SUV for ice travel?

[magicstix]

What do you use for a SUV on the ice for ice fishing and daily driver? ground clearance? durability? etc? What would you like to have?

Any thoughts on 2004 Honda Pilot 4WD? Set of Blizzaks for tires?

Replacing an old 86' Toyota 4runner with many years of use.

[20lbSloughShark]

Any 4x4 will do. Don't let anyone tell you different. Your not off roading, the ONLY thing that matters is how many wheels are turning. In fact I think a lot of SUV's are better than pickup's because SUV's often come with limited slip differentials, traction control, etc. You don't want a locking differential on ice, which mainly come in pickup's, but can just as easily be put in any differential. Snow tires will help, but the only thing that will really make a difference on a lake is tire chains.

[castmaster]

How many wheels are turning matters little if they are all just spinning because your vehicle is bottomed out and has pushed a pile of snow up under itself!

Run a little 4x4 Toyota car through some deep snow and see how far you get. Then add a little slush to the picture.

Throw some "bologna skins" on it and see how far you get without good tires. To say the ONLY thing that matters is how many wheels are turning is nonsense. There are many things that play into whether a vehicle is going to do well in the snow/ice.

Personally, I'd take a 2wd drive with tire chains and PLENTY of ground clearance before a low sitting 4wd and snowy day of the year!

[Greenhornet84]

I know a guy with a pilot and it may get you by if your careful but it's no 4x4 pickup.

[McGurk]

[fishnowworknever]

A 4x4 truck is always going to be best, but I had a Pathfinder that could get through some [PoorWordUsage]. Also the late 90's Jeeps have some clearance, are dependable and are relatively light.

20lbsloughshark - I'm telling you different.

[McGurk]

...the ONLY thing that matters is how many wheels are turning.

...You don't want a locking differential on ice...

Those statement contradict each other. Plus, I have traction control on my rig, and turn it off when on the ice. The last thing I need is to have power cut out when it senses that a wheel is slipping while going at slow to moderate speed. You are right about chains, though, if you are going off the beaten path.

[servocam]

Don't need 4x4 to drive on ice. Snow, sure, if you are making your own roads, but then you may want a plow too? I don't have a 4x4. I drive in the tracks of others or plowed or packed paths made...but usually just walk to the spots I fish.

Would I like 4x4, YES, as I am limited to where I can get when fresh snow on the ground. I think you'll be just fine with a Honda Pilot (I know I would)

[Lusid]

I drive a Toyota Highlander, got stuck once while.... "adventuring to new grounds"

Also - thread title is misleading... lol

[fishnowworknever]

McGurk -

Now that's a Subaru!

[Greenhornet84]

No you don't need four wheel drive but spend enough time out there and you will need some sand/salt mix and a shovel. I've been stuck on glare ice more times than I care to care to admit when the four wheel drive went out on my old truck for a winter.

[brian6715]

Last year late season we spent a good hour trying to push my buddy's F150 off the far side of a little known lake, with the help of a dodge ram plow truck that we also ended up pushing quite a bit. The whole time we were doing this, a guy with a Jeep Grand Cherokee was driving around all over the place scouting the lake.

I have fished with a 2005 Trailblazer for 5 years now, and the only time I have ever gotten stuck was when we tried to make it over a snow bank to get to a tiny northern Minnesota lake with no good access. Got a good high speed run at it, but in the end it was so bad that you could dig snow out from the bottoms of all 4 tires and they would just spin without touching the ground.

Also, in high school we spent hours on a lake one time after a huge snowfall (like 12-14 inches, we had a snow day). We were taking turns pulling each other on a snowboard with a ski rope behind an S10 Blazer, only got stuck twice and never anything major. If you are smart about it, you will be just fine with a Pilot, especially with Blizzak tires

[FishFindHer]

I've had my Jeep Liberty up on Red through some nasty snow/drifts. Even with crappy tires it always got me where I needed to go. I've never had that vehicle stuck in the (almost) 10 years I've owned it (on or off the ice). We live out in the sticks where we have to plow our own road...came home from vacation one Christmas and made it uphill through almost 2 feet of snow to our house. My husband's 2000 Cherokee was a great little "billy goat" too. There are certain things you need a pickup for, but our family will never be without a Jeep.

[broman]

Clearance. It's all about clearance. When I get stuck, it's because I hit deep snow and the undercarriage gets stuck. When I used to sell tires the people plowing always wanted tall skinny tires.

