Posted on Nov 27, 2019
What kind of car should I get that works good in the snow for an assignment at Fort Drum?
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i’m going to fort drum and i know it snows there a lot. and if i wanted to have some sort of fun i would have to get off base and go kinda far so i was wondering what type of car should i get that would work good with the snow or just a good car in general to get
Fort Drum
Cars
Private
Advice
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 29
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10
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Most cars work just fine once you put snow tires on them. They have little spikes that bite into the snow and give you a good traction. Just stay away from anything with rear wheel drive
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LCpl Michael Cappello
What you are describing are "STUDDED" snow tires. They are a little difficult to find nowadays. At least they are here in upstate NY.
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SFC (Join to see)
LCpl Michael Cappello well that's unfortunate, because those things rock. I used to put them on my old Subaru station wagon when I lived up on a ski resort. They would drive places a four wheel drive truck couldn't go.
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LCpl Michael Cappello
I miss studded snows. The problem with them is that they tear up the roads (roads here in NY suck) and if they do not get vulcanized into the tire properly they can get spit out. You can imagine what the little projectiles can do to a windshield at 65 - 70 MPH. I used to work building communication towers. We had Subaru's that would get up mountains where our F350 4WD had a hard time getting up.
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As a private you are not going to be making a bunch of money.
I encourage you to go to college. I imagine you'll be stationed at drum for 2 years. You can easily get an associates in that time. You can get all the points for school, that you'll need for E-5 promotion, in that time. There's still going to be plenty of partying on base. Make friends with other guys and gals in the barracks. Carpool with one of them.
Also, not too much further north there is a place called Alexandria Bay. It's beautiful. Not too far south there is syracuse. It's ok. Basically you are close enough to catch an uber to some pretty good spots without spending a load on a car. With a car you're going to have the payment, insurance, gas, and maintenance. E-1-E-4 money is enough to get a car, but not enough to have fun with one. Do your best to not max out credit cards and get yourself into a heap of debt. That will affect you negatively throughout your military career. Budgeting is very important. Learn it now before you become one of the "statistics" with $100,000 of debt and little to show for it.
Also, there are hundreds of state parks in NY. An excellent location if you enjoy hiking or fishing.
I encourage you to go to college. I imagine you'll be stationed at drum for 2 years. You can easily get an associates in that time. You can get all the points for school, that you'll need for E-5 promotion, in that time. There's still going to be plenty of partying on base. Make friends with other guys and gals in the barracks. Carpool with one of them.
Also, not too much further north there is a place called Alexandria Bay. It's beautiful. Not too far south there is syracuse. It's ok. Basically you are close enough to catch an uber to some pretty good spots without spending a load on a car. With a car you're going to have the payment, insurance, gas, and maintenance. E-1-E-4 money is enough to get a car, but not enough to have fun with one. Do your best to not max out credit cards and get yourself into a heap of debt. That will affect you negatively throughout your military career. Budgeting is very important. Learn it now before you become one of the "statistics" with $100,000 of debt and little to show for it.
Also, there are hundreds of state parks in NY. An excellent location if you enjoy hiking or fishing.
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LTC (Join to see)
Be a good soldier, pitch in for gas. maybe take that Soldier out to eat sometime if he doesn't accept your gas money. I live in Canada and I was assigned to an Army Reserve civil Affairs units in Mountain View, California. I needed a ride to Fort Ord to get my da photo for major. A first lieutenant offered to give me a ride from the San Jose, California to Fort Ord to get my da photo. It's Lieutenant took a day off of work from his job just to give me a ride. He refused gas money but he did accept me taking him to a steakhouse afterwards. Just food for thought.
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LTC (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) you may be able to buy a cheap car from those who are having a PCS and don't want to ship it with them. I live in Canada and front-wheel drive cars will work just fine as long as the base plows the roads. Since you are young, your auto insurance maybe higher. Find out if your insurance company gives discounts for being a full-time student who gets a b average or better. State Farm used to offer me that when I was in college. if your auto insurance is through the roof because you are a young driver, just find out who has a license and a car and just be friends with them and make sure they get some money for their efforts to help you. Insurance is a rip-off when you're under 25, and not a full-time student who is not married. Find out if your army safety course we'll help you lower your auto insurance or if there is a civilian safety course you can take. Maybe they'll accept the Army one. Since I'm now in my fifties and living in Canada, things may have changed over the decades.
SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSG Carlos Madden CPT Chris Loomis SFC (Join to see) LTC (Join to see) SMSgt Lawrence McCarter LT Brad McInnis SFC (Join to see) SPC (Join to see) COL Lee Flemming
SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSG Carlos Madden CPT Chris Loomis SFC (Join to see) LTC (Join to see) SMSgt Lawrence McCarter LT Brad McInnis SFC (Join to see) SPC (Join to see) COL Lee Flemming
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SPC Stewart Smith
LTC (Join to see) - I went with USAA after I got out and got a car. They gave me a discount for my army driving: defensive driving, roll over training, winter driver training
I ended up paying about $540 every 6 months for full coverage with glass breakage and only $50 deductible.
I ended up paying about $540 every 6 months for full coverage with glass breakage and only $50 deductible.
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