Snow driving

Hi all,
This is going to be my first winter using my TRD off-road. What set up do you use when it's snowing? Highway and city driving? Do you put weight in the bed? The manual said that you can't speed that much on 4H. I just want to know what you do guys.
My other car is a Lexus GX470 and it is always on 4H and I never had to change anything no matter how bad the weather got in the Midwest.

 

For weight, they say to put the weight over the wheels in the bed.... not at the end to the tailgate. It with diminish fishtailing.

If you're travelling over 40 mph, you 'probably' don't need 4wd at that time. Don't use 4wd on dry roads, like you've been accustomed to with your AWD car.

AWD and 4WD are VERY different systems.

 

Correct me if I am wrong but I remember reading in the manual that 4H can be used up to 62mph (100kph). I did about that a few days ago driving on I70 in a big storm in colorado. Whenever possible I keep it in 2 wheel and have 4 50lb sand bags in the bed, one in each corner and it works great so far. I've only had my truck for about 2 weeks and it has handled great. Just curious about why you don't want to use 4 wheel on dry roads?

 

Well... You gotta understand the difference between AWD (Lexus) and 4X4 (Taco). Give this a look - http://www.motortrend.com/news/4wd-vs-awd/

So, you'll see that you don't really want to use 4X4 if one if the front wheels can't turn at a different speeds, so you really should never use it on dry pavement, especially at slow speeds. If you are truly on snow, then the system will work as designed.

Now the real challenge is when some roads are snow-covered and some have been cleared.

What I do is I use RWD with added weight to the bed, directly above the axle, unless the roads are consistently snow covered. (I "engineered" a solution to contain the sand and keep it centered above my axle - details in my build thread, with pics coming soon). If they are scow covered/packed I use 4HI, generally. I don't believe they publish a "top speed" for 4HI, but if you're in snow, your speed should be limited by the snow more than by the truck - assuming you aren't suicidal!

Cheers!

 

There is no mechanical slip built into the front diff. You'll wear you tires down very quickly and chance the transfer case to break because of binding.

 

No, it can be "engaged" at up to 62 MPH.

 

Ah gotcha. Thanks for the clarification on both those points

 

I have a short bed so I think it maybe better then the long bed as far as fishtailing. So hopefully people with short bed give us some feedback on how effective the weight is.
Yes I think the manual said 50 or 60mph on 4H.
I know that u shouldn't lock the central diff. on dry road but the 4H I just heard it on TW a while ago.

 

Tires tires tires. Have the right tires and driving in snow is fine. Stopping in snow can cause a heart attack if the ABS kicks in while approaching an intersection.

 

it's all about the tires. 4 wheel studded snows for me, but my area gets sleet/freezing rain/ice. three bags over the rear axel makes it a quite capable package.

 

We live in Minnesota, I have 3 years on my Tacoma, and my wife drives a Lexus GX470 and we have owned that for 5 or 6 years.

I have Cooper AT3 tires on my truck (love them, put them on as soon as I bought it), and use 4H whenever there is snow or ice. I have driven at highway speeds in 4H many times in the winter. I put it back in 2H if there are tight corners or if the roads are dry, but I have it in 4H a lot in the winter here. We have Cooper ATW's on the GX470 and they will be my next tire on the Tacoma (they were not out when I got my AT3's).

I just changed the oil at 30k miles in both differentials and my transfer case, all were fine, very few metal filings on the magnets on the drain plugs. So, driving in 4H at highway speeds has not harmed anything. I don't do that often, only when winter conditions exist.

I really like how my truck drives in 4H in winter, with these great tires. The GX470 is better, due to full time AWD meaning you never are in 2wd mode when things get bad (Torsen center differential is great). My previous car was a 2004 WRX, also full time AWD. I was concerned about not having full time AWD when I got my Tacoma, but it does GREAT in 4H and I can use 4H anytime traction is an issue.

 

You are all making it too complicated. Good technique is all you need in a 4x4. And, if you are going 60+ mph and you need 4wd, I hope you have a winch too, because the next place you're going to be is in the ditch. Seriously, I laugh at the dipshits that blow past on snow packed roads. 8 times out of 10 you'll pass them later on, in the ditch. I just honk and wave.

