Kick in the gonads

i've been running dedicated snow tires on my prerunner this winter. Truck has gotten along just fine with them in both snowstorms so far.

 

From what I have heard of Denver and the snow shouldn't be too big of an issue. Going into the mountains when it is snowing is a different issue.

I also know that with the mountains right there, the lure of off-roading will be huge.

 

when I went to denver I drove a RWD buick from the rental place and no probs with the snow there.. the snow is dryer most of the time not ice underneath..

 

Looks like they just specify tire size if you select your vehicle. Doesn't mean you can clear them. I think you'll take out your UCA BJ boot with chains.

Has anyone actually fit chains on the front for an extended period?

 

I thought that you couldn't clear the UCA on these trucks with chains / cables

 

14 years in Boulder with 5-lug and 3-4 sand bags. I contemplate getting a set of 4 snow tires for winter but haven't so far. If I needed to get up to the mountains to ski I'd probably do it.

We've had 2 snows of 6+ so far this year, got less than an inch last night, but no problem.

 

Me too but I'm not certain.

 

a year before it snows again? how do you figure that?

 

Get studded snow tires and you'll be fine. I go into 4x4 in the snow but only because my tires suck right now.

 

I usually leave my 4x4 in 2WD, even in significant snowfall. Just get good tires and don't drive like an idiot and it will be a non-issue 99% of the time.

 

I have lived in Colorado for 16 years. Granted most of that at higher elevations than Denver. (For you non Colorodo people that means colder and more snow, lots more where I live.) 4 wheel drive is not in any way an essential aspect of a vehicle here. However, by choice if I didn't have 4 wheel drive I would have front wheel drive. Rear wheel drive in a Tacoma is ok at best even with weight and snow tires. It all depends on where you need to drive to and from, how bad you need to get there, (Can you call off if you need to.) how you drive and how experienced you are in driving in snowy/icy conditions. Most Denverites experience problems starting and stopping in snowy conditions. Only starting is helped by 4wd. Letting your engine slow you will help significantly in snowy conditions as opposed to using your brakes. Most accidents I see are caused by driving too fast for conditions on highways or sliding down a hill into someone who is stopped. Therefore just slow down and take it easy. I noted earlier someone mentioned that significant snows are rare in Denver. There is some truth in this. The question is will you be in Denver or surrounding areas? Denver is frequently not bad and well maintained. (Thursday last week excepted 2" snowfall 100 accidents reported in a 3 hour period.) But go a mile west, east or south and it can be 3 times as much snow and colder causing icy conditions. Where I live I am 2500 feet higher than Denver. Its very different there from Denver. So again you need to know where you will be living and traveling. I would suggest get moved here, and experience it for yourself. Get some snow tires (Studded tires are not legal in Denver or surrounding suburbs btw but they are in the mountains.) and some sand bags and go to a parking lot and learn how to drive in the snow here. Definetly DO NOT go to the mountains until you understand your vehicle better. If you want to go to the mountains on a regular basis in the winter I would suggest getting 4wd you will want it. And if there is significant snow don't go out. (Lets define significant as more than 6" for arguments sake.) I am sure someone will disagree with me thats no surprise. Its just my 2 cents. Oh and btw, you will end up getting a 4wd anyway. Just for the offroading.

 

my sister lives in Denver. so does my friend. they all drove 2wd cars the entire time..until recently.

not everyone in Denver runs a 4x4..they get by without any problems. just cant be an idiot with your expectations.

 

Yeah, studs with about a dozen bags of sand in the back and you shouldnt have no trouble with it. With sand in my truck bed, I can run 2WD most the time anyway unless it is a really deep snow, which we haven't even had yet! If you must have 4x4, just trade, save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

 

divorced t-case and solid axle !

 

This pretty much Coloradtacoma, says it all, lived in Southern Colorado 27 years. You will learn to respect the weather. In your situation I would get a 4x4, if you are moving to Colorado, that way you can enjoy Colorado a lot more through out the year. In the snow and or icy conditions, SLOW DOWN, driving too fast for conditions is the number one cause of most accidents.

 

+1 on the above.

 

I remember that '03 storm well, I was delivering pizza in Fort Collins during that storm, we got 50" up there. That was one of the few times in my life I have "needed" 4X4 on the front range. I use it times when it is not absolutely necessary just to be able to get where I'm going a little safer and more quickly. Around Denver they are really good about clearing the snow from a typical storm very quickly and its very rare that you encounter conditions where you wouldn't be able to get around by taking your time in 4X2 as long as you have good tires and weight in the bed. As you venture into the mountains 4X4 and chains become much more valuable however.

 

Snow is a small aspect of my concerns. Really just disappointed by this point you made. Never thought I would be off-roading on the Mall, but looks there would now be a lot more opprotunity. I by no means I won't be able to enjoy, just not to full extent that I would have liked to.

Thanks everybody. No idea how to close a post, but if i did, I would say we pretty much covered everything on this.

 

keep your washer fluid topped off!

 

pm a mod