Do Tacomas Like the Cold?

Well ladies and gents, I'm going to be moving from California out to Minnesota in the next month or so... So with that being said... Should I look into doing everything humanely possible to prep my truck for the snow and salt or sell it and get something that I don't mind getting a bit rusty?

A little background - I was born and raised in Florida until the ripe old age of 18 where I then got stationed in California until present. The only snow experience I have is a onsie twosie skiing trip and SERE school in Washington. I've never driven in, lived in, or even LIKED the snow. My wife however is from the area we're moving to and has all the winter experience.

SO. I know the issues Tacomas have with rusty frames. (It's what got my 01 Tacoma) My truck is in pristine condition being only driven in Florida and Cali for the past almost 200k. Should I bite the bullet and sell it while it hasn't seen any snow/salt? Or tough it out since the truck has lived a good life already?

Side note, not sure how much it helps or not, but my truck is a PreRunner as well, so no 4wd for me.

I really appreciate any and all input from y'all weird people that like the North and the cold and the snow. Guess I should start learning the lingo, eh?

 

Get yourself a solid set of snow rated tires, few bags of sand in the bed over the axle and oil film your frame or the salt will turn your pristine frame to Swiss cheese.

I use Krown for the oil film, you can do it yourself but it’s messy and they lift your truck for thorough coverage.

 

Rust is mostly a function of maintenance. Fluid film it, wash it after each salty snow storm, and it’ll be fine.

 

Life up north without 4wd is rough, but if you're patient and have good tires with weight you'll be fine.

If you live anywhere outside of a city, I would sell the truck and get something with 4WD personally.

It's -13c here right now and I just leave it in 4WD unless the roads are clear, which they aren't. I can drive in 2WD but you fish tail with throttle input easily on the black ice, I like the easy mode of 4WD,

 

Sand bags was the first thing my wife said I would need.

 

I had asked her about snow chains, as they're mandatory for 2wd vehicles in Tahoe when it snows and she said and I quote "If you wanna look like a tourist that everyone is gonna stay away from, yeah you can use snow chains"

 

And if you oil film, make sure you take your spare off along with any skid plates beforehand.

 

Was thinking positively until I saw this. Sell the truck and get a 4x4.

 

Thanks for the honesty lol

 

Ya might want to get a block heater for your rig if it's gonna live outside. Much easier on the engine. Much easier to start on those -20° days.

 

Sell it and get a 4x4. You can scrape by with a 2wd truck but it is a pain in the ass and dangerous in many winter conditions. The truck itself will be fine, my 2011 had no issues in temps down to -58°F.

 

Maybe consider a dedicated set of Snow & Ice Tires as well as the other suggestions.

 

Swap orders to Luke or Davis-monthan. Problem solved with the truck.

now the wife…

 

Sell the truck and get a VW. Supposedly VW's frame/unibody treatment is legendary.

 

Well, according to insurance statistics, you're 62% more likely to die in a 4x2 Tacoma than in a 4x4 Tacoma.

 

Well I'm going Reserves out of Hurlburt, but other circumstances came up leading us to move back near her parents.

 

My first car was an 02 Golf, third car was a 15 CC. I absolutely loved both VWs and the CC's crash durability saved my wife's life. She got t-boned by a Silverado going almost 50mph while she was accelerating from a four way stop. She only had bruises on her knees!!

 

Is that a challenge?

 

I've lived in MA all my life and owned my 2WD Tacoma for 10 years, never had an issue even in the awful winter a few years ago. That said it sounds like MN could be worse for winters.

Re the rust thing, treat the frame as others mentioned. My frame was replaced last year and I've done Woolwax annually on it