Here's my technique for driving on bad roads.

• Snow packed roads = 4 Hi all the time.
• Patchy snow = 2wd most of the time. I may switch to 4wd at stops if it looks iffy, and switch back to 2wd once I'm underway.
• Not every vehicle has 4wd but every car made has 4 wheel brakes. Just because you can go doesn't mean you can stop.
• I plan that everyone else on the road will be a complete idiot, and they will do stupid shit all around you. Do not get in the idiot's way into the ditch.
• Practice emergency vehicle control in an empty parking lot. Then never drive like that on the road.
• Use a light foot on the gas. If the wheels start spinning lift off and try again.
• Use a light foot on the brake. If the ABS kicks in and you don't want it to, pumping the brakes will disable it. (easier said than done in the heat of the moment, well worth practicing in that empty parking lot.)
• Go slow, but don't be a road block.

Now, dedicated snow tires with studs and weight in the back are good things if you want to go to the bother. I've never felt the need though.

 

^grest post

I have regular stock 2 yr old Duelers and they are just fine in the snow.

I use 4H when the road is cover or maybe at an uphill stop. That's it.

Fish tailing isn't a bad thing if you know how to drive in the snow.

 

Great advices and tips up there.
JSI you are 100% right. Few years ago I used to drive about 50min on highway to college and after every snow storm most of cars that I see in ditches or in corn fields were SUVs and trucks. Some people think that if they have an SUVs they are unstoppable (well that was obvious to some degree lol). I had back then a BMW 3 series rwd manual and fishtailing was fun for me at least. I will take oversteering any day over understeering.
As you said I'm always scared from other drivers and how they react when they loose a little control. Most of them will do better if they don't do anything at all IMO.
I was just not sure how the Tacomas drivers are using their trucks under these driving conditions.

 

Yes sir, the GX is a very capable vehicle. It is a beast and unstoppable at the same time it rides as smooth as a Cadillac.

 

JSI nailed it, especially point #4 (assume everyone else is an idiot). Our sons are 16 and 18 and have been told that many, many times.

 

Low rpm is key.
Another reason I love manual transmission, hopefully you have it.

Keep the rpm at 2k or below.

Good tires and low rpm will help more than sandbags or any of that.

Here's the thing about 4wd and snow.. I'm under the impression that you shouldn't go past 45 mph in 4 hi. You also shouldn't go much faster than that in snow at all.

It's tempting to go faster, you will feel like you have control, and you kind of do.. but if you have to stop you are going to slide a very long way. Higher speeds mean higher likely hood of spinning out too.


Keep your rpm and speed low. Try and use 4wd. Slow your movements, change lanes slowly, turn at slow angles, go slow.


Did I mention go slow and use low rpm?

The higher your rpm, the higher chance your wheels will spin causing you to lose traction and spin out or fishtail.


If you have a manual, just go into a higher gear than you usually would and keep your rpm as low as possible.



I've been driving in deep snow for 10 years.

Often our highways are covered in a foot or two of snow.

Using good techniques like I mentioned, and no sand or weight in the back I have managed to stay safe.




P.s.
Just drive slow.

 

All great points.

Don't slam on your brakes ever in the snow, you'll just slide.


Find an empty parking lot filled with snow and no cars. Do some donuts and get the feel for how you have little to no control when there is snow.


Light foot on gas and brakes.

Go slow.

 

Notice that the vehicles on their lids in the news are always 4x4 SUVs.

 

Many good points here without any of the dick swinging that often affects these threads

One point I'd like to add is that Utah and Colorado snow usually have different characteristics than PNW snow, which is different than east coast snow. Everywhere is a little different - adjust accordingly and don't assume what works best for you is best everywhere. Two feet of cold smoke is like driving on a dry summer road compared to an inch of Sierra cement or PNW glop. I just got back from moving a load of my stuff from my last residence, driving in 6" of fairly cold snow on top of mostly icy road.

Just be safe out there folks!