Fishtailing tacoma in the snow

Honestly the ABS on the first gen confuses me. I wish I had kept the 4runner no abs spindles when I swapped it. Only reason I kept it is for insurance purposes, and resale.
The ABS is terrible. I don't understand how it could be worse than me braking in theory but it is.
If I moduldate the brakes before hitting abs, the truck stops better. If I barely hit the brakes with my MT in snow ( i know terrible) they lock up so fast and ABS makes braking USELESS.
I'm much better off tapping the brakes myself and trying not to get the truck to use ABS.

I think there are threads on deleting ABS for first gen. This might be why.

 

That’s more reasonable. I don’t doubt that our conditions are similar. It’s simple. 4 inches of snow is nothing for these trucks, even in 2 wd with snow tires and weight, but ice is. I have snow tires, a 200 lb FG cap and tube sand in the back, over 300 plus lbs. If the road is snow and ice covered, I always stay in 2wd unless I can’t accelerate up to 35 mph. If I can’t, I use 4wd then shut it off. Now I have the full benefits of stability control and abs.
Do people there with Tacos run dedicated snow tires and have substantial weight in the back ? If people don’t, they have to use 4 wd just to move their fat asteroids through an intersection .

 

I know that the early abs of many vehicles disengaged at a higher speed then it does now. I would test it out in a parking lot.
Then you’ll know at what speed you need to fend for yourself.
I do it with every new vehicle I buy. My Gen 2 works down to less then 5 mph, then locks up.

 

Except to get off my mountain road, I seldom use 4 wd anywhere else. . But then, I have snow tires and added weight.
What kind of tires do you have and how much weight do you add to the back ?

 

I have 33" ST Maxx's with a canopy, full size spare, and probably 100lbs of gear that is always in the bed. It's sticky af but still drives better in the snow in 4x4. So did every other 4x4 truck or Jeep I've owned. I've had three Subarus and they all did better in the snow/ice than any 2wd car I've ever driven. When it dumps out here the state patrol sits at the base of the mountain passes and won't even let you proceed without 4x4 or chains. I think you're trying to argue that the sky isn't blue. Just because 2wd is fine for a little snow doesn't mean it's better/safer than having literally twice as much traction. I would never advise anyone to do what you are describing. And why would you even buy a 4x4 if it is so unnecessary?

 

I for one would much rather have 4WD on, on a snowy road, I don’t care if I “need” it or not. It’s not worth the extra mpg to be out of 4WD

 

33” ST max, are they snow tires ? They maybe ok in a little snow but no better no comparison to winter tires on ice and hard pack. And any wear, they will in winter.
100 lbs is inadequate by a wide margin for a PU. No wonder you need 4 wd with any snow what-so ever. Do your Subaru’s have snow tires ? I don’t care about your chains. You don’t use them. Unless you have snow tires for ant vehicle, your never getting the benefit of you vehicle in winter. It’s funny, all you guys who use 4 hi all the time, aren’t prepared for winter..funny. You’re less safe then a 2 wd car / truck with snow tires...

 

Tires ?
A Taco with winter tires, is safer in 2 wd then a Taco with all seasons or even most ATs in 4 wd when it comes to stopping and turning.
So no, I don’t use 4 wd much off my road. I don’t need it and I’m safer then anyone less prepared using 4 hi.

 

Not winter tires, nor will there ever be winter tires on my trucks.

 

I said I have a canopy, plus the full size spare, and some gear in the bed at all times. Probably 400lbs total. I don't need 4wd for "any snow what so ever", but I have used it many times in the snow when I would have gotten stuck or lost control otherwise.

Whatever man, for some strange reason you've decided that this is the hill you're going to die on even though you are completely wrong. 4x4 might not be necessary for every snow-driving scenario, but arguing that you are better off without it is illogical by any metric I can wrap my brain around. Would love to see you tell state patrol that you don't need to engage your 4x4 to make it over the pass and laugh as they turn you around and tell you to pound sand.

 

@Jay1193

See, it's clear as mud. Everyone is doing it wrong, we're all gonna crash!

But seriously... lock your front hubs, put some weight in the bed, slow down, try out 4wd, try out 2wd and see what works best for you.

 

That’s fine. Just leave plenty of room behind us when we who do, come to a stop.

 

Well that’s called good driving practice anyway, no matter the time of year

 

I really don’t care what you use. Nor to I care about a fake situation to add credence to a false narrative. Yes, snow tire users are safer in every winter situation stopping and turning, then non users. Just leave room when we hit brakes in front. The canopy and full spare which everyone has is 300 lbs.
must have a calcium filled tractor tire

 

And you be sure to pull off far enough off the 1st unmaintained road so you aren’t in way when you have to put chains on.

 

@Dagosa Food for thought. Winter driving in New England is very different than winter driving in the PNW which is different than winter driving in the rockies and the midwest. I've confirmed this with family and friends who've experienced it and I've experienced it. New England driving is relatively flat and rarely do you have to deal with the long steep grades with powder on top of slush on top of ice like is common in the PNW. It's important to not assume that winter driving is winter driving. You've gotta adjust to conditions and what works out there may not necessarily work everywhere. I live just down the road from where the world record snowfall in a season was set(1140" or 95'). It's not unusual to go for a drive up the mountain and go from warmish rain to wet snow to dry snow in the course of 50 miles.

 

LOL dude, the kind of tires are irrelevant to this discussion. Let's just assume we have the exact same tires, whatever kind they are. You are not going to have more traction and more control in 2wd versus the exact same truck in 4wd. Are you mental? Either that, or every road you've ever driven in the snow was flat, plowed, and salted.

 

I hear you, and you're right. But, New England for me is Northern Maine and 200” of snow a year. It’s not. Boston.
I live on the side of a mountain and the terrain is rough. Everyone in Maine has an ATV or a Tractor . Even Tacos can’t handle the off roading. ( slight exaggeration )

 

I'm familiar with Northern Maine (wife's family is in Canaan). You're still further south than where I live in Washington And it's still pretty much flat where you live

 

If we’re having a discussion about the proper use of 4 hi on a Taco in winter driving, tires are just as important as we discussing off roading in the spring. My summer ATs suck compared to yours and I’d be much worse off and you’d be pissed having to winch me out of trouble all the time.

You’re right, if the tires are the same, I’m in 4 wd as much as you....I’d have to be.