W123 300TD in the snow question
 

What weight, if any, do you put above the rear axle for best traction in the snow?
I'm hoping for optimal weight from veteran TD owners.

I've driven RWD cars since 1986 and always got 2 tubes of sand (80lb each) one over each wheel off to the side.

I have 2 bags of 40 lbs of kitty litter over each wheel (off to the sides of the trunk). So 80lbs per wheel. And the best thing is, I can use the kitty litter for my cats come spring time! :rolleyes:

I also have winter/snow tires on a 2nd set of rims that I use. That makes the biggest difference of all, I think.

On Monday was the first test with the kitty litter in the trunk this year. Drove 350km in 5 hours because of a bad snow storm. That was a boring drive...

I'm a new TD owner myself, so I can't give you a 'veteran' answer, but I do know that we have a few hundred pounds of rear axle weight over a sedan, meaning that if a sedan only needs 160 pounds of sand to become a good handler on snow, then we should be fine with no additional weight. Especially if you have the third seat option (which is all behind the rear axle weight).

However, a bag of sand is helpful for pouring out onto the road to give you some grip if for some reason you get stuck, so I'll still be carrying one, just not worrying so much about weight distribution.

On my old VW beetle we used to put sandbags in the front. ;) The thing still weighed 1/3 what my TD does though.

peace,
sam

It's not so much that it becomes a "good" handler.. but it does seem to make a bit of a difference anyway.. and like you say, sand (or kitty litter) are good if you get stuck and need some grit on the road ;)

For extra weight
 

Put a front wheel drive car in the back :rolleyes:

My 84 TD w/3rd seat is just fine without any additional weight in the back. A 300D sedan w/ turbo I might add sandbags, though my old non-turbo 123 sedan was fine (not enough power to spin much of anything...).

With the TD, M-B have already added the extra rearward weight for you in the form of a hatch, extra glass, etc, etc...

The TD is great in the snow, even w/o dedicated snow tires.

Cheers,

JAS

I had about 150 pounds in my TD last winter, even nicer with the load leveler in the back, didn't ever know it was back there til you took a corner too fast. It would go threw anything though. I was coming back home from state college last winter in a snow storm, about 8 inches on the ground already, it was a nice ride home, a lot of other people were having problems.....I WASN'T!!! I got a set of winter treads w/ steel studs, it'll go real well this winter......if it ever snows! overkill??? hell no!

Actually at a mile high, the NA 300d is about the best snow car you can imagine. It doesn't have enough power to spin the tires on glare ice. My wife loves it.

I have owned my 83 300TD wagon since new and have driven it most every winter in Minnesota. I have never added any extra weight as the car is very well balanced. I do have an extra set of wheels with Hakkapalita snow tires which make all the difference in the world. At times when I have been stuck in marginal slippery conditions with the summer tires on I have had traction problems. I swear by the snow tires...particularly this brand!

Whenever I go to the snow, I expect to have my two dogs in the back (they go skiing with me). They weigh nearly 130 pounds together. I call it CTC: Canine Traction Control! :D

I also have a spare set of Bundts and will be mounting snow tires on them.

Just curious: How has your wagon held up after all those northern winters?

My 85 TD WAS the very best RW drive vehicle in the snow w/o any extra weight added. Tires would break free if I nailed it but seemed not to want to spin/skid around. I was simply running the Michelins I always ran.

This year I had a bright idea :bulb: and put a pair of studsthat came with my first SD on the back. *haven't even looked to see what the manufacturer is :eek: * but now it feel so sloppy in the ass. ... feels like I'm running 22 lbs pressure even though I started at 32# and am now at running 36# in them. I can still feel the sidewalls give in turns. I'm waiting for the first good Ohio ice to show up to see if it's worth the trouble. Yah, yah. atleast I'm keeping some miles off the Mich's.

Franko in O..Hi..O

My 83 wagon has held up extremely well considering Minnesota winters and road salt, but it is getting a few spots of surface rust, especially on the tailgate. I had the car rustproofed when I bought it and I think that helped. I just completed a major project, replacing the hydraulic lines running from the pump and reservoir to the level controller. The original lines had corroded over the rear axle from salt and crud. The MB dealer couldn't locate the factory replacement lines, so we ended up fabricating them from steel fuel line and reusing the original fittings.
I get a lot of compliments on this car even though it is now my winter car, as I drive my 87 300TD wagon in the summer(Southern car that has never been exposed to winter or road salt) and only 81K miles.
I also haul my dogs around, 3 of them, and I tow my snowmobiles!

Do yall know how funny that question sounds to we Texas folk? However, my neighbor accross the street has an '81 300TD (non smoking :( ), and last year we actually had snow/frozen sleet. He made it down a hill at the end of the street and then up the next road with no problems. Mine wouldn't spin the tires on sheet ice........