Snow Wheeling Tips n Tricks

I have decided snow wheeling is my favorite type of wheeling. Just cant seem to get enough of it. I am looking for others who have experience with it, to toss out some pointers that will help everyone.

If you are voting "Up to the Hood" and not supplying pictures to backup this claim. It is hard to believe. Up to the hood is a hard thing to wheel in!


1. Correct PSI for conditions
From my experience so far with snow, each day is different. You have to judge it when you get out in it. Lower PSI is better for most of it.

2. Know your rig
You have to know how to use your rig before you get stuck.

A. Disable traction control as this will just help you get stuck in snow

B. Make sure you are using the correct gear, 4H or 4L for the conditions and speed you want to be going. Dont over heat your transmission using the wrong gear!

3. Know your route and when to turn around
Know where you are going. Going out in deep snow with out knowing the area can lead to you going places you really should not be. Deciding its to much and turning around is ALWAYS an option.

4. Recovery gear
Bring more than you need, and know how to use it all. Getting seriously stuck and not know how to safely recover can lead to dangerous situations and unnecessary damage to vehicles.



5. Cleanup after airing up
This is important for snow wheeling, the snow gets in everywhere.

A. RIMS clear it all out of your rims, so when you get back on the highway you dont have extreme vibrations in your steering wheel, or shutter in your rear end. I use a rim cleaning brush and long screw driver, together they work great.

B. LCA Clear all snow and ice from your LCA. Get those CV booties free and clear of anything to tear or damage them. This needs to be done carefully, as to not damage those booties.

C. Lights and license plate, make sure you get these clean so you dont get stopped out on the highway going home, or to the next trail.

6. Special Clothing I wear winter gaiters when I snow wheel. Where I live we can have waist deep snow, but its almost always up to your knee. Keeping my feet dry and warm is really important. These allow me to wear my regular ankle high winter boots which are much more comfortable for driving.

Eye Candy for enticement.





I am just some nub compared to @Spoonman





^ Real deal snow wheeling

 

The wheel brush is a great idea for cleaning the rims. My fake TRD beadlocks are a PIA with snow, so I have a mini snow scrapper, but thats even better. Ive found leaving the truck running for a few minutes after getting to camp plus all the residual heat will actually melt a bunch of the snow out of the front end.

4Lo and locker for the heavier stuff. And keep a good snow shovel handy

Pic from last year, cant wait for my trip this coming weekend

 

Good call, proper gear selection is one of those tips!

 

Found a new tip today, make sure you clear your lights and licence plate when airing up.

Anyone who can tell me what fun I was having to cause this pic, gets a cookie



Here is an example of the LCA cleaning.





@SR-71A you best post some pics of that trip you are going on

 

haha I think I get a cookie

And I will, if theres any snow left.. Weather looks incredibly warm with a lot of rain this weekend, even that far north where Ill be

 

I didn’t clear out my lower control arms! Forgive me! Or my wheels. Or anything else. Also I didn’t air up to drive home.

This is a good thread idea though. Lots of people don’t know a huge amount about snow wheeling and it can easily get you into trouble. But there’s a few things that will really save your ass when you’re out here in the snow.

Airing down, possessing and knowing how to safely use recovery gear, have more recovery gear than you need, keeping your cool when in a jam, staying dry, knowing where you are, where you’re going, and when to turn around.

did someone say hood deep?

 

Thanks for posting the 1st hood deep pic!

Every one of those points is great, I will redo my list up top

So you can drive from your driveway right out into that amazingness?

 

Yes, but it’s rare that we get a good snow like that.

 

Thats an awesome pic haha

Unfortunately the conditions up in the Allagash sucked this weekend as far as snow was concerned. But if anyone wants to talk about ice road driving.. I got ya covered. 143 miles of this shit on Saturday. Not quite as bad on Sun after it had dried up a bit, but the snow was still super wet and dense. Maybe 6-8 inches at the most, but felt like way more. 4Lo most of the way and still stopped once or twice as trans temps were pushing 200. Honestly I should have chained up, but it was only 8 miles so figured Id just push through

One thing you'll definitely want to add to the list @llamasmurf is to disable traction control (if applicable) before you even get onto the trail. It never fails, the first time I hit deep snow I forget until I need to mash the skinny pedal and find out I have no power

 

Thanks for the pics, and list item

That wet thick stuff can just grab you and make it feel like you arnt moving at all. You are crazier than me, I hate ice. I would have chickened out and chained up

I have updated the list with your and @Spoonman suggestions.

 

Not going alone is huge in the snow. I go along all the time but it’s because I’m an idiot. I’ve been stung by it pretty bad. And making small mistakes snow wheeling can lead to significant challenges. Things seem to go downhill really fast (no pun intended) when snow wheeling. Happens every time haha.


Last year I went out alone after work and ended up stuck. With a hydrlocked engine. Luckily it wasn’t cold. But I did go very prepared. There was some lucky breaks I got but couldn’t easily been much worse.

 

Someone say....ice...?


https://youtu.be/BuHHbVUxy9c

https://youtu.be/C-Kt9lRYBhg

https://youtu.be/5qUfw2HSiYc


https://youtu.be/pA7Tiov__nk

 

A full tank of gas, sleeping bag, food, water, gloves, hand warmers (if freezing), and a good flashlight or headlamp are necessary.

Keep an eye out for icy conditions. When in doubt, slide into the bank. Only drive as fast as it is safe for the conditions. Slow and steady wins the race (unless of course you need to hit an icy ledge like Spoonman)

Unlock the locker when going down hill or your tires may bind up around turns. It doesn't hurt to bring snow chains just in case. Chains go on the rear tires, unless you're putting them on all four tires. Tie-down straps work great instead of bungee chords to tighten the chains.

A snow shovel works great for throwing snow in the bed of the truck if you need to add weight, and for poser shots and snow ball fights afterwards at the local pub.

A kinetic rope or snatch strap like

$58 QIQU Kinetic Recovery & Tow Rope Heavy Duty Vehicle Tow Strap Rope for Truck ATV UTV SUV Snowmobile and 4x4 Off-Road Recovery 3 Size to Choose(1/2’’/3/4’’/1’’) 3 Color (3/4''x20', Blue)

this one will help bounce-pull vehicles out of the snow. Expect the unexpected when recovering vehicles in the snow or ice. The added slickness factor makes it different than towing vehicles on dry land.

Don't forget to take pics and post them up on TacomaWorld!

 

Yes I tend to do the solo thing in the snow as well...it can go south fast...

It really gets you in touch with your limits, and knowing when to turn around.

 

Fresh snowfall is 10x better to wheel in than late season snow when the surface underneath the blanket of powder has turned to ice. Have learned that lesson the hard way. The snow covered trails in December are usually a lot easier to climb than the same snow covered ones in late February, depending on your location/climate of course.

 

Couple of pic's from yesterday .There was to much snow to work.Great conditions

Yes, early winter conditions are almost always better then later ,last I did a winter camping trip in @llamasmurf 's neighbourhood and it was very hard to find a spot you could get of the road.

 

Great pics Joe

As the winter keeps going the biggest challenge to getting into the snow is the snow banks that the plows leave at the entrances to all the unplowed awesomeness.

 

Might have gotten myself high-centered on a couple two three of those before

 

Well I'm really enjoying snowwheeling, thanks to @llamasmurf.
I have a cigarette plug in air compressor, that takes forever to re air my tires. So I broke down and bought the Viair 88P, https://www.google.ca/search?q=viai...=en-ca&client=safari#lbl=OVERVIEW&pie=plaji-i, and I'm quite impressed how quickly I can air back up.
Just saying. Have fun, and be safe.