I think after reading these responses I will continue searching or put some work into this Frontier. It's needs a few things but nothing compared to the scarey things spoken of what could happen to the 13-15 PFs. The one im looking at has 58k miles, @ $17grand. First owner traded it after 4 months. Then it was a lease. I'm a single father so safety is #1, and I don't have too much time for fixing the old truck but good God I can't be dealing with several thousand dollar repairs!
First I picked out a 17 frontier pro 4x. It sold, then I picked out a Rogue, it sold by the time I got to the dealer to appraise my Frontier.
The real fact of the matter is nothing and I mean nothing outside of either studded winter tires or chains will get you around in icey conditions. 4x4 will get you started but you will still slide off the road just as easy, look at it this way, if you feel like it's dangerous to go out with a RWD, its also dangerous to go out with a 4x4!
If you're worried about having control in winter what you can do that will have a direct impact is purchase high quality winter tires, and throw about 50lbs of gravel/sand in the back of the truck and your good. I may have 4x4 in my frontier but I have legitamately not actually needed to use it once (in NE wisconsin on my second winter here). I have a bunch of weight in the back (probably 200lbs of equipment) and semi-decent 3 peak AT's. I know I'd get better traction with dedicated winter tires.
Also keep extra supplies in the truck during winter if you have to travel more than ten miles, think a blanket. Moving blankets while pricy will also keep you warm in a pinch, and they also work for moving stuff! Possibly a jerry/gas can (make sure to secure properly in bed if you do this!)
In terms of trading in an 02, you my friend should sell it to a private party or keep it, you won't get anything for it in a trade (basicly your having to buy a new car and it'd act as a small down payment), is that actually worth it to you?
Honestly speaking if you could find a 2012 Nissan pathfinder with 4x4 you'd have both a larger vehicle, and a vehicle that is still using the majority of the reliable gen 2 Frontier (after this it became it's own animal). You might even be able to find one with the V8. Though that'd kind of be looking for a needle in the carmaket haystack.
There are two real methods of dealing with snow, 1 light vehicle with oversized winter tires that floats over the snow and maximizes it's traction (with winter tires they grab snow, and snow on snow is good traction).
2) heavy vehicle that has "thinner" tires that trys and digs into the snow using snow/3pk AT's
With your vehicle I'd say your closer to the 1st.
If the roads nessicate chains you really shouldn't be on the road at all. (it might not be you getting stuck but other people that will block your path)
