Tips for Driving in the Snow

What's up y'all,

I bought a 2023 Off-Road this past summer, and have been loving it. However, I live in the mountains in Colorado and we've been getting pounded with snow. This is the first truck that I've owned - I had a Crosstrek before and it was great in the snow. The Tacoma isn't handling the unplowed roads very well, unless I keep it in 4HI. I don't want to tear up the transmission by driving in 4WD for the next 6 months of winter, but the 2WD just isn't cutting it.

I know a lot of newer trucks have AWD capabilities, but I haven't read or found any way to get my Taco into AWD. I'm guessing it does not have that capability, but please let me know if I'm wrong about that. Any tips/tricks would be appreciated!

 

Tires?

 

AWD is nothing more than 4WD without a locked center differential. You'll be absolutely fine running 4x4 while on slippery surfaces, such as unplowed roads. If you want to avoid extra wear, just take it out of 4x4 when you reach dry pavement. Winter tires will go a long way too.

 

IF you are getting pounded with snow then put it in 4WD and go. As long as you are not driving on dry pavement in 4WD you will be fine. No current Tacoma has AWD. The 24 Limited model will but no 3rd Gen does. You will be fine in 4WD.

 

Some weight over the rear axle might also help. I strap down two bags of kitty litter this time of year. But the main thing I do is the Blizzaks.

Edit to add: But note that the Tacoma will never beat a Subaru for on-road winter driving. The wife has a Crosstrek and that is the vehicle for "road" driving. The truck is the vehicle when we get into the woods.

 

you could leave it in 4Hi all winter and it wouldn't hurt a thing as long as there's some snow on the ground

 

x2 on better tires and some sand bags in the bed of the truck.

goodyear duratrac's or Toyo open country at3's

 

You will not hurt the truck being in 4wd all winter long as long as you have snow on the ground. Like others have said put some sand bags in the back over the wheels, get some good tires and go!

 

More wheels driving will help you get going.

But remember, everyone out there has 4 wheel brakes. More traction is what you need for stopping and that comes from winter tires, studs, chains.

I used to park my 2wd Tacoma when the snow flew. Then one year I put on a set of Bridgestone Blizzak tires - holy moly, what a difference. Suddenly my 2wd truck was drivable in the snow. Now that I have a 4wd I still swap out the all-seasons for Blizzaks, and on my wife's AWD Honda CR-V as well.

I'll never go winter driving without changing the shoes again. (Just like I don't wear my flip-flops in the winter either)

 

Then leave it in 4HI. You aren't tearing anything up. Snowy, unplowed roads is exactly the type of reason 4WD exists.

 

My Tacoma is far and away superior to my 2016 Impreza. My ‘90 Pathfinder was better than the Impreza too. The small Subarus are too light to be that good in the snow. That’s just my experience at least.

Use 4WD, that’s why you have it. Like they all said above, it’s only for wet/snowy/otherwise slick roads, turn it off when the pavement is dry. No need to worry about “tearing up” your transmission on slick roads, but have a healthy fear of dry roads in 4WD. If you ever feel your 4WD binding up, even on snowy roads, it means you’re turning too sharply so just ease up. Patience, take the long way, park in the back of the lot where the spots are wide open, it all makes life easier in general.

There is a good sticky thread in the 3rd Gen forum about how all the traction modes interact. That’s good to learn.

Beyond that, it’s the normal winter driving stuff that no one seems to know but I bet you do living in these beautiful mountains we have here in CO. For the uninitiated: maintain your tires and brakes, allow extra following distance, and for the love of god engine brake every single time cause it’s not hard even with the automatic (brake pedal + engine brake of course). 4WD/AWD augments all the benefits of good driving technique but it is not a substitute for good technique.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/4x4-best-practices-for-snow-covered-roads.753009/

 

Turn left to go right

 

You didn’t buy a 4x4 to not use it.

 

Check out these .

 

I live in 7-8 month snow country. Use 4x4 high when there is snow, ice or wet where you're driving. 2 wheel when it's dry. That's what the switch is for. You will not likely wear it out and it's not difficult or complicated. Actually is often better than all wheel drive. I've had several of both.
Best tip is SLOW DOWN and drive to the conditions !

 

I lived in the snowiest metro in the Continental US (Syracuse) for 6 years and here’s the best advice I can give.

During the first big snowfall of the year, carefully head out to your nearest big parking lot at night when everything’s empty.

Take the big empty area and feel out how the truck reacts to inputs. Get it up to 30 and stomp the brakes to feel the ABS, slide around a little bit.

It lets you practice and feel out what’s going to happen in an extreme maneuver. Helps your brain not panic or over correct when you’re in those situations on the road.

Also, if you’re in an area with heavy snow, buy a set of dedicated snow tires. All terrains with the three peak mountain snowflake do fuck all in real snow.

 

Snow driving is basically skiing ... you beg for the gods to let your truck go in the direction you choose. Then you use caution and keep speed down to what lets that happen.

Idiots try to power through the ridges between lanes instead of letting up on the accelerator and let the truck find it speed over them (no traction on those ridges).

Idiots panic and think power will get you out of a slide ... it does not.

 

Yep, a new truck owner absolutely should go get a feel for things in a empty lot or deserted road. Pitch it sideways, stab the gas, play with 4hi and 4lo. Figure out when and where it breaks loose, learn the limits of the available traction

I learned how to drive on logging roads in the cascade foothills before I even had a learners permit.

And yes, get some sandbags and good tires

 

Remove the front axles so you can drift it…

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/removing-front-driveshaft-for-drifting-rwd-with-locker.785879/

Just kidding. Hehehehe. Tires are key. I personally like Hakkas but a dedicated snow tire is like nothing else.