Let It Snow!

I've driven 4X4 SUVs for a number of years. All of them have been good in the snow. This year I bought my first Toyota and my first Tacoma.

Last night I few into BWI Airport. The plan landed a little after 11PM and I was in my truck and on the road by 11:20PM. It had already been snowing since 9PM. I pulled into my driveway at 3AM. When I left the airport, I was not sure I was going to be able to make what (in good weather) would be an hour and 15 minute drive home.

I have two observations. The first is the Tacoma drives and handles just as smoothly in 4-wheel drive as it does in rear wheels drive. Traction and handling was just oustanding. I went up hills and down hills that had caused others to either pull off the road or slide off the road. When traction was questionable, the truck was still very predictable. By the way, I was driving on stock (with 22K mile) tires. I can't say enough good about way the truck handled.
The second observation is I'm still trying to understand WTF was Toyota thinking about when they decided to NOT backlight the 4X4 dash mounted control.

 

I was also impressed with the 2wd handling. I always used to wait until I absolutely needed to go into 4x4 just because... I would have had to put it in 4x4 much sooner with my last truck.

I came from a 99 ranger, so apples and oranges, but yep the 2wd is pretty good.

 

This guy can get you hooked up with a back-lit 4x4 switch, or you can follow his DIY and same a little $. http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/60303-new-really-cheap-illuminated-4x4-switch.html

 

I never really notice the 4X4 switch, I know right where it is so I never have to search for it if its dark. Use it more

 

Your storm is on our doorstep in Southern New England. First good storm of the season. They are calling for 8-12 inches by Sun. morn. Cant wait. Test drive. Be safe.

 

I never have any trouble now that I have a Taco 4X4. I have to go in B 4 they plow or when they plow the main roads and leave big plow humps on the entrances and exits to the main roads. Never a problem going thru those either in fact it's fun. The only thing I worry about is the other guy with out a clue. He scares the sh-t out of me but if the roads are M T I'm in heaven. By the way I go to B'mo all the time. Out side of you and one other guy nobody knows how to drive down there especially when it snows.

 

Still wating on the snow to hit here in SE CT. Weather Guessers said around noon. Not quite.... but should have some fun by tomorrow morning!

 

I can understand all the people wanting a backlit switch at first, but after just a couple drives it isn't something you look at when u use it, even in the dark, just grab it and turn.

 

Problem is that I drive a F350 for work and the 4X switch is in a similar spot but not quite the same reach. I probably put more miles on the work truck than my Tacoma.
Seems whenever I reach for the 4X switch in the Tacoma I'm off just a little and it takes some feeling around for it.
For the minimal money Toyota would have had to spend it just doesn't make sense that they didn't do it. But that's something most people would not notice on a test drive in the middle of the day.

 

I'm thinking we can probably agree the Tacoma is a great truck. I also agree the operation of the switch is not rocket science. I can use it with or without backlighting.

With that said, an engineer designed a functional switch on the dash of a commercial vehicle which by design is operated in daylight and for night time driving. The #$%^&* switch can be easily seen in daylight. It cannot be viewed, without distraction, at night. In a lesser vehicle, the switch is fine. In a $30K vehicle, the design of the switch sucks. Flame away.

 

By the way, we are up to 18 inches of 'dry and light' snow. I shoveled the drivway and in the process filled the bed of the Tacoma with snow. For grins, I took the truck up the street to an unplowed parking lot. I had snow coming up over the hood and it just plowed through it.

Some of the roads were plowed and salted this morning. It has continued to snow all day. This evening, these roads are 12" inches of wet and heavy slush that is starting to freeze. While I am beginnig to "feel" the limits of my Tacoma, I think it is still a freakin snow monster.