Driving on ice - Vehicle question

[tsande00]

How much heavier is a Chevy K2500 Suburban w/ 454 engine opposed to a standard 1/2 ton pickup?

In years past I drove a small SUV, so as soon as I saw everyone driving out with pickups I knew I was good to go. Now I'm more concerned, knowing that my vehicle will be one of the heaviest.

Is a 3/4 ton vehicle that much more physically heavier than a 1/2 ton? SUV much more heavy than a pickup? I'm sure the suspension is a little heavier, and in my case with the 454 the motor is going to weigh more too. Thoughts? Is it significant?

As you can probably tell from this post, I'm far from a motor head.

[jeffreyd]

a new half ton suburban is 5600 curb weight according to online specs. i would think that yours will go into upper 6k since it has the 454 etc.

[TSchultz]

Well by my research:

A 2000 2500 suburban weighs 5760 lbs.

A 2000 Chevy extended cab 2500 weighs 5267lbs.

A 2000 Chevy extended cab 1500 weighs 4365 lbs.

A 2000 Chevy extended cab S10 weighs 3225 lbs.

[kelly-p]

"In years past I drove a small SUV, so as soon as I saw everyone driving out with pickups I knew I was good to go. Now I'm more concerned, knowing that my vehicle will be one of the heaviest."

I just ran across this Topic and one thing I think I should mention is that many times seeing a heavy vehicle go across the ice does not make it safe, it makes it worse. The heavy vehicle might make it but also will crack up the ice as it travels along. If another person coming along in a far lighter vehicle drives into that line of cracks they can get into trouble real quick.

[cold one sd]

I drive a Ford F250 Super Duty SC which weighs about 7,000 lbs. I don't go on the ice until people have been driving pickups on it for quite a while. Until I feel safe enough to put my wheel house and pickup on the ice I use my portable and ATV.

[zamboni]

I had a friend that had a Ford diesel dually and he wouldn't drive on regardless of how thick the ice was.

[tsande00]

"In years past I drove a small SUV, so as soon as I saw everyone driving out with pickups I knew I was good to go. Now I'm more concerned, knowing that my vehicle will be one of the heaviest."

I just ran across this Topic and one thing I think I should mention is that many times seeing a heavy vehicle go across the ice does not make it safe, it makes it worse. The heavy vehicle might make it but also will crack up the ice as it travels along. If another person coming along in a far lighter vehicle drives into that line of cracks they can get into trouble real quick.

First of all, thanks for the info guys...

Secondly, I did word the part you quoted poorly. I shouldn't have said "good to go".

I always feel uneasy driving on the ice, no matter how much is out there. But with that said, I was, and will never be the first guy driving an SUV or truck out there either. I want to see vehicles as big and heavy as the one I'm about to drive out their first!

You do bring up a good point though.

[dabaer]

ive got a f350 with the 7.3 and i pull our wheelhouse. ive been out on 11 inches with that rig, but i like about 18 inches.

[tsande00]

I'm actually a little surprised with how much heavier that A, the Suburban is than the extended cabs, and B, how much heavier the 2500's are from the 1500's. I expected some, but this amount is a bit surprising.

[CousinEddie]

On the dump scale my '05 F-250 Diesel is usually about 8,000 lbs (with 200lb driver). I would think that you're good to go once you see the diesels on the lake.

[deadeye]

I have seen much heavier stuff out on the ice for sure. I wouldn't head out with that until there is a solid 15-16". I have seen those monster Excursions, duallys of all kinds, tractors, dump trucks ect out on the ice before though. Its purely a judgement call on your part. They even moved a house across the ice last winter I think.

I would check the ice first hand before you head out though. Its a lot easier to walk out and drill a few holes and see for yourself than have to deal with a unexpected disaster.

I would have no problem driving any kind of truck out on the ice if I saw for myself how the ice is. Usually the guys plowing the roads on the ice are out there in a 3/4ton or bigger so keep that in mind.

[7outof10]

up north they drive 18 wheelers on the ice .........

[muc33]

I flirt with 8000 in my 05 Chevy Duramax 2500 Crewcab with topper and me in it. Mid January before I get even an itch to drive out. We had the first vehicle hit the ice today to my knowledge in Worthington and reports on the lake are close to 10 inches on the one end of the lake and 8 to 9 on the rest. Given this was no 3/4 ton.