First Time Driving Taco in the Snow

I am taking a trip to the mountains this Friday and there is a large storm system set to hit the state at the end of this week bringing low snow levels. I have a 2011 TRD Off Road with Michelin LTX A/T 2 tires.

Besides the blatantly obvious "drive with your brain", is there anything else I need to know as far as driving in snow, or recently snowed condistions? Do I need to do anything with ATRAC? Or is that only for 4WD Low?

Thanks!

 

You will be fine. Put it in 4 hi and drive slow. If you are slipping add 200 pounds of wieght in the bed and let a little air out of the tires. No need to use 4lo or the locker and atrac unless you driving in feet of unplowed snow.

Let me say it again.... GO SLOW... People get overconfident fast in the snow.

 

I just drove through a snow covered forest service road in the mountains this weekend for the first time in my newly acquired 2011 Tacoma. I'm running Cooper ATP all terrains and went through slush and fresh snow and had no issues in 4hi in a low gear. I also had two 60lb bags of sand in the bed that I bought from lowes and ran my tires at 30psi all around. Like the others said easy on the throttle, take it slow, and leave lots of room ahead of you.

 

Thanks for the replies, the weather can change a lot between now and then but better to be safe that sorry.

 

7 months of the year here is "feet" of snow and cold temps, first two weeks of a good snowfall is comical to say least.

 

It's all about physics. You don't need to drive at 20mph on the highway. Just focus on allowing about double the space/time it takes you to stop or turn. More importantly though, just be wary of dumb people who don't know how to drive in the snow and either push their limits or do irrational things.

 

Agree with the others. Drive slow, no faster than 30-35 and you'll be fine, unless you try something you shouldn't. I've driven over the Sierra's in ice, snow and combination and the key is to drive SLOW. Especially going downhill. You can't brake like you can in dry conditions. Something to keep in mind when driving behind someone.

 

Drive intelligently and you will be fine. The Tacoma, like all pickups, whether 4wd or 2wd have a "light" rear end and it tends to slide out on turns and when braking. Knowing that, you can control your driving to minimize the problem. If you really want, add about 100 lbs of sand in the back. I use two 60lb sand tubes that I got a home depot a few years ago. They are made of a fiber material and this is their third season.
Some here believe that driving in snow is some type of manhood test which requires outfitting your truck like its the end of the world. Just add the weight and you will most likely be fine. If its real deep powder you might need chains, but that is a rare (at least for me in the Northeast) occurance.

 

Why do people make driving in the snow to be the hardest thing ever?

I drove 1 winter in a Geo Metro with mis matched tires on it.

Drive like you have sense, give extra stopping distance and slow down before you reach a turn, and don't stomp on the gas or brakes like a monkey. Not exactly rocket science.

 

Are you from somewhere flat? Id like to see you take a geo metro up any windy highway in the sierras... If it can go uphill in the snow...

 

Grew up in ohio valley and WV. Plus drove a dodge neon through 2 winters in the hills of PA.

Driving in snow is driving in snow no matter where its at. Hills are hills.

Only had one accident in 20 years of driving in the snow, and I spun out my Ranger in 2 wheel drive and bumped a guard rail.

 

Snow type / moisture content makes a big difference

 

Driving in the Sierra's is completely different. I grew up in WV and drove everywhere with my 4runner. Never a problem getting to the mountains or anywhere. BUT the Sierra's are not the same. I've lived in Tahoe for the last 7 years, and I had to learn a different style of driving when I got here. WV/PA/OH have no where near the same amount of snowfall or "hills" or windy roads. You can encounter feet upon feet of snow going from elevations of 1,000 to 7,000 ft. And the amount of traffic some of these roads can gain are unreal. I can guarantee that a geo metro would not make it up to the basin(lake tahoe) when a storm hits. Hwy 50 would destroy that car.

x2

 

this is the biggest issue i've seen, especially where i am at in a college town and a bunch of kids havent driven in snow before. watch your 6 and leave yourself room in front/somewhere to go if someone behind you is comin in hot.

 

But could I argue my prerunner is more capable then a Geo Metro in the snow?

 

I have the first version of your tires on my truck and they do pretty darn well in the snow.

 

That's why they call it "Sierra Cement".

 

Does the Metro have snow tires?

 

yes