4 Low in snow

I dont understand something I have a 07 Tacoma sport and was in 30in. of snow stuck and spinning tires. My question is when I switched from 4h to 4L my tires didnt spin and I drove through the snow. The problem wasnt me being bogged down it was loosing traction so why did I gain traction? Does something engage like the axle or locker and on the sport it has a limited slip from what Im told. Any opnions?

 

4 low is geared lower.

 

That doesn't change the fact that he had no traction....

 

It changes the fact that you get less wheel spin. more torque.

 

That's true. Touche'

 

lower gearing also you have the limited slip so the truck will transfer power to the wheel's with grip!

 

no locker on the sporty's!

 

I saw you comment about 30" of snow, had to be Maryland. I can't answer your question but I also have an 07 Tacoma 4X4 Sport double cab. What I can tell you is I also experienced the unbelievable traction from 4WD low in 30 plus inches of snow.

The truck was awesome!

 

oh and welcome to TW!

 

Thanks for the welcome. I dont believe sports have the locking rear. Yes from Md. lots of snow for us and more to come. I also have a CJ and put chains on the tires and had great traction but the tacoma was stuck in the driveway in 4wd h and I was going from drive to reverse to get it free and nothing but when I switched to 4wd low it came free. It amazed me enough to research why it worked in low but not in high.

 

I used 4 lo but started in second gear. I had chains on the front and the rear locked. I was pushing people through the 20 some inches of snow

 

You will have a button on the left of the steering wheel for a locking rear differential, and an instruction lable on the door. On the rear differential will be the locker bolted onto it. Those things if nothing else tells you if you have a rear locker.

You MAY very well have a mechanical LIMITED SLIP rear differential... Too bad you don't have an owner's manuel in the glove box!

In L4, the Tacoma (and CJ) will have MUCH greater low end torque (power) for chewing into the mud and snow. You probably don't need chains on the CJ... Use LOW RANGE and go slow, but sure!

 

thank you good info.

 

4Lo isn't for low traction enviroments. It's for more power and stability (not in a physical movement of the truck way, in a control of the acceleration way). It effectively doubles your torque so in low traction enviroments it's going to cause more wheel spin if you give it the chance. However, what it helped you do, was lower the speed of your tires giving you consistent power.

Hope that's not too confusing.

 

The lower gearing just allowed you to maintain a lower wheel speed, instead of the wheels breaking free and spinning, as was evidently happening in 4HI.

 

sports dont have a locker, just a limited slip diff!!!!!

 

Maryland's getting the smackdown tonight into tomorrow with the snow. 20" or more near Baltimore and Frederick. We're only getting 8"-14" here in NoVa. Which is a little better than the 32" we got over the weekend.

 

Doesn't your traction also depend on what shape, type of tires you have?

 

Yes.