locker for snow?

For the flares, aero 303 protectant. You can use it on just about everything, stuff is awesome and keeps stuff looking new for decades

 

Snow tires will help you more than an LSD or locker will.

On my sport with snow tires, I have never come across a situation where I felt I needed more traction than 4 Hi gave me.

 

...and arguably Subaru/Audi are some of the few that can be called "Real AWD." Honda, Toyota, etc. are all jokes in comparison when you look at how the systems actually work.

Best vehicle I ever had in the snow was a 2004 Outback H6. AWD with an LSD rear end. I pulled a Sentra up a steep driveway through 8" of snow with worn out all seasons when the Sentra couldn't make it 10 ft up on its own.

 

And arguably if you live in an area like I do with blowing snow you've seen enough Subaru's and Audi's in snow drifts to know that the drive system isn't everything. You have to have the weight and clearance too.

 

I think old Cherokees are the majority of what I see in snow drifts here. People buy them thinking "4x4! That's all that matters" and try to run them with bald tires in the winter.

I think tires make a bigger difference than anything else. I ran dedicated snows on my Subarus and still do on my Tacoma. Night and day difference for accelerating, turning, and stopping. 4WD/AWD only really helps you with one of those.

 

Yeah, it all depends on what you need too. Snow tires are amazing on ice, but in snow I'd actually take my ST Maxxes over snow tires. I agree though that snows overall are the best bet for a road vehicle.

 

I am going with studded snow tires. Nothing works better on snow and ice than a good set of tires. Up here getting high centered in deep snow can end your day in a hurry. We get a crust of thin ice over deep snow and you just don't go anywhere. On the highway 4HI on good tires gets me home on hard packed snow and ice. Stay off the cruise control as well.

Take Care

Bob

 

trying to understand the difference between the 4wd systems on SR5, TRD Sport, and TRD Off-Road

my understanding, possibly incorrect, is that the SR5 and TRD Sport have LSD differential, making their 4wd systems comparable to an Audi or Subaru, and that the Off-Road has (mandatory) locking 4wd. Is this not the case.

 

Locked becomes handy when conditions look like this:

 

Yes it does. Nice pic. This year is shocks for me. Next year is lockers.

 

That statement is just plain silly. While very competent in the snow, no Subaru can go where a 4x4 truck will go.
We have both.

 

And no Tacoma can keep up with a Subaru/Audi on a snow packed road. Which one is better suited? Just depends on the conditions.

 

You are delusional.

 

Your really think a 4x4 with a light ass bed can keep up with a AWD with better weight distribution on a snow packed road? Someone is delusional and it's not me my friend.

 

Like I said, you are delusional.

 

Time for you to grow up kid.

 

Moron.

 

Trying to keep up on packed snow is why people die in bad weather on the road.