Hello all. I know this should be self explanatory but in a stock 93 XJ what would the best settings be on snifters for getting thru deep snow? I have a 1993 (And a '94) XJ. 4.0L automatic with the 231 transfer case. We had a record amount of snow over the past day and I want to dig away as little as possible to get out of where I am and get off the unplowed side street I am parked on. I know I have a choice of 4H and 4L on the 4x4 so I'll assume 4L. But on the gear shift you have Drive...Drive3 and Drive1-2.

I thinking I'll need to go thru about 18"-24" of snow for half a block to reach the plowed main street. Thanks.

Here's a photo of my '94 on my street. The snow was this deep about 10 hours ago (It hasn't stopped) and I haven't been back to look since. My '93 is on a smaller side street which has been untouched by plows.

 

Heck, just jump in it, stick it in 4lo, in 1-2. If you start to spin, throw it in reverse and rock it back and forth. You might be surprised how far you get.

That said, have a shovel ready, LOL...clear out a foot or 2 when you get stuck, reverse, drive, and hit it again. Once you get some momentum going, you might have better luck, at least for a bit, then it'll be shovel time again...

I lived in Colorado for 17 years in Denver, and 2 years in Aspen. Went through many blizzards. When I lived in Aspen, I had a 2wd Toyota mini p/u. Rarely got stuck, and it snowed like crazy up there. Fast forward a few years to when I was in Denver, before I had my XJ, I had a Toyota p/u, 4x4 extended cab. Again, rarely got stuck. Mainly both times it was heavy, wet snow that caused the issues. In those cases a shovel and some elbow grease got it done though.

 

The best advice anyone told me about 4x4 is to only use 4Low if you get stuck. That way you wont get in a jam. So if it were me, and i had to drive, i would be in 4H and D1-2.

The problem you will encounter is your front end will become a plow in snow that deep creating more and more resistance. Street tires or not it may not be the best idea to go chance it. But ive heard our xjs are freakin great no matter what height they are at.

Worst case is you get halfway down your street and just back up to your previous spot. The snow will be plowed out from your driving lol. Remember, its not my jeep and im not you. If you arent comfortable driving in that deep of snow, dont.

 

Let me add something...out of my 2 toys, I also had my XJ out there for a few years. NEVER got stuck with it. Granted I have always had a lift and tires on it in some fashion, but my XJ freakin' amazed me with how capable it is. We had a blizzard that shut the city down, and guess who was the only guy to get out of the neighborhood? (The other neighbors loved me BTW because I cleared a path for them, haha)....Also had a time where I was at work, blizz rolled in, but it was warmer before the front moved in, and the first bits of snow hit the pavement, melted, then froze...so it was a layer of ice with snow on top. Had to drive home from work, which normally took 15 minutes...well it took 2.5 hours because it was like bumper cars on an ice rink out there...I was stuck in traffic, on a hill, and the layer of ice was wreaking havoc on everyone trying to go up it. Other side of the street was clear traffic wise, so I tossed it into 4l, went up and over the median, drove on the opposite side of the road for a block, and got past the signal, then 2 minutes to my house after...had I stayed where I was, I woulda been there for hours.

Moral of the story, don't underestimate what your XJ can do. They are stout little beasts.

 

Wheel speed is key in my opinion! Faster you can clean them tires the farther you can go.

 

Stay home,When the snow is bumper high your not gonna go far before you start to plow the snow and get stuck.If you have street tires your screwed,If you have snow tires or maybe some mean mud tires you might have a chance.

 

Air the tires down a bit if you feel the need but other than that just go for it.

 

Yeah I should but I wanna get off that side street. The city plowed out all the roads in the big park near me and I wanna get over there.

 

Slow and steady. I'd put it in 4 hi and see how ya make out.

 

4H is fine. Controlling wheel spin is important and is harder to do in 4L.

 

oof

 

Denver area not much need for a 4wd I owned 3 towing companies out there for several years. They are geared up for snow here today gone tomorrow. About half of my tow trucks were 4x4's as I specialized in mountain recovery with one company. 90% of the calls requiring 4wd's were for other 4x4's that had gotten stuck in place's they never should have been, idiots!


If it were me I would leave it parked a little longer or run the chance of a costly tow bill, your problem is clearance and snow piling up in front of the jeep and under it. Contrary to common belief you can get one of these stuck and very bad sometimes.

 

OK I got the '94 free which I expected but my '93 which is down the small side street is lost cause for the moment even IF I got it dug out the street itself is unplowed with snowdrifts on each side and there's a 4 foot high bank of snow at the end of the street where the city plows have been plowing the large main street

 

Leave be till if you can till the streets are cleared. Nothing easier than a clear trail.
But if you have to be the trail breaker, no better vehicle.
Warm it up well. Sit with trans in gear to warm the trans.
Hope you have snow tires, much better than muds or all seasons.
Have shovels and good extraction strap.
Go about 25 -28 psi on tires.
4Hi
Have couple friends accompany, no use being stuck without help. Don't run over friends.
Once your moving, your committed, don't stop.
I've a 2 mile run to main roads. Sometimes don't find out drifts are 2ft till committed.
It's a Cherokee, don't stop unless last resort.
Best of luck to you.