City behind in clearing streets

I love winter. And Edmonton streets are why I drive an F-150 with tires.

I backed into my parking spot at work - the lot being remarkabally empty - and kept creeping up till my back wheels touched the concrete barricade . . .but ended up fully in the alley. hehehe. THe snow is packed there fully 24" and covering the barricade. I don't know how anyone drives a car. I don't know how I used to get by driving a car!

While I don't love winter I do follow the truck with winter tires rule. Never been stuck and have helped pull countless cars out of situations that wouldn't even slow my truck down! It's a special thrill to pull up on hybrid cars that are stuck! One bit of snotty attitude and I'll phone a wrecker for you and you can pay the $75-100 for getting unstuck. No attitude and I'll pull you out for free.

All of our streets were done yesterday!
Of course, the plows left windrows blocking everyones driveway. So I went out with the quad and the snowblower and opened up a lot of them. Not all of them mind you. Just for the old folks and those with disabilities. The 'fatsos' and 'lazy buggers' gotta their own!

While I don't love winter I do follow the truck with winter tires rule. Never been stuck and have helped pull countless cars out of situations that wouldn't even slow my truck down! It's a special thrill to pull up on hybrid cars that are stuck! One bit of snotty attitude and I'll phone a wrecker for you and you can pay the $75-100 for getting unstuck. No attitude and I'll pull you out for free.

And if they are going to drive in the ditches (or through the snow drifts) the least they can do is have a trailer hitch I can hook the herc strap to, or get out and shovel around the back wheel so I can loop it over.

And when I tell them 'put it in neutral and don't touch the gas' I reserve the right to unhook and leave them stranded there when they bury their vehicle even deeper. Nissan Muranos are the most fun, because they pretend like they are offroaders, but don't even try to have skid plates.

You guys are just wanking off about your trucks. But I have to admit, I don't see how anybody that lives in Edmonton doesn't have a 4 wheel drive, with such long winters. Don't know why they would need skid plates tho - are the roads that bad there?

I have a Corolla with winter tires (and a trailer hitch, in case I run into the likes of Caleb ). It's a manual and I know how to rock it. Only time I've had issues is when I forgot to take off the park break. Car don't go so well when you're trying to drag your rear wheels.

Winter tires are the key. Studs or studless even better. It's often the 4WD yahoos you see in the ditch because they think they can stop or turn corners as well as they can accelerate.

No, but if you are on county roads (like where I live), it sure makes it easier to pull a vehicle out of deep snow, or 'crash' higher drifts. It helps a vehicle 'ride' on top of deep snow.

And Alberta does account for 40% of all pickup sales in Canada. You can't put a welding rig in a hatchback.

I hate to agree with andy but I find that a very high percentage of 4WD owners who LIVE IN A CITY don't have a clue as to the capabilities or the LIMITATIONS of their vehicle.

Those of us out in the sticks who have grown up driving 4x4's don't usually have that problem.

My Jetta (equipped with winter tires) does fine in this weather, but everyone else with trucks/SUVs usually cause deep ruts (because of the weight and tire size of the vehicle) that make it a lot more difficult for me to travel on unplowed roads. I have to admit it would be nice to have another inch or two of clearance under the car's chassis.

Still, I haven't gotten stuck yet. * knocks on wood *

Good winter tires on my car is enough for me.

To those that need trucks to get through the winter, that's all good.
One of my pet pives is seeing trucks, 4-wheel drives and Hummers that obviously have never been outside the city... that may only need to actually use 4-wheel drive 1 or twice a year.

4 wheel drive isn't really neccesary, but if it's not 4 wheel drive it had better be front wheel drive atleast, I got stuck a few times on my block back when I drove a rear-wheel drive 300. Modern traction control is good, but not that good.

I liked it when I had a back-wheel drive but maybe it was because I took lessons driving on ice with one. There are some things you cannot do in winter with a front-wheel that I could do with the back-wheel drive.

FWD is good in reverse, but when you go forward the weight shifts to the rear and it loses traction. Plus never put just snows on the front - I've wound up going backwards uphill like that, because the fronts dig in and the back will swing around.