Here in north east New Mexico, where I live now, two feet of snow is about the most I have seen. We get snow at most 10 times a winter (last three years I lived here at least). Lots of hills and mountains. We don't use salt just sand. So packed snow and ice are what's left on the road after DOT comes through.
From my experience I prefer some type of locker/limited slip. And tires do make all the difference. Not fun being stuck at the bottom of a small incline, looking like an idiot trying to get up it. It does take a bit more finesse to not loose the rear end, but just some common sense (or not so common).
Truck in my avatar had 225/75r16 highway friendly tires at the time of the picture. 454 tbi, 9.5 mpg towing 16,590 lbs. Gets stuck in wet grass in 4wd. Now has 245/75r16 toyo a/t. 2wd can get through some decent snow.
Locker/posi/limited experience:
Detroit locker- not mine, rode in the truck a few times, didn't know it was there on the streets, never heard it ratcheting or popping like some complain about.
8.5 clutch style posi- it does pop at low speed tight turns, will leave two black marks every time.
8.8 track-loc- seemed to work every time, engine didn't have enough power to spin tires, tires weren't snow tires, got stuck several times.
Torque bias (truetrack, but not) never in snow just mud and sand, feels like an open on the streets, when it starts getting deep apply brakes and it starts working like a locker.
G80 14ff- works fine. Just have to get a wheel spinning first.
@shovelbill hardly a moot point, different preferences for different vehicles, and situations. I like my high horsepower muscles car, burning rubber and making noise. But it gets a little old on long trips and is rather useless for towing.
