Can't stop in snow

Was your rear differential locked? (no ABS)

 

Driver

You still have to drive to the road conditions.

Frank

 

I agree !! As I stated before when you get the first winter storm, go to an empty lot and do some panic stops, spin some circles, do some slides - get used to the vehicle, the tires and your abilities.

 

Doording, there are 3 bright lights that come on when you flip the switch ABS,VSCS, TRAC Control. Trust me, you wont forget you flipped the switch haha

 

My dad had BFG ats and trail tires on his 84 toyota (non ABS). Those tires did not perform well in snow or ice. We got around just fine, however when he got away from the BFG tires, even though he stayed with a trail/at style tire, he got around alot better and had less problems. (this is in missouri by the way, not so cal). I hate ABS, but the ABS does react to the traction of the tire. If your tires/driving style/road conditions wants to slide the truck, the abs will attempt to not let that happen. Most vehicles I've driven in snow didn't have ABS. I would choose the tires be rolling not locked up, from my experience if you are going to wreck atleast you can steer and choose what you would like to hit or not hit. Just my $.02

 

Just pull the #42-50amp ABS fuse and live to see another day, I put the fuse back in after winter.

 

If you got the ability to do the on-the-fly killswitch mod that is the safer route. For those times that abs is good to have on you don't have to find a fuse, put it in, and restart the truck. Just flip the switch in the situation the ABS comes on and boom it's off, and once that situation is over flip it again.

 

best recommendation

put on snow tires
slow down
and leave all the ABS electronics stock, it is there for a reason

when the situation occurs that a disaster you could not predict or
sense ahead of time, a crash is going to occur, or something else suddenly
happens, your risk and risk to others on the road is lowest if you leave the stock electronics alone
and let them work. it is about overall risk per time behind the wheel, and I would choose to use
the systems that Toyota spent many years, and many millions, developing.

now, with cold weather, ice, snow...you need to simply slow the heck down
if YOU go to fast, or you have crap tires, it is not the fault of the truck, it is your own doing

if you wreck and cause a death, and they discover some mod or override system you hacked in, you will be boned for life.


Ok, all that being said, do what you want and use or modify your rig any way you wish to,
whatever works for you.

 

After reading through this thread. It's obvious it comes down to driver skill/experience. Excessive speed in relation to road conditions and Worthless Stock Tires. Simple suggestion to OP slow down and get better tires if you want to avoid this situation again.

 

Toyota allows you to leave all ABS electronics stock and still disable the ABS while locking the rear locker which in the snow might also put you in peril. Would Toyota take the blame then? doubt it.

disclaimer: I did the mod and stand by it for my own use. All others have to weigh their options and take responsibility of their actions.

 

FWIW, I just swapped out my stock dunlops for some BFG AT's and noticed a difference right away. On the snowy/icy steet infront of my house I only needed 2WD instead of 4, and the ABS did not kick in until I really hammered on the brakes with a bit of speed.

 

ABS sucks in the snow.
ABS really sucks in the snow when your rear axle differential seals go and coat your rear pads with oil. My truck is currently in the garage getting new seals and pads.

For driving in snow you need real winter tires with the mountain / snowflake symbol. They are soft compound and have lots of sipes and edges in them to hold and grip snow and ice.

Bridgestone Blizzak
Firestone Winterforce
Michelin LTX Winter
etc.

 

I agree that ABS sucks in the snow, I applied my brakes leaving Northstar and my truck just kept going with the ABS screaming. Right through the red light into Hwy 267

 

ABS is not a mandatory system

 

If ABS activates, a tire has already started to skid and you've exceeded the capability of your tires. That's the only way it knows how to turn on in the first place. It would be nice to have the option to turn it off though. There are times when it's advantageous to mound up loose material in front of a locked tire.

What gets us with these trucks is the brake bias. With so little weight in the back it's heavily biased towards the front, and when the rears don't do anything and the fronts start to skid you're stuck in ABS terror. That's why using the brakes in 4WD works so much better; you can use the front brakes on the rear wheels and actually slow down. Of course, if you DO start a skid in 4WD, you don't have the friction of spinning rear wheels to keep the truck going straight.

Just think, it could be like the older trucks with rear ABS that don't even start braking the rear until after the fronts lock on ice, that way when you lock the front axle you can slowly slide towards the ditch hoping you can get enough brakes on the rears before you get there.

 

Some people =


of course merica is full of scum bag people who sue at the drop of a hat so I wouldn't put it past a snake of a lawyer to sue if they found it out. Last time I checked though I don't know any police agencies doing forensic analysis of the electrical system in a car after an accident unless the car ran over a 100 people in a crowd or a president.

 

There is nothing wrong with your truck.

I live in Fairbanks and drive on ice daily. I can tell you the tires that came on my 2012 Taco, BF Goodrich Rugged Trail, were good on pavement, but completely unacceptable on ice. I played around a lot until I switched my tires out. When I switched over to studded tires, all my fun went away, but the truck starts and stops on ice.

 

I can't help but think VSC or ABS would have helped save these peoples lives.

When I hear talk on this site about people wanting to disable ABS/VSC/Trac/Auto Lsd or any electronic safety device this is what comes to mind of what will happen to them.

Obviously the driver was distracted (texting or road head?) but its what happens after the distraction that counts or in there case doesn't count. And distractions happen and can't be avoided.

But to each his own. Do what you like. I never have a problem with any of this because I slow down and drive responsively. I won't be cutting any wires. And yes the shitty stock tires suck. If you will be in snow get rid of them.

 

What leads you to believe they didn't have ABS or an overactive ABS system?

 

this