Preparing for my first Taco winter

TacoPlate · Oct 7, 2011

I live in Vermont and have a few winters under my belt. The last few have been with a Subaru Outback equipped with snow tires. I have a 20(x2) mile highway commute five days a week. I am going to put snow tires on my 2011 TRD Sport Double Cab. I'm skilled at driving in snow, but have never driven in snow with a truck. Here are my questions:

1. When driving at highway speeds, should I leave it in 4WD?
2. How much does driving in 4WD affect gas mileage?
3. Should I weight the back? (I have a hard tonneau cover.)
4. Any tire suggestions/warnings?

Thanks for any advice.

MountainEarth · Oct 7, 2011

Only drive in 4wd when there's snow/ice on the road.

pudge151 · Oct 7, 2011

TacoPlate[OP] initial post: ↑

I live in Vermont and have a few winters under my belt. The last few have been with a Subaru Outback equipped with snow tires. I have a 20(x2) mile highway commute five days a week. I am going to put snow tires on my 2011 TRD Sport Double Cab. I'm skilled at driving in snow, but have never driven in snow with a truck. Here are my questions:

1. When driving at highway speeds, should I leave it in 4WD?
no you should not, if the roads are bad enough to need 4wd, you should go that fast, read the owners manual, it will help
2. How much does driving in 4WD affect gas mileage?
i get 17-19-mpg in the summer, and 14-15 in the winter, a mix of crappy winter gas and 4x4 and letting the truck warm up prob account for that
3. Should I weight the back? (I have a hard tonneau cover.)
i do not here in CT, im not convinced you need it with 4WD, just carry a shovel and a bag of sand, not for weight but if you get stuck
4. Any tire suggestions/warnings?
if you get a set of snow tires, get them mounted on their own rims, you can find them cheap and it wil save $$$ in the long run, plus the sand/sal wont ruin your OEM rims

Thanks for any advice.
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P-Hill Tacoma · Oct 7, 2011

Antilock brakes on our trucks suck when used in the snow. Be prepared. It will always go - but it won't always stop.

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