What Makes A Good Snow/Off Road Car Or Truck?

What makes a good snow/off road car or truck?

Of course, learning how to drive in snowy, slippery, and off road conditions (ideally, both in the light and in the dark) matters just as much as the vehicle itself. But the vehicle matters too. 

In order of importance, a good snow/off road car or truck should have these characteristics and/or features:

1. Tires properly inflated for the conditions with lots of tread. Tires let you stop, which is more important that four wheel drive or all wheel drive which lets you go. Chains can partially make up for otherwise insufficient tire tread.

2. Sufficient clearance. Mazda Miatas are horrible and can't even clear a couple of inches of snow on a raised driveway (in common with many sports cars designed for peak speed in dry paved roads). Five inches is usually tolerable. Subarus, at 8.7 inches with a couple of exceptions (e.g., the Impreza) are usually adequate for even off road conditions. Jeeps and Hummers are better. In theory, things like angles of attack and various other measurements of a vehicle's capabilities to handle variously shaped terrain also matter, but in practice, if you have enough ground clearance, everything else will probably work out as well. A decent suspension is also closely related to adequate clearance.

3. Four wheel drive or all wheel drive (four wheel drive is marginally better than all wheel drive, and more than four wheels, for example, on a fire truck or 6x6 or 8x8 wheeled vehicle, can be better). If you can't have either of these, front wheel drive is better than rear wheel drive.

4. An ability to intentionally drive in low gear (not a big factor as almost all vehicles can do this).

5. Traction control and anti-lock brakes. You have to know you have these features, however, as you drive differently with them when you are skidding.

6. Fog lights, if you are driving in blowing snow or fog.

7. More weight, within reason. More weight generally means more traction, but too much weight (e.g., more than ten tons) can make it impossible to cross bridges in rural areas. More weight also usually means less fuel efficiency, which is a problem if you need to travel for long distances between refueling opportunities.

8. Narrower width, within reason. A narrower vehicle can fit through tighter spaces, around tighter corners, and into smaller parking spaces. But if the vehicle is too narrow this can lead to a problematic high center of gravity.

9. Lower center of gravity and height, within reason. Vehicles with a higher center of gravity are more prone to rollover accidents. A vehicle that is taller is more prone to being blown around by high winds and can't pass through narrow underpasses.

10. Traction generating tools on hand in case you are stuck (this could be kitty litter, traction boards, shovels, or other traction generating devices).

11. A full sized spare tire and jack and tire changing tool(s).

12. Greater range with a suitable fuel tank to support it. When you are far from civilization you need to be able to travel further between refueling. Range is a combination of fuel efficiency and the size of your fuel supply.

13. A decent heater and air conditioning that work.

14. Rear window wipers and washers (to clear mud that flys up in your rear window as you drive and falling snow).

15. Straight up and down windows (this reduces the time spent clearing snow from the windows, but reduces fuel efficiency and aerodynamics).

16. A winch. This is the ultimate way to get yourself or a pal unstuck, but is only needed if somebody really screwed up in the first place a long way away from a tow truck.

17. Extra bright headlights, if you are driving in the dark off-road.

18. Metal cages for vulnerable parts. A front metal grill in front of the bumper and metal cages around headlights and any other vulnerable parts of the vehicle can reduce damage if something bumps them, which is more likely in snowy, slippery, and off road driving.

19. A stronger engine. The big concern here is the ability to generate lots of torque in low gears. But this is well down the list of factors that are likely to make a big difference, and this usually comes at the cost of less fuel efficiency which can also be an issue since it limits your range.

20. Heated seats.

There are other things worth mentioning that are good to have including which relate mostly to what you carry and how: 

* a good emergency kit and set of survival supplies (especially water, something to hold water, blankets, food that doesn't have to be cooked, a lighter, a knife, rope, flares, and a good first aid kit);

* good places to stow your camping, biking, skiing, fishing, snow shoeing, or other gear for your outdoor adventures (either inside, or in a truck bed, or in a roof rack or on a trailer for which you have a hitch - covered storage is usually better than uncovered storage, unless you routinely carry oversized and odd sized cargo);

* a place to charge phones and other electronics, or back up charging devices;

* satellite radio for places with no radio channels and no cell service;

* easy to clean upholstery covers and footwell covers.

* extra motor oil, coolant, windshield wash, car fuel, and a stand alone battery jumping machine; and

* a satellite phone.

It is also worth noting that if you have more than one vehicle, only one of them needs to be good in snow and off road conditions in most cases. Your other vehicles don't need to be equally capable unless you truly live in the deep wilderness. 

If you face extreme conditions only infrequently, the best option may be to rent or borrow a vehicle suited for extreme conditions in the rare circumstances when those capabilities are necessary.