Snow Performance

I tried to emphasize 4HI in slippery conditions without writing four paragraphs. It's difficult to be concise considering the eleven different traction control modes. I'm better and smarter than the nannies sometimes, especially TRAC (engine cutout) in 4HI.

The VSC feature that is helpful is pulsing the rear brakes to prevent fishtailing, good in 4HI or 2WD.

ABS, hard braking on slippery surfaces, I'm just not a big fan, YMMV. Braking distance increases way too much.

This pic I tested the ABS on/off with the 2012 MT Tacoma. Left side is ABS on, hard braking, the truck just kept going, and going, and going. Right side is ABS off, and sure there was a dive downhill, then I backed off the brake, put the clutch in, brakes on again and stopped faster than with ABS on.

 

I never downshift to slow down on snow/ice/mud, that kicks the rear end out when you don't want it to. I try to put an auto trans in neutral when braking on snow/ice/mud. The last thing I want is the engine still driving me forward when my object is to stop.

Same with a manual trans trying to stop on snow/ice/mud, I put the clutch in, the last thing I want is the engine driving me forward when the object is to STOP.

YMMV, as the saying goes.

 

Give it a shot, side by side like you did with your ABS test run. You’ll find that downshifting and engine braking in conjunction with braking will stop you faster in all conditions and require less actual brake pressure, reducing the chance of locking the wheels up and skidding.

The engine is not providing any power the drivetrain when you downshift and are off the gas. It is not driving you forward at that point.

 

Exactly. Compression braking. You have to be sensible and use the right gear for starters.

 

C'mon man, if you're in gear, any gear, the engine is driving you forward. Even if your foot is off the gas, engine idling at 800 RPM, the vehicle is trying to push forward, that's what engines and transmissions do. That is why on ice or snow I go into neutral, let the brakes do what they're supposed to do and the brakes don't have to fight against the engine.

YMMV, as the saying goes. We all have our preferences, driving styles. Downshift safely, upshift strongly, ABS to your heart's desire, pump the brakes manually, use a WDH when towing, or don't, OV tune it, Pedal Commander, upgrade to rear discs, use a six-point socket vs 12-point, synthetic vs dino, etc . . . . .

I'll still say a 2008 4Runner 4.7l V8 Limited with leather is the best Toyota. Unless the 5th Gen 4Runner got the sweet 4.6l V8.

 

That’s where you are mistaken. With the truck in motion, in gear and your foot off the gas the RPM does not just drop to idle. The throttle body closes and air intake is restricted causing the engine to cut fuel and essentially be back driven by the transmission which is what provides the braking action. Downshifting to a lower gear provides a higher rate of engine braking.

It’s easy to demonstrate. Drive somewhere with some space and see how long it takes to coast to a stop from 25mph with the transmission in neutral and no brakes. Then do the same thing but with downshifting and no brakes.

 

More than the land cruiser?

 

Wow, someone needs a time out

 

I tried to find an older Land Cruiser, say late 90's, when they had 12" stock ground clearance, those I saw locally were 200k+ miles. Later models I saw the ground clearance was decreasing with each generation, and my god pricey.

SUV-wise, a solid 4WD SUV that can tow, the 4.7l 4Runner seemed the way to go. Ticked off all of the boxes. Except having a bed separate from the cab, that's a problem.

 

Wut? Yeesh, I never said anything about not using the brakes.

 

What is your reasoning for making that comment?

 

Agreed, you did not. I'm suggesting you try that to see how engine braking works since you say it doesn't. Removing the brakes from the picture is the easiest way to show you how it works.

 

Holy Christ that's all people do on forums nowadays is argue. Be like me, have a beer, sit back and watch people spew bad information.

 

I never said engine braking doesn't work. I did say I won't downshift on a slippery surface since that tends to kick the rear end out.

We have different ways of looking at the same situations. Anyway, the Broncos are playing the Chargers, I'm looking at the game, carry on.

 

This has been a nice civil discussion by TW standards. Would’ve been a good 15 minutes and a couple beers in person.

 

murphy

 

You went on quite a rant. I could send you a Snickers if you like.

 

So many idiots on the roads and in the forums.

 

Jeez, you must have low standards for rants.

 

The first snow of the year usually equates to a training day here in NJ. There are years we don't get but a few inches of snow, then, before you know it, we get slammed with a monster storm. Between those years, however, are a bunch of "experienced" drivers who have been driving for a few years now, only having driven through a few inches of snow. So when it hits the fan, they think they know what they are doing when, in reality, they have no clue.

I've driven many different cars over the years, the best so far has been my last Ranger, that was before my current Tacoma. I really liked the way it handled, the 4x4 worked as it should. Now the test will be our first real storm of the year, I'll be out giving her the old shake down...