24 Replies to “Riding Mass Transit Is Like Inviting 30 Disgruntled Toronto Journos Into Your Car”

  1. What kind of truck do you recommend? I’m going try a winter in my Hyundai Elantra GT Sport and see what happens. I have great snows.

    I wonder if I have a block heater…

      1. They do plow the roads here, don’t they? I’m in Vonda, which at about 40 clicks from Saskatoon feels to me like a suburb. Highways 27, 41, and 5 are my main routes, with forays onto 11 and 16 via Circle Drive. I’m not really going far and usually not often. As long as the roads are cleared reasonably well, I think a FWD car with good snows on it will be ok. Or perhaps I hope rather than think!

        I do need hauling capacity, though. And while a minivan has traumatic memories for me – see my other post here somewhere – enclosed carrying space is appealing. But I guess a pickup with a cap would get me that as well.

        Thanks to everyone for their recommendations – gives me a lot to think about.

    2. I’d say any truck’ll do, in most circumstances. Just four main things to remember:
      1) Four-wheel drive helps you go: it does not help you stop. Drive accordingly.
      2) A truck, due to its design, is much, much lighter at the back than the front, which reduces drive-wheel traction on slippery roads. Adding weight to the box in the winter is always a good idea.
      3) Power comes at the cost of fuel efficiency. It’s better than it has been, but set expectations on your fuel bills, especially given the size of the tank(s).
      4) Winter tire choice is very, very important. That’s what helps you stop, as well as giving you steering control.

      Additionally, figure out your needs and wants, and shop based on that and not so much on the brand wars. Reliability is pretty key in a prairie winter, so a heavy-duty battery won’t set you wrong, if it’s an available option.

      My two cents’ worth…

      1. All of the above, plus the trifecta of Block Heater, battery blanket and cabin warmer.. will use as much electricity as an EV charger, but you can go a longer distance one unplugged!

        No plug in? For the ultimate in autonomy, a Webasto heater..

  2. Truck I’m not too sure, but I recommend Blizzacks tires. Zero problems with a minivan even when the front end is plowing snow on an unplowed road.

    I have a 2nd short box GMC with light truck tires and only have a mild problem a few days a year

    1. Can’t do a minivan – too many bad memories. Used to have one. Came home from work one night to find the ex inside the van, the local firefighters, paramedics, high school football team, men’s choir from the church in town, men’s choir from two towns over, and the mailman lined up outside, and one of those take-a-number-now-serving things with not a two digit display; not a three digit display; not a four digit display – but a display capable of scientific notation! Stow-n-Go seating indeed!

      1. Ouch! That’s worse than my ex (40 years ago) who had the “decency” to simply clean out our apartment to the bare walls while I was at work and leave … with not a single warning or hint. Yeah … sometimes a bandaid RIPPED OFF … is cleaner. At least she never set up a sexmobile … on premises

  4. 1990s chev with a 350, almost any toyota. Ford superduty with a 7.3 diesel or a 12v Cummins diesel dodge (if you can find one)

    1. Look for an LBZ Equipped GMC 2500 Duramax.
      Best engine (Diesel), GM ever made….Ever.
      Mine is “grazing peacefully” at 611,670 kms..

      I run Michelin LTX AT-2’s Yr round – Zero issue in Snow.
      I get 20 mpg at 120.

      Comfortable interior’s in the LTZ model, but even the SLE is decent.
      I’ll be driving it for another 10 yrs yet..

    2. I can find a Cummins Dodge in my garage. 2009 409 ci 6, manual shift, full-strength Jake. Pulled 11,000 pounds over the Appalachians without a care. Not bad on fuel either. The greatest pickup truck ever made.

  5. 2005 Dodge 1 ton Cummins with 200K on the clock. Going to see me to the end. Minimal extras. No DEF. Tidy up the rust an keep trucken.

    1. Stow

      +++++/\

      I resemble that rust remark – a yearly chore.
      New running boards coming soon to the D’max… Compliments of 2 Ontario Winters.

  6. When I lived in Sask I had a cool Ford Ranchero with the 460, but I’m still not going back.
    And I think we’re all better off.

  8. Public transit is always easy pickins.
    Last winter up here in Convoy town their were 4 OC Transpo buses stranded on the same hilly street because of…snow.
    Name of the street: Summerville.
    I’ve always driven two-wheel drive trucks and traction control be damned. The Subaru is way better in snow, just not as much room for lumber.

    2. I had a few rough trips to and from northern B. C. this past winter. It’s a good thing that my truck’s a 4WD.

  10. I’m waiting for the mule tax myself.

    A mule being the only means of conveyance we might be allowed to have.

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