[fish_eat_sleep]

Surprisingly Honda Pilots are actually awesome on the ice. One of the best errand running vehicles in snow storms hands down. High driving position Automatic AWD with locking rear differential. 8.0" ground clearance just like any other non-modified truck. Dodge Dakota and Chevy trail blazer (and many others have lower hanging parts, although the step in is higher. also the Pilot comes with an aluminum plate over the has tank just like a truck. 2 rows of fold flats allow for those old suitcase style houses. throw the auger on the roof rack, other stuff on a hitch carrier (even though the inside is big enough) one of the best urban suvs is also one of the best on the ice.

My dad has one, never been stuck, even after spinning into a snowy ditch once... awesome.

I Drive a 2001 Pathfinder. Its small, tight wheel base allows for good traction and a good break over and departure angles even at 8.0 ground clearance too. Decent sized tires come with it. roof rack, trailer hitch, 4x4 with LSD rear (sort of for better traction but mostly for even tread wear) which is often overlooked in off road vehicles. High output v6 with shift on the fly transfer-case (no traction control is actually kinda fun) really durable and cheap (paid $6900 in 2009 only had 99k with all options, now has 160,000 nothing major to report

Ive only been stuck once while "pathfinding" ironically in 16"+ deep wet snow. plowing with the frame. My rear axle even left a long indent in the snow. pulled out by a nice guy with a brand new Raptor which costs $57,000 more than my vehicle. (Raptors rock I'm just poor). My own fault i got stuck..

I agree about the skinny tires. a friend has an old f350 skinny bald tires but the truck sits pretty high, being a 1 ton. he could create new trails in rear drive in deep snow nobody else would feel comfortable being in. as long as nothing is catching underneath you, your gonna be fine!

[magicstix]

Lusid, sorry for the misleading title, wasn't sure how to word it to get most responses.

Clearance is one of my concerns with Pilot and durability from ice potholes, snowcones from auger. Otherwise I really like the Pilot overall, cheap, good mpg, a fair amount of space inside.

Traction control can be a hinderance at times, I know I've turned it off before.

Can't say I've been stuck stuck but have been hung up a little, bottomed out, have had to back up and rethink my path, ice/freezing rain and heavy snow have been the biggest factors. Hence why the clearance is a concern.

Thanks fro the replys so far, keep them coming.

[Redlineracer12]

We got by for several years on big lakes with a 96 2wd E150 conversion van with good tires.

I remember driving out to the mud on Mille Lacs and it was the only 2wd vehicle I saw that didn't have chains on it... and we were pulling a trailer

I also remember bashing through snow drifts that had closed the road on Red Lake after spending the night in a sleeper (again pulling trailer). The snow was jamming up under the hood so full that it popped the serpentine belt off and we had to finish the drive off the lake with no alternator/power steering/water pump/etc.

Just a few years ago I was out with my 2wd F150 on West rush lake and had to go around a 4x4 F150 that was stuck sideways in the 'road'.

So I think a Pilot 4x4 would be just fine for everything short of driving through 3 foot snow banks. Being cautious and taking it easy are more important than having the ultimate 4x4 in my opinion.

[20lbSloughShark]

stock pickup's are not that good for traction, they are made for towing and hauling things. I think the best 4 door you can get that gets decent gas mileage would be a jeep Cherokee or grand Cherokee. The reason you don't want locking differentials is it breaks your traction. I wrote my first post a little bit later at night than I should have.

[magicstix]

Don't get me wrong the 4runner has been a good truck and I'd get another one but IMO they are overpriced for what's there.

The Pilot does not have a high/low range not sure how important that is. Also the 4wd is only active in 1st and 2nd gear then goes back to FWD and that's where the Blizzaks could help out.

[servocam]

I have been front-wheel vehicle for 5 years on the ice and have had some close calls. I am more cautious as I know I'm limited.

The general consensus I believe is: The Honda Pilot 4x4 will do just fine. Just use common sense when out on the lake (snow/ice). Don't try to go drift busting or go through 3ft of snow. As time goes on, you will learn your limitations with the vehicle. Let us know how it goes as Honda Pilot is on my list in 2 years. BTW, I drive a 2005 Honda Odyssey Mini-van out on the ice a few times each year. It does better than the Ford Edge I had.

[BrandonJ]

That's awesome if I could have put those on my intrepid I may have kept it

[RiverChuckNorris]

stock pickup's are not that good for traction, they are made for towing and hauling things. I think the best 4 door you can get that gets decent gas mileage would be a jeep Cherokee or grand Cherokee.

Really? What pickups have you been driving? Also, why would the ability to tow or haul things be a hinderance to off-road ability?

I don't have experience driving a Pilot on the ice, but I have driven them. The concerns to me would be:

1. Less ground clearance than a full size truck (example: Pilot - 7.9"; My F150 - 9.1")

2. The AWD vs. 4WD (you decide when all 4 wheels get engaged)

3. It's built on a car chassis/platform (thus the lower clearance, etc)

That being said, it would beat the heck out of a car and does have a decent amount of room in back for gear. I switched from SUV (Expedition) to a pickup (F150 Supercrew) in 2011 and REALLY like having a pickup bed I can throw anything in and not care about it getting dirty.

Also, contrary to SloughShark's statement, it does well off-road. I fish off-road 100% of the time. I also pulled my ice castle off road last year. Tires + clearance + knowing how to drive (keeping momentum/not spinning tires/etc) are key (and 4WD).

I remember running into the Griz regularly growing up on ML and he always had F250-350's on super skinny tires with high sidewalls and would drive everywhere. I have a friend with a F250 now as well and he also drives ANYWHERE.

[Grum]

I had an old Plymouth Horizon that I drove out to Colorado for the winter of 1990-91 and was surprised at how much snow I could get through with a decent set of tires. So I think you should be fine as long as you don't "over-drive' your vehicles weak points. ie. tires, clearance, 2wd vrs 4x4..

Now I have an old Jeep Cherokee and get stuck far less. But no matter what you drive, sometimes its what you bring with you, thats more important, like a shovel, tow strap, jumper cables, common sense, bag of kitty litter or sand to name a few.

[Savage Brewer]

stock pickup's are not that good for traction, they are made for towing and hauling things. I think the best 4 door you can get that gets decent gas mileage would be a jeep Cherokee or grand Cherokee. The reason you don't want locking differentials is it breaks your traction. I wrote my first post a little bit later at night than I should have.

I have to disagree fro a number of reasons. My 2011 Silverado gets 2 to 3 more MPG than either of my previous Jeep Grand Cherokee's

I've had about 7 4wd vehicles.

1970's IH Scout

1986 Ford F150 reg-cab short box 4x4 Detroit Locker rear, ARB Locker front, 4" suspension lift...

1997 Ford F150

2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Limited slip rear

2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Quadra-Trac

2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Quadra-Drive

2011 Chevy Silverado Locker in the rear

And I have been out in my buddys Toyota Tacoma with a locking rear diff.

By Far my 1986 F150 was the best ice roamer I ever had, That thing went anywhere and everywhere, but then again it wasnt exactly stock in any way.

Locking differentials are not a hindrance, you just need to respect torque distribution.

For an ice vehicle I would importance on the following:

Ground Clearance anything more than 8" is a good start

Weight Distribution, here is where pickups get into trouble, a 4x4 reg cab long box will have too much weight up front, where a quad cab 5' box version of the same truck will have better weight distribution.

Tire Selection

Dont worry about horsepower or torque, driving on ice needs balance and control, stomping on the gas will just get you into trouble.

Other than gas mileage sucking on my Grand Cherokee's they were great machines, Jeep probably has one of the best AWD systems out there.

Tires, Blizaks will help you only in certain situations, sometimes having tires with a more open pattern and a good set of chains will get you further.

If I was to do a daily driver SUV that double duty I love the Jeep Grand Cherokee EXCEPT FOR ONE FATAL FLAW! The rear seats folded down is like 3" too short for my old flip over shack, so I wasnt able to take it out unless I pulled a trailer!

So take another lesson from me, make sure your gear will fit in the back.

There are a ton of factors that can sway you one way or the other and my long post probably doesn't help your decision.

I just had to speak up about lockers, they aren't bad in fact most of the time I would want a locker, or at least a limited slip.

The reason being is one tire on ice and one on snow, without a locker all you will do is spin the tire on ice and go no where. With a locker I just keep going forward.

The only time lockers can be a problem is if you are on glare ice for all four tires, but at that point you need chains or studs anyways...

Good luck

[McGurk]

...If I was to do a daily driver SUV that double duty I love the Jeep Grand Cherokee EXCEPT FOR ONE FATAL FLAW! The rear seats folded down is like 3" too short for my old flip over shack, so I wasnt able to take it out unless I pulled a trailer!

Answer to this problem:

I have one of these for my Otter Cabin and LOVE IT! Never had to throw that mess inside again, and loads and unloads much easier than before. Plus, you still have your cargo area for all of the rest of your stuff! Also doubles as a 2-4 person seat if you just need a place to drill a hole and sit down. Holds up to 500 lbs and stores on the wall when not needed! I only use a trailer if I need a 4 wheeler anymore.

edit: The pictured cargo carrier is a Rola 59500, and is a composite tray with a steel hitch and cross frame. Priced around $140 but I paid a bit less.