Driving in Snow Help

I was wondering if there are is any advice i need to know for driving in the snow. I have never driven in the snow and was wondering if there is anything i should be careful about considering ive never driven in snow living in FL. Were taking a trip to Gatlinburg TN the day after christmas and im trying to prepare myself incase it does snow. Were taking the 4x4 4runner so i know the 4wd will help. Should i buy tire chains?

 

yea chains and put some weight in the bed if you can, i think they will stop you if you dont have chains

 

You certainly don't need chains for what little skiff of snow TN might get. When it does snow, people get dumb on the roads. They will drive as if there is no snow at all. Just take it slow and get a good feel for it. If you start to fish tail that's when it's a good time for the 4x4.

 

Remember that 4x4 helps you get going, but it does nothing when you hit the brakes. You still must drive at a safe speed. Here in Reno, we don't get a lot of snow, but when we do, most of the vehicles I see upside down in a ditch are 4x4s. Have a safe trip and take your time.

 

yeah i bet your pretty used to snow being in colorado

 

4x4 is huge but it doesn't help you stop. Is it a newer 4 runner with traction control? That system works great. My best advice is to be gentle with all of your controls. Easy on the gas, brakes and steering wheel. If you're going to be in remote areas, I might bring emergency supplies like blankets and food just in case the worst happens. I watch my thermometer pretty closely in winter, you need to drive differently at 30 degrees than you do at 40 degrees. Take it easy in the snow but you'll get the hang of it in a bit. Chains are overkill IMO, but you won't get stuck!

 

If you don't get chain, just take it slow. Don't get in a hurry and remember--Gear down to slow the truck. Jamming the brakes will be adverse.

 

yep its an 06 4runner sport 4wd with traction control and all that. if you have it in 4wd you can turn off traction control too which i probably wont want to.

 

just take it easy. drive smooth, no abrupt maneuvers or rapid acceleration. Easy on the brakes, and leave lots of space between the car in front of you. If you start a drift, stay calm, turn into the slide and kinda go with it. Jamming on the brakes will do more harm than good.

 

go slow, don't do huge correction moves, and downshift to slow down, while 'pumping' the brakes.. i.e. dont jam on the brakes, tap them gradually depressing a little harder each 'pump'.keep your wheels as straight as possible. dont hit the brakes on ice patches, just wait till you're off the patch. the best thing i do every winter is go find an empty parking lot (without obstacles) ... and go throw some broadies... or donuts, or what ever you want to call em. i like my ski area parking lot in the evening during a storm, after all the gapers are gone.... that shits fun! (just dont slide side ways into a dry patch... thats bad for a toy.
But seeing as youre in florida, thats like you giving me deepsea fishing or surfing tips when I am in NM.
have fun in TN! youll be fine

 

drive slow homie.

 

Make sure you have good rubber, bald tires will just spin.

 

Trust me there is only a tiny bit of snow in Gatlinburg around christmas....it shouldn't be a problem at all. O and make sure you make a trip to dollywood...its pretty cool around christmas time

 

when you need to slow suddenly, tap your brakes repeatedly rather than a long direct push, this will keep your tires from locking up.

Here in Idaho I carry two shovels and chains for all four, but this is because I'm out in the woods so much. You should check TN state chain laws.

Snow is not too big a deal, just follows others advice and don't tailgate and give yourself more room to stop and drive slow. The killer is black ice (such as when it rains, then at night the water on the road freezes), or freezing rain.

 

i was always told everything everyone said above... and.... drive like that old 90 year old lady that holds up all the traffic in the world... kinda how i look at it... if they wanna pass me... i just say... il see ya in about 2 miles in the ditch!

 

I drive in snow all the time. Listen to RelentlessTaco, it's more about being smooth and doing nothing abruptly. No sudden braking, steering, or accelerating. All three of those make bad things happen. When I drift, I steer into it and even slightly accelerate. It pulls you back straight faster than coasting.

#1 though, practice! It's all about feel. Next time it snows, get in a big, open parking lot after the store closes and break it loose, correct it, break it loose, correct it, etc.

 

By the way, I only use chains in the nastiest conditions. They're a pain in the butt to put on and if you are oh so delicate, 9 times out of 10 you don't need them. If you do go the chain route though, I'll testify, they work great. If you do highway stuff only, just get some s-class cables. They are easier to put on than chains, drive nicely and really improve traction. Only get heavy duty chains if you're planning to do some wheeling in heavy snow.

 

I have an '04 4runner and it is damn near like driving on rails with the traction control and ABS. DO NOT shut off the traction control in 4WD if you have little to no experience in snow (which you stated).

Also and more importantly DO NOT PUMP ABS BRAKES!! (not yelling, just emphasizing my point) Pumping ABS brakes completely defeats the purpose of the system. ABS brake systems do the pumping action at a much faster rate and more efficiently than most humans can. (read 99.9% of those behind the wheel)

I have driven alot of different vehicles on just about every type of surface around. The '03 to '09 4runner, in my opinion, is the best handling vehicle I have driven that was not purpose built, like race cars and rock crawlers!

 

Don't worry, we don't get a lot of snow in TN. Maybe 10-12 inches(where I am from anyway, I am about 100 miles from Gatlinburg) a year IF we're lucky.

Just drive slow, take it easy and have fun.


P.S. - Drive the hell out of the go karts, they're the best part about Gatlinburg imo.

 

Your kidding....Tire chains for a 4x4???? Wow, I don't think I have ever seen tire chains for sale around my neck of the woods, and boy do we ever get snow. Best advice I ever heard for winter was to Slow down, take it easy.
Good Luck on your expedition.