One of my hobbies is shooting/hunting with a precision air rifle (not exactly the daisy bb guns we had as kids ). I have permission to shoot out in a local farmer's hay fields. Right now there's maybe 3"-5" of snow out there. It's a long (1000 yds) dirt double track road that's (obviously) unplowed. The snow is now completel crusted over where you can walk across the surface.

I'm thinking of heading out there for some plinking but I'm not sure if I'll get stuck out there. The X handled great on the roads with a foot of snow recently, but it was paved underneath and it was only short stretches in the deep stuff. Should I have a problem out in this hay field/dirt road?

Bone stock 05 SE 4x4 BTW.

You shouldn't. You just need to properly air down your tires and don't do anything stupid.

---You shouldn't have trouble in 5 feet of snow, just don't make a WRONG turn from high to low

Thanks for the advice kokopop. It's a straight shot, not even a turn...until I have to turn around, that is. How low should I drop the pressure in the tires?

oops

You shouldnt have any problems. My driveway is slightly uphill and about 200ft long. Never had an issue, even when it was 3 ft deep. Just put it into 4wd and go. If it gets deeeeeep you may want to go 4lo. And maybe think about new tires and a set of chains.

Not sure in the snow, but when I go Off Road I drop it anywhere from 15 PSI to 25 PSI. I know a huge band but it depends on conditions and how far I have to drive to re-inflate.

there might be 12 inches of mud underneath, but not if you get there real early while it is rock hard frozen.

there is no way to tell. if it gets soft..stop right away and throw rocks and sticks under the tires and back out before you dig down to the frame.

That's also great advice. I thought about what's underneath as well. The road surface is pretty stable/solid and we've had at least a few days of below freezing weather. It's been in the 20's since Saturday night so I was hoping that the ground would be frozen underneath.

Actually, as long as the ground is solid under you, the X will do just fine with that amount of snow. Out here I don't have to put the X in 4wd with only 3-5 inches and I do not deflate my stock tires from 35 psi. Of course we have Champange Powder and 4wd might be required if you have snow more like Sierra Cement. My first instinct would be to try driving in 2wd and only put it in 4wd if you start having problems. IMO, it is best to do everything you can in 2wd that way if you do get stuck, then you still have 4wd to get you out. I do put it in 4wd if I must have the extra control. Have fun...
Kurt

Thanks snowbum007. I went bombing around town during our last storm. It was about a foot of nice powdery snow. the X handled very well in some parking lots that hadn't been plowed yet. I was surprised how well the stock Long Trails did in the deep stuff.

The hay fields, OTOH are solid crusty snow, so I'm a bit concerned but will give it a try this afternoon. It's still below freezing so the ground underneath should be hard (fingers crossed!).

Thx again for the feedback.

The best thing to learn is driving by the seat of your pants. Feel what the truck is doing with your butt. I know it sounds funny but it will save ya.
When you are driving your seat will tell you what is happening under your tires before anything. If you get a soft feeling, like its getting mushy, stop.You can also tell when your truck is starting to slide one side to another or the front or back is starting to sink both are pre cursers to getting buried.
Put your truck in 4 LO. Get into your lowest gear and use as little gas as possible to get the truck moving. Do not make any sudden moves with the wheel or the gas until you get the feel of what is happening.

have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!