[rendus688]

i recently got a new battery, and decided instead of throwing the old one away, i would use it as weight for traction in the snow. so i secured it in the trunk, and i figured i could even jump myself if i needed to (i think?).

anyway, is this a useless idea? i'm kind of worried about gas mileage cause it's bad enough already and that battery is heavy, but is it worth the added safety?

[MWWarlord]

The first thing I would say is make sure that the battery isn't going to tip over. If it does that could be bad. I don't know if you have a spill prof battery, but you don't want to have acid in your trunk. I can tell you that mustangs don't do real well in the snow, so anything you can do to help isn't a stupid idea. I'm not too sure that the battery is gonna make a very big difference though. As far as jumping yourself...you just got a new battery!

[rendus688]

lol i know i got a new battery, but leaving my lights on for a long time would kill even that. its just a precaution ;]
and no it shouldn't tip, i zip tied it pretty well, and its centered in the trunk.

[2000Silverbullet]

i dont think a single battery is gonna do much fer the snow and i doubt its enough to noticably mess with ur MPG

[MWWarlord]

Yeah bullet is right as I said before "I don't think the battery is gonna make a very big difference." However, the principle is sound. You just need more weight.

[modded232]

I live in Canada and get snow from november to march/april. The best way to deal with winter from what I've found is first of all GET SNOW TIRES. Thats what is going to help you the most, but if you want to get traction without spending lots of money, the best thing you could put in your trunk is big bags of cat litter or some kind of crushed rock. If you were to get stuck just spread some of the cat litter or rock out and you get instant traction. Here a 40 lb. bag of cat litter is 6 bucks, you can't go wrong. Buy a couple bags of that, shove them in your trunk you will be fine.

Only downside is as you add weight you can accelerate easier and take corners a little easier, but braking seems to take a little longer and more pressure on the brake pedal (I have about 150 lb.s in my trunk). So find the balance between acceleration and braking by adding/removing weight. Your winters in Ohio and nearly as bad as ours, so I would say try one or two big bags of cat litter/crushed rock and you should be good.

[TheUNZippee!]

A single battery in the trunk isn't going to do anything other than be a possible spill hazard.

I'm in Canada as well, and modded232 has said pretty much what I would have suggested. The first, best, and most important thing you can do to improve traction on show and ice is to purchase an actual snow/ice tire. I would suggest putting them on their own plain steel rim. That way you don't have to pay someone to swap tires over twice a year. You can just change your wheels over each spring & fall.

Snow/ice tires work not just because of their tread pattern. The rubber compound is actually softer, so that the tire sticks to slippery surfaces better than an all season. This is also the reason you have to wait until it's cooler out to put them on, and take them off before it warms up. That softer rubber compound will wear out real quick on warm pavement. If you can't afford new snow/ice tires, sometimes you can find a decent set used. Sometimes your tireshop will even have used stuff. Even a decent middle of the road, slightly worn actual snow tire will work 10x better than the best brand new all season on snow or ice.

I would still put something in your trunk however. My old Grand Marquis is a little light in the ass for snow, so I put 2 50 lb bags of sand in the trunk, and positioned them so that they are behind the rear wheels. The Mustang is a smaller, lighter car, so try 1 bag on each side in the trunk first. Of course, as modded said, you will have to take things a little easier, but that's kind of the whole idea in the wintertime anyway. lol

[rendus688]

well thanks guys for your input. i'm not sure whether i'll go with snow tires or not...i know last winter the roads got pretty crazy and it was hard to drive, but i was careful and slow on those days and i did ok. if i do get into any kind of scare i'm sure i'll be getting new tires right away. i'll probably do some sand or cat litter in the back too.

[TheUNZippee!]

Just don't let the cat shit in your trunk - it will smell bad for weeks!

[Hourofpain]

snow tires and just put some shit in the back

[TheUNZippee!]

Originally Posted by Hourofpain snow tires and just put some shit in the back

FYI: use rhinoceros shit; it's super heavy.

[TheUNZippee!]

Although it can be difficult to get the rhinoceros to squat over your trunk opening. Try enticing him with a banana, or perhaps some ham.

[rendus688]

bananas and ham? thats the rhino diet these days?

[TheUNZippee!]

lmao I actually have no idea what will cause a rhino to shit in a Mustangs trunk, it just sounded good at the spur of the moment.

[dapack69]

Where did you buy your new battery from? Most places charge extra money so that you give them the battery back so that it may be recycled, its call a core charge.

Please just don't toss the battery in the trash. Take it to an auto parts place, they will be more then glad to dispose of it properly.

[04DSGV6]

+1 to adding shit in the trunk. I plan on using two 80lb bags of cement mix + the weight from my sub. I prefer the cement mix because its more compact than a large bag of cat litter or sand. If you intend to weigh it down with rhinoceros shit however use the shovel and wheelbarrow method. Its easier to let a rhino shit where it wants and shovel it. Plus, i'm pretty sure it says something in the owners manual about not letting rhinos squat in the trunk of your car.

[TheUNZippee!]

Originally Posted by 04DSGV6 +1 to adding shit in the trunk. I plan on using two 80lb bags of cement mix + the weight from my sub. I prefer the cement mix because its more compact than a large bag of cat litter or sand. If you intend to weigh it down with rhinoceros shit however use the shovel and wheelbarrow method. Its easier to let a rhino shit where it wants and shovel it. Plus, i'm pretty sure it says something in the owners manual about not letting rhinos squat in the trunk of your car.

You sir, are a wise man. lmao