A FLURRY OF VEHICLES

Every 12 months Mother Nature comes knocking with a blistering winter in her travel tote. And in year’s past where you may have stayed home because the weather and roads were far worse than anything your car could handle, the optimal vehicles to battle back against the snow do exist. The options span from 4x4s, autos with tank tracks, a hybrid of dirt bike and snowmobile, and vehicles that almost raise concern to where they might take you. Fear the snow and winter months no more when you turn the ignition in one of these snow-ready vehicles.

Initially offered to the public as a luxury tank, the Ripsaw EV3F1 has come to be an outright wrecking ball and one of the most sought after all-terrain vehicles. With 1500hp and an unsurmountable .2 hp/lbs power to weight ratio, this single-seater will attempt to put you in the backseat. The upgraded winter package will tango with the fiercest blizzards making the high mountain snowy terrain a playground. Add it to your bucket list as the Ripsaw EV3F1 is an absolute phenom. 

The Tucker Snowcat 1600 is built like a tank, but its war lies in the snow. One of the OG snow crawlers, the 1600 offers up more deck space than its family members giving it a pickup appearance. It’s a workhorse with a QSB 173 H.P. Tier 4I/4F Cummins Diesel Engine. Yes, a 173 H.P. engine, but this cat is not concerned with speed. This is the rig you keep at the mountain cabin for b.c. ski adventures out the backyard.

It’s like the step-cousin no one talks about, but the Timbersled will have you screaming wee wee all the way home. It’s the power and nimbleness of a dirtbike and the powhounding soul of a snowmobile. The wheels have been switched out for a big powder ski up front and a snow track in the rear. Let’s say it together, “it’s time to get sendy” with the Timbersled.

Perhaps better known as the G Wagon, the Mercedes-Benz G550 plays the roles of both beauty and the beast. A 4 liter V8 Biturbo boots the G550 from 0 to 60 in 5.6 seconds while the 416 H.P. tiptoes through the deep snow. If you think this ride is just for stunting around the city, you’ve made the mistake of judging a book by its cover. Rain, sleet, or snow, the Mercedes-Benz G550 will not disappoint. And if it’s just you and your best mate toting around, it’s recommended that you take things the 2nd power.

You hear the name Jeep and you should know adventure awaits. The pinnacle vehicle of WW2, Jeep has come way and that’s including the Gladiator. The heart and soul of a Jeep fueling the 3.6 liter V6, the Gladiator is a 4×4 freakshow with a 6-speed manual transmission. So, you better know how to drive a stick! And because it’s a jeep, you can ride dirty with the doors and top off, 33-inch tires, and all the bells and whistles for your red carpet entrance. The Jeep Gladiator Rubicon is the ultimate adult toy with batteries 100% included, “Are you not entertained?”.

If you are bound for the Arctic or just intend to lay waste in the winter storms ahead, the Toyota Hilux is built to romp and conquer. The Hilux is built specifically to handle the terrain and harsh weather of Iceland and if by chance the Hilux isn’t your style, Arctic Trucks has conversion kits for a good majority of predestined off-road vehicles. This 4×4 will be out of its element on city streets, giving you full authority to take the Toyota Hilux to a frozen hell and back.

No frills, all thrill is what’s coming from a drive in the Land Rover Defender 110. The Defender is the quintessential truck for adventure and has stood the test of time as a simplistic 4×4. The 110 is a true utility vehicle that looks fantastic in the concrete jungle and out in the unknown. It’s all about that chitty chitty bang bang! The Defender 110 is a truck you opt for the alternative on a formerly impossible to pass route.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock and a truly dedicated quarantine-er, you’ve caught wind of the Bronco’s return. That memorable highway getaway vibe still shines bright, but the new Bronco Sport comes standard with 4×4 G.O.A.T. Modes (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) and HOSS suspension that turns any rock crawl into a soothing rumble. The Bronco is waiting to be set free, you’ll just have to find a journey that’s worthy.

It doesn’t seem you’d have much use for the BvS10 BEOWULF, but that won’t hinder the desire to want one. This out of the box amphibious vehicle was built to journey to and most definitely across the far reaches of the planet… Earth and the 7 or 8 others (depending on how you feel about Pluto). It was designed to provide total operational support where other vehicles cannot. The BvS10 BEOWULF will prove to be oh so much more than the Little Engine that Could.

There are a few standouts when it comes to identifying a wagon designed for city streets and mountain adventures. The Outback Onyx Edition XT is first and foremost an all-wheel-drive Subaru, that just happens to have a 260-hp Direct-Injection Turbocharged Subaru Boxer engine and seamlessly transitions from the pavement to abandoned fire roads. The Audi Allroad may keep the Autobahn tucked away in the truck for the moments you want to open ‘er up but come 5 pm on Friday, the Allroad is geared up for mountain adventure and making sure you’re pressing glass on the gondi door. And the Volvo v90 Cross Country presents its best in the fresh morning snow. This car was born in Scandinavia and with an optional hill descent mode, the v90 CC will always call the snowy mountain roads home.