How does your truck do on snow

Dude, you skipped me. I think we have 4 or 5 members in the G.V.
You, Me, Bobcat, rcbs204, and MTGirl
If we did memario1214, would probably come over from Butte.

 

It seems the consensus is that maybe the limited slip diff I have causes the consistent back and forth. Makes sense I guess because if power is constantly moving to the tire with most resistance than it would cause a back and forth type movement. One tire starts spinning and moving the back end one way, then power transfers and the other tire spins moving it the other.


Forums make me laugh, one question is asked and you read the responses and it is like 10 different questions were asked. Not trying to say anything negative here, it is just interesting that people read something and take it many different ways.


And lastly it is cool to see other Tacoma owners from the Gallatin valley on here. I'm not sure what goes on at these get togeathers but my interest is peaked. Maybe we can all go up to Hylite and get stuck together!

 

I'm in!

 

The LSD actually is better for slippery/snow conditions. I can get through snow or uphill in slippery conditions with my LSD compared to a truck with OD. If you are fishtailing with LSD, you're pushing the traction limits of your truck; tires can add a positive/negative factor to this as well.

For the OffRoad Tacomas, if you lock the rear differential, you will also fish tail if you push too hard, assuming you lock the rear diff in 2WD.

Driver experience and skill is very important when driving in snow/ice. Having grown up in Canada, you develop a sixth sense for it. I used to drive with the radio off and just listen to the tires (traction).

 

my truck pretty much did the same thing you were describing...well through the thick stuff when i was blasting through it.
on regular snow'y roads it was fine and would'nt really get loose unless i wanted it too.

 

That's not how it works ... correct me if i'm wrong.

Once either wheel is spinning the clutch in the LSD engages both rear wheels, trying to distribute power in both wheels. It doesn't transfer power back and forth b/w Left & Right side. Hence "limited slip".

With LSD, the rear end wants to travel straight.

 

LSD is better for snow ice and locker is good for getting stuck in mud. You lock your rear on snow and get ready to spin.

 

It does horrible with worn out Rugged Trails (even in 4WD).

With any AT or MT tire it does great!

 

This guy has the right idea, but really this thread should be called "How well do you use your truck in the snow." I have seen people ditch dive Audi Quatros, and other AWD vehicles, Yet I drove my 2wd Geo Tracker in Idaho winters for 6 years. Experience and know how are far better tools than any system or vehicle you can buy. With my 06 Tacoma Sport Prerunner this last winter I have gone through chain control check points, and the people thought I was 4wd and let me through. I did just fine. I actualy like having a little fun in conditions like that. Yet there were people with AWD or 4WD getting all "F"ed up. Your driving habits just have to reflect the road conditions. And..... I've rambled enough.

 

If you want to know how good a snow tire can be, my first ride, and 83 impala had winter tires that looked like a regular all season radial, never needed to chain it! rwd, car and all, they were better than the studded tready looking tires they replaced.That was around 1988.

(ps),on LSD confusion issues , for the most part, they will fishtail when they lack traction... if they have traction guess what.. they wont be fishtailing, ABS wont ABS if.... you have traction. Get as much as you can get, traction control wont make traction, just manages it.

 

I'm starting my third winter in Wisconsin with an 07 4x4. I have the Dunlop (I think it's GrandTrek) tires. They SUCK in the snow and wet conditions. I have 56K on my truck and am waiting on tires from Tirerack right now. I'm staying stock for now and ordered the same size (265/65/17) of the General Grabber HTS all-season tires. They are the top rated tire on their site and I hope that I like them. Do you have the Dunlops or Bridgestones??

 

Toyo open country AT tires..., on my old van at work (think of a fed ex truck but for traffic signs and markings), that van had dual axle so 6 tires. I aired them down to 55 psi (85 max) so the tires wouldnt rub (a no no on duallies). If I could keep momentum they would go uphill in the snow. So I'm doubting Bearskill's tires are a problem.
I wish I didnt have those Damned hiway tread crap stompers on my new van, but it is tax dollars.

 

I was curious about this so I looked it up. You are right, it doesnt transfer power wheel to wheel like I had said before. Here is one thing I found that kinda sums it up.

("...say, when one tire begins to spin wildly on ice or loose dirt...). The two sides are then locked together in order to prevent all the engine torque from going to the slipping wheel.

So maybe what is happening in my case it that one wheel slips and the back end drifts because of it, then when the LSD kicks in, it straightens out a bit because both wheels are spinning more at an even rate. Then when going straight again the LSD reverts to normal operation which then leads to one wheel slipping again and more drift. I think that would cause a slow back and forth motion.

Sound plausible, or am I way off here?

 

This is the 1st reason why I bought the TRD Sport versus the OffRoad.

2nd Reason: Hoodscoop
3rd Reason: Color matched bumpers, mirrors, grill, etc.

 

could it be simplified from how it works, to just whats happening?
Perhaps there is not enough traction on either tire,both are spinning, and, because of the bias, one spins faster than the other.

 

I suppose that could be dead on.

 

well i have 2wd base model not a prerunner and i actually do really well in the snow. i got my truck last year and i took it up the the mtns. and i really really good with out anything in the bed and i was swingin my back end around.

one last thing ITS SNOWING RIGHT NOW!!! im actually pretty excited to see how my new street tires do in the snow they do amazing in the rain, dirt, ice, gravel, way better than my old AT's

 

Well, the truck is strictly summer duty now, but last winter I had 14" studded tires on the rear and 140lbs of sand, and that bitch went through anything. Beat 4wds around town. Then again, I also know how to drive in the snow. "pin it to win it" isnt the motto to have up a icy ass hill.