I just moved to Colorado, on a mountain, with a 1/2 mile long steep driveway uphill, with 2 switchbacks, on the north side of the mountain so the snow won't melt in the winter. I'm told that the previous owner used a truck with chains for the driveway and left a car down at the bottom by the road. I thought if I got a 2017 Raptor with a Torsen differential front end that should take care of it, plus it has auto 4x4 mode so I wouldn't be stuck in 2wd going down the highway in potentially icy conditions. Unfortunately, the Raptors are not in stock yet and the dealers want $10k over MSRP to get on the list for a future one, which they will order with $4500 of extras I don't care about. So it's actually $15k over MSRP when I price one out my way.
Today my neighbor told me I'll need a 3/4 ton on this driveway, not a 1/2 ton. I looked at the Power Wagon Laramie and it was going for $10k below MSRP after incentives. That's $25k less than a Raptor which isn't in stock anywhere, for a RAM PW that will be delivered to my house from the dealer's lot on Sat. Front locking diff might replace the need for chains. 3/4 ton weight should help climb in the snow.
I was surprised that it didn't have a rear defroster. The dealer said it's straight up and down so no snow or ice will collect on it. I've never had a truck before so I'm curious what others have noticed. Is a rear defroster needed?
Since the truck is so heavy, does that help with not having Auto 4x4, in that 2 WD is good enough for in-between situations on the highway? Or do people need to use 4x4 at 55 mph in suspect situations just in case they hit black ice?
Thanks for the input.
Today my neighbor told me I'll need a 3/4 ton on this driveway, not a 1/2 ton. I looked at the Power Wagon Laramie and it was going for $10k below MSRP after incentives. That's $25k less than a Raptor which isn't in stock anywhere, for a RAM PW that will be delivered to my house from the dealer's lot on Sat. Front locking diff might replace the need for chains. 3/4 ton weight should help climb in the snow.
I was surprised that it didn't have a rear defroster. The dealer said it's straight up and down so no snow or ice will collect on it. I've never had a truck before so I'm curious what others have noticed. Is a rear defroster needed?
Since the truck is so heavy, does that help with not having Auto 4x4, in that 2 WD is good enough for in-between situations on the highway? Or do people need to use 4x4 at 55 mph in suspect situations just in case they hit black ice?
Thanks for the input.