Proper recovery???

[junehhan]

Hey guys, my former 00 Crown Vic which is now owned by my father(he bought it from me a while ago) just slid off the road and got stuck in a deep snow drift from this snow storm we are in the middle of right now. When a tow truck arrived at the seen to pull him free, he said the tow truck guy had no idea how to recover the Crown Vic, and he said the tow truck guy wrapped a strap around what looked like the a-frame, or that bar that connects the 2 frame rails under the front end of the vehicle. Is that a safe way to tow a Crown Vic free? I've seen frames get damaged from vehicles being recovered like that, but i'm hoping that it's okay since he was stuck in a snow drift, not some deep mud that might have required a lot more force to free the car.


I also found out that Marauder's don't do too well in deep snow. I got stuck 2 times today, but was able to free myself loose as traction control really does wonders combined with a shovel to clear some snow away............

[TripleTransAm]

That sounds like the cross-member. Never towed from there... have jacked some cars from there (not sure if it was a good idea or not, but too late to go back in time).

Marauder BFGs are hilarious in snow. Just before New Years, I dumped the car onto a side street to allow my snow removal contractor to do a proper job. Once it was all done, I hopped in the car, got it moving with no problem (thank you, TCS and 2nd-gear-starts). Of course, I knew what I was up against and kept it to a crawl, literally. No dice... I just turned the wheel to do a U-turn (truth be told, I was scheming to pop off the TC and do a Dukes-of-Hazzard style flip, but I didn't tell the car that!). The car slid in ultra-slow-motion right into a snow bank. Crunch...

Luckily, it was fresh soft snow. No visible damage, and I'm pretty anal about my black cars, so I'm not worried. But I break into fits of uncontrolled laughter when I see what the S in KDWS stands for! (ie. SNOW! what a riot!!!).

[Smokie]

...he said the tow truck guy wrapped a strap around what looked like the a-frame, or that bar that connects the 2 frame rails under the front end of the vehicle. Is that a safe way to tow a Crown Vic free?

I own a 95', and the 2 diagonal bars that go from the center support to each side frame rail are strong enough to run a strap around them and pull car out of the snow without any damage. There are not many choices to use under there for pulling because the under side is closed off in plastic shrouds and hooking to the frame were bumper attaches would have damaged your front fascia. Car should be fine as long all he did was pull out of snow, I assume he did not lift it and towed it home also.

[junehhan]

At the time my father slid off the road, there were about 4-5 inches of snow covering the hill that he was struggling to get up. After he was pulled free from the snow drift, he told me that the truck dragged him up to the top of the hill since he wouldn't have stood a chance at all. Just a few minutes ago, I picked up my mother from work(she didn't drive today because she's scared stiff), and we tried going up that same hill which was futile, but we even saw a lifted and modified old Range Rover that had front and rear lockers that was struggling. Do you think my dad's frame is okay in his Crown Vic, even though he was dragged to the top of the hill in 4-5 inches of snow?

[CRUZTAKER]

I also found out that Marauder's don't do too well in deep snow. I got stuck 2 times today, but was able to free myself loose as traction control really does wonders combined with a shovel to clear some snow away............

This true!
But not with snows, runs like a 4x4 with the right set of tires. I remember you saying it doesn't snow much down your way and snows aren't a practical mod....

[MapleLeafMerc]

runs like a 4x4 with the right set of tires.

Right on, Barry!

I don't know mechanicals like most members here, but I DO know snow and snow tires as well as anyone! With the right SNOW tires, this car is the equal of any I've ever had, and (IMHO), the equal of any 2 wheel drive vehicle on the road, front or rear drive.

[Smokie]

Do you think my dad's frame is okay in his Crown Vic, even though he was dragged to the top of the hill in 4-5 inches of snow?

I believe the frame is ok, worst case scenario the diagonal rods that go from center support plate to each frame side rail might possibly be bent; they are the weakest link. They can easily be checked for signs of damage. If the tow truck used a running start to gain momentun to snatch car out of drift is possible he bent one or both rods, it requires a massive collision to damage your frame rails.

[junehhan]

Because my father insisted, I did take his car out for a spin today, and it appears to track straight without any problems. I did notice it pulling to the left everytime I hit the brakes hard, but I think that went away after a few hard stops. I think it was also because the roads were rutted a bit in the area's that caused me to hit the brake hard as well. From what I was told, he said the truck driver eased up to take out the slack first in the strap, then eased the car up this steep hill. To be honest, my father had no buisness even attempting this hill if there is any frozen form of precipitation on it. I also noticed that a brake rotor may have gotten warped because there is some vibration in the brake pedal since there was a pulsating feeling in it when I spiked the brakes on the highway because some ricer cut me off. My dad said that he overheated the traction control system several times in his attempt to go up the hill, so I guess this might have been how the rotors got warped since they were just turned 6000 miles ago.............


Barry, you got me on that one. The funny thing, is that I had no intention to go out and drive in this storm at all. However, my mom told me that she was scared stiff to drive to work, so I offered to take her. I think it's a great thing that I did, because I wouldn't have felt right if she had to try to drive in this mess. She doesn't drive very well, and worse she has never had any experiencing driving in snow either. She occasionally likes to show a stupid ricer a thing or two with her little 2 door Escort ZX2, but snow terrorizes her stiff. Everytime my Marauder went sideways as I tried to force it up hills, you could see her get scared so stiff she couldn't breath.............

[Murader03]

June: If your gonna drive this beast in snow, you're gonna need snow tires. I live in Delaware, and last year, '02, we had a slight snowfall in December. I went to work that night and got home okay the next day. It was an exciting experience, and I'm not a novice snow driver. Spent 4 years in Sioux Falls, SD., and when it snowed in October, you didn't see bare ground again till April. Anyway, after that December night, I ordered the tire package from TireRack. In January/Febuuary '03, we had back to back storms that dumped 24" of the stuff on the ground. I got home the first day, with 8" already dropped without any problems whatever. Saw numerous 4X4's and FWD, along with 2 of Delaware's finest stuck in drifts and off the road. The MM with the snow tires trudged right on through. We just go 6.5" in the area yesterday, and again, I had no probelms. The MM even drove by a state trooper who was only doing about 25 on open snow covered roads. The car is sure footed with the right tires and driven with the conditions in mind!

[BillyGman]

Yep, the car goes great w/the right snow tires. Like 19 other members here, i bought four Michelin ARCTIC ALPINE snow tiers, and what a major difference they make in the snow. I literally got up hills in the snow that front wheel drive cars were getting stuck on.

[junehhan]

The biggest reason why I havn't bought snow tires, is that we just don't get much snow in Cincinnati. When we do get snow, it's always an inch here, another inch there, some ice everywhere. Rarely do we get pummeled with a snow storm like the one we just had.

[Dr Caleb]

The biggest reason why I havn't bought snow tires, is that we just don't get much snow in Cincinnati. When we do get snow, it's always an inch here, another inch there, some ice everywhere. Rarely do we get pummeled with a snow storm like the one we just had.

All seasons work fairly well for that. Not to be coy (Larry ) but the best thing to do in a heavy snowstorm is slow the hell down!! Sorry - I just get frustrated by some drivers - nothing personal. . .