Advice/review of 4WD options for snow/ice

We are about to receive some frozen precipitation in the Dallas area tonight and due to my profession, I need to be at the hospital tomorrow.

I have a 2013 Tacoma V6 4WD/Offroad. I was wondering if anyone had advice for 4WD settings for someone like myself that may have to drive on sleet/ice. Just 4Hi good?

I believe there is a sticky somewhere that details all of the 4WD settings, I searched for about 30 mins and could not find it.

Any help is appreciated, we do not get this weather to often here. I plan to be on the road well before any traffic, hopefully just behind the sanding trucks. I will stay home if possible, but may need to make an attempt.

Thanks,
Brent

 

4Hi. Strap something heavy (or 200#s of sandbags) in the bed if you want a bit of extra traction. Slow down and leave room. This is about all you can do.

I doubt you want to buy snow tires being in Texas.

 

this. and maybe air down a bit for more surface area from the tires. shouldnt be too bad tomorrow. just gotta figure out how to get some weight into the back of the truck lol

 

What everyone else said and give yourself plenty of time to get where you're going. You don't want to be in a rush when driving in snow/ice.

 

I have the same issue with my job and we are expected to get the same as you guys just a little later tonight up here in AR.

I bought Thule traction cables for mine and like others have said, put some weight in the bed for more traction. Snow is not really a issue but ice is a completely different animal. It's not the starting... it's the stopping that becomes the issue. Doesn't matter if you have 4WD or not when it comes to stopping.

If I know we are going to get some bad weather I usually just go in the day/night before so I don't have to deal with trying to get to work the next morning. Not sure if that is a option for you or not.

Good luck either way and be safe!

 

Listen to Lisa, this is basically the best you can do without buying tires specifically for icy conditions.

 

Key words SLOW DOWN

 

I have ten tips.

1) 4Hi
2) Some weight in the bed
3-10) Slow down and allow room.

 

Perfect - thanks folks. Didn't know if the traction control button that is down by the gear shift is something to employ - I'll leave that alone for now.

I need to review the breakdown on all the controls - I've seen it on here, but seem to be an idiot at searching for it today. If anyone knows where that button-by-button break down of all the traction controls is on here - I'd appreciate it.

Thanks to all,

Brent

 

This should help. Your's is a 13 but everything basically works the same.

 

i was looking for that lol beat me to it

 

Lol.. there is actually another good one where someone breaks down what each individual setting does and the best time to use it but I can't seem to find it. Knew I should have bookmarked it.

 

i honestly dont know why they aren't stickied

 

I think this is the page you were looking for:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...-controls-trac-auto-lsd-trac-rear-locker.html

 

Great advice by all above. Enough emphasis cannot be put on SLOW and STEADY. Calm and calculated maneuvers and room to operate are imperative to keeping your vehicle under control. Ice does not forgive and you can go from just fine to spinning off the road in the blink of an eye. Be safe.

 

I grew up and lived in Dallas for 30 years. You are getting an ICE storm, you won't have any snow. Its going to be a bad one also. If you have to go into work I'd recommend chains first. Even in 4-Hi you won't get traction on that ice. Take a blanket, bottled water/snacks, shovel, sand bags in your bed, and some tow straps. Its going to be a bad one for anyone that has to go out. Last I heard they were calling for 2 inches ice. Power lines will be down and it will be dangerous.

If you can go to the hospital before the storm hits and camp out that would be even better. Good luck and stay safe.

Also, stay off the highways and take city streets if you can. The big overpasses and bridges of the highways have inclines that will make it even harder to pass when icy.

 

Man, if you truly get 2" of ice you are going to have a disaster of epic proportions! You have no idea what you are in for... we had an ice storm here in NH a few years ago, most of the state had no power for 2 weeks. This is NH and we are used to 2' snow storms, no problem. Usually get one or more every winter, but an ice storm is something else altogether. People were dying in buildings that were collapsing and were designed for Northeast snow loads. Roads were impassable no matter what you had for traction, there were no sanding or salt trucks because they were spending all their resources on just clearing the roads of downed trees. So many trees were falling it sounded like popcorn popping when I went outside. That was a storm with about 3/4" of ice accumulation- I really hope you do not get 2" of ice, the whole world will be watching you folks on the news tomorrow... please be very careful.

 

They're effed. Friend down there had their carport collapse under the weight.

 

Give yourself a TON of room to slow down/stop. I've only driven in snow/ice a couple times with my truck. I noticed that the ABS is a bit overactive and it takes over and causes it to take FOREVER to slow down when the road is icy. Keep that in mind, put it in 4H and like everyone else said SLOW DