=.1078_60ft=2.224_1/8=10.39@64.8mph_1/4+16.46@80.8mph

I did. I pulled into an unplowed pulloff in about a foot of snow in FT, came to a stop, then hit the throttle. The ESP light flashed like mad and it scrambled right out, no problems. In that same area, I got up to about 20mph and yanked the steering wheel hard left and right, and the ESP worked fantastically to keep the Jeep from losing control and sliding out of the intended turn. I was impressed with how well it worked.

My previous winter vehicle experience was with a Toyota Tundra with 4WD PT and a limited slip in the back, and with a front wheel drive car with limited slip diff in the front. I prefer the Jeep in 4WD FT with ESP to either of the others.

- Chris

My god don't do it in traffic. Sorry if I gave that impression. I was merely after others results of how the FT diff works when you floor it on slippery surfaces.

Do it with no trees, lightpoles, vehicles, people or animals around, just do a short test of the traction.

Btw my KJ does not have ESP. It's a 2003 sport model.

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L.O.S.T forever!
Silver 2002 Skoda Fabia TDI, 235,000km
Former car: Jeep KJ 2003 CRD

DIESEL - saving millions of liters of petrol every day!

FT on packed or shallow snow. As chrispitude said, PT will make you lose traction in a snowy turn. This doesn't have to be a tight turn either. Going up a packed-snow interstate entrance ramp in PT can leave you facing the wrong way with a guard-rail imprint down the side of your Jeep.

Use PT when you're in deep snow and need to claw your way out.

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_______________________DogDomain_______________________

Well, yesterday I went with the Cooper ATR's 245/70's. Stock suspension, no rubbing issues at all, tried it lock to lock both forwards and in reverse.

BIG difference in ride and handling over the Goodyears. Feels surefooted as a mountain goat now. No apparent hit on coasting ability or amount of throttle to keep it moving (ie, rolling resistance), even with the ATR's at 35 psi vs the 40 psi I ran in the Goodyears. And with those wide tires, it definitely improves the looks of the vehicle - gives the impression it's open and ready for business.

If I'd had any idea just how crappy those Goodyears really were, or how much of a difference a decent set of tires could make on this beast, they would've been swapped out straight off the dealer lot.

Glad I finally decided to hold on to this beast last year - with every change, it just keeps getting better!

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Mitchell Oates
'87 MB 300D Diamond Blue Metallic
'87 MB 300D - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Sport CRD Stone White
Provent CCV Filter/AT2525 Muffler
Stanadyne 30 u/Cat 2 u Fuel Filters
Fumoto Drain/Fleetguard LF3487 Oil filter
V6 Airbox/Amsoil EAA Air Filter
Suncoast TC/Shift Kit/Aux Cooler
Kennedy Lift Pump/Return Fuel Cooler

and beast is just the right word ... said with just a hint of a smile ...

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2005 CRD Limited
added Mopar plates, snow, mud
Detours backbone (w/lp8500)
Skink super sliders

First, I have found my '05 CRD to be an outstanding vehicle on snow and ice. That actually surprised me because of its short wheelbase. Some other "bobtail" 4WD's I've owned were pretty squirrely. As to 2WD vs. full-time 4WD, I use full-time when driving on slick roads that are level or uphill. On downgrades, I kick the CRD back into 2WD, so that there is no drag on the front end. I have had no need to use Part-time 4WD on normal snowpacked or slick highways. I've only used PT 4WD on backroads where snow was deep. Therein lies my main complaint about the CRD: inadequate ground clearance (you need part-time even in relatively shallow snow). Why DC built a vehicle (and continues with the new Liberty) touted as "trail-rated" with less than 8" of ground clearance--way less than that when the overtaxed front suspension goes into compression, I will never know. I really don't especially like going for lifts kits, but I think that there is a Frankenlift in this Jeep's future.

My dream would be a Liberty with the '08 body, the 2.8 diesel without all the EGR issues, etc., and the solid-axle Wrangler Rubicon suspension. Yeah, I know, dream on. If DC really gave a **** about people who really use an SUV like the Liberty for off-road use, they'd build this . . . In the meantime, I'll keep my old '98 Cherokee which offers much of that--except for the diesel.

Full time 4WD, Wrangler MT/R's no ESP and not a care in the world on snow and ice...

(except almost breaking my leg trying to walk away from CRD not knowing how slippery the parking lot actually was...)

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2005 CRD Limited Flame Red w/ Renegade rock rails & light bar, AirLift 1000. 225/75R16 MT/R's on cheap black steel wheels, dual MOPAR subwoofers, Ipod kit & seat covers, Samco hoses - totaled and gone. 2008 WK Laredo 3.0L diesel - AirLift 1000, wife won't let me mess with it much. 2013 JK Sahara on order.

I'm considering investing in a set of dedicated snow/ice tires for my CRD (running my Destination AT's in the warmer months). We get freezing fog and black ice as well as snow out here. In my experience a non-siped mud or AT tire might as well be a roller skate on ice.

My only concern is the soft tread compound on winter tires. My most dangerous drive is 2.5 hours on snowing/icy roads to a favorite fishing spot, then 1/2 an hour on a bad road full of sharp lava rock.

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2006 Liberty CRD Limited
Mopar engine, transmission, transfer case skids
245/70/16 Michelin Latitude X-Ice (winter)
235/75/16 Firestone Destination ATs (summer)
Thule roof rack, cargo box
V6 airbox mod
Flowmaster 50 2.5 inch muffler
Edge EZ module (set for fuel economy)
SEGR
TDIWagonGuy CCV filter
B99 (summer), B20 (winter)