Toyotas driving in the Snow Problem

True that ... going 30 mph on snow while in 4th gear.

 

Why would anyone want to use cruise control in the snow?

 

They don't. They just don't realize it yet lol

 

Especially on any kind of grade with heavy wet snow, a manual transmission is worth its weight in gold.

 

Been driving a manual for so many years my knees are wore out at 70 and wanted a Automatic for a change. I do like that you can shift it like a manual if needed. I have had this truck for 13 days now and the only time I have driven it in the snow was last night and every one around me was freeking out doing 30 MPH on a 60 MPH road with no lines and slush flying off the tires and falling off there vehicles. I would not have driven in it myself except I had a hospital appointment to get ready for a wrap around my stomach GERD Operation 100 miles from my home in a CITY! Driving home in a snow storm during rush hour sucks. People do weird things on there first bad day in the winter. Still learning about all the little lights, knobs, buttons ect it has. Not used to a modern 4x4 set up to drive by its self, watch out for cars and people. I used to do all that my self for the last 55 years of driving. Been in the ditch once in the snow it was on a steep hill going down it in a 2 wheel drive 3/4 ton van hitting slush and it took on a mind of it's own and got stuck. Been driving in snow for around 45 years normally have a camper on but still waiting for Softopper to send me mind!! Love to put sand in the back but now I have 200 lbs of snow instead in the back. Had 200 lbs of sand in it but was taking it home for putting out to walk this winter. It will freeze solid in a open bed truck and I need a bed to put feed in from the Feed Store. I was very impressed on how well it went in the snow compared to others. Neat part is my John Deere Tractor is all chained up and I get to plow snow today for my entertainment. Neibors will probley want plowed out and the County Plow just went thru on our dirt road. The Stock tires are not that bad but I like winter tires better for the ice. One reason I live in the country is I hate city drivers now and enjoy hardly anyone on the roads except cows and wildlife to watch out for. Anyway I get to play in the snow and try to not tear up my driveway gravel on the first plowing of winter for us this year. After about 5 months of this I am ready for spring and summer weather!! Still I like winter better than Fire Season since I about lost my home again this year in a wildfire!

 

I just live in it don't go places to find it to test my 4x4 out with. My poor 65 year old wife dose not see well at night anymore but still gets up at 4:30 to feed the animals rain, snow or shine! Daughter takes care of her Cows and I just have to keep the snow off the driveway! What a Great Retirement for a Old Guy to have! Beats the hell out of a Nursing Home!!! Some Guys think there Bad Ass but I know my Daughter is Bad Ass standing there next to these Big Boys!! I won't they only let me feed them off the tractor with big bales. These guys can move it around with a 1,200 lb bale on the Spears!

 

Why do I keep seeing Micheal Scott driving into the lake because his GPS told him to?

 

Made $50.00 having fun after I cleaned off the Tractor! Need to put the Front Chains on so it steers better.

 

Much respect for a man living the way you are. I can only dream of retiring like that, spending days fishing and not catching a thing, raising giant ass bulls.. My American dream right there.

 

Soldium/potassium chloride brine dripping out of your truck bed sounds like it will be great for the body and frame! Good idea.



OP, the high beams should be helpful to clear snow/ice from the lens. Those are a reflector type and 10 watts higher than the standard headlights that are hiding behind a projector lens assembly, so they should throw out some heat to help melt the snow/ice on the lens. Be courteous of other drivers, obviously.

 

If this is where you live, I would not bother with all terrain tires, or I would use all terrains in summer and then actual winter tires in winter.

 

Brine? Water softener salt are large pebbles. In a heavy duty plastic bag...

 

Locking in the drive gear is a very good idea, not just for driveability but also safety.
I had a bit of an accident a while back in Montana on an icy road while next to a 6 wheeler.
I was in 4x4 but when the Chevy Colorado (company truck!) downshifted during slowing it was enough to lose traction drawing me underneath the much larger truck.
At the time it was a choice between oncoming traffic or going off road. I chose off road. A state trooper arrived and told me, "I have to charge you with something", to which I responded, "Really?" "Well, you were driving too fast for conditions. Do you agree?" My response, "Well, of course I was driving too fast for conditions, my truck being stuck in the snow bank and all." Cited for driving too fast for conditions. (In Montana! LOL).

So instead of paying the fine (think it was $60 or so, along with other potentials like driving school and community service), I went to court to plead my case. I told the judge what had happened. The charge of driving too fast for conditions held, but she let me off with no fine or any other penalty.
Always locked it into a gear after that incident under those conditions.

 

Oh, well nevermind then. I'm sure they are water tight and no water/snow melt will get in or out of those heavy duty bags!

 

If you have any interest in upgrading your fogs, these are great and run nice and hot to melt the snow off. Link is to the Sport and Pro types, but it also comes in a more powerful Max type. The Pro or Max will run hot enough to keep snow and ice from building up on the lens, the Sports do not.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...og-light-review.554813/page-137#post-22622437

Also if you're itching to get a topper on your bed, @buttskevin is selling a 2nd gen soft topper for pretty cheap ($300) and he says it fits the 3rd gen. It's a bit far considering you're out in Eastern WA, but it's an option to be able to get it something on the bed right away to keep the snow out.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fs-short-bed-soft-topper-in-issaquah-washington.746981/

Glad you made it through ok!

 

The Pirelli All Terrain are 3 snow peaks winter rated also with soft rubber. Wanted a little bit of a lug for the deeper snow we get later on. We get up to 4 ft drifts at times across the road and have to drive several miles on 2 feet deep at times. That is why a lug pattern is handy not just ice all the time. Kind of the best of both worlds.
Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus 265/70R16 112 T Tire - Walmart.com

 

Glad to read you got home in one piece. We too have a farm with livestock, and love the solitude living where we do in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC, (and being away from the hustle and bustle of city life). Our 4WD Tractor keeps our farm road, and the other roads to the barns plowed, as well. All our vehicles are either 4wd, or AWD (Subee Crosstrek w/stick shift). We try not to go anywhere when it snows here (yes, we do get snow at 3,800' above sea level here).

 

Better Fogs would be nice as 12 miles of the road home there are no street lights and a lot of missing/never put up Guard Rails your pretty much on your own for a while. They took my money on the Soft Top they don't even answer my emails about when they think it might get here!!??

 

It is called winter driving conditions.

 

I am a Vietnam Veteran and don't like the City at all! Afraid I would shoot someone Keying my Truck or breaking into my home ect. Just blows me away what they do to people in LA and NY for only walking down the street. I have gave up so little in my mind living here for the last 25 years. Just have to drive 12 miles to buy food or eat at a Restaurant which we don't do much. Like raising out own Meat and Veggies too! Way better than anything from the store and we know what is in it and how we grew it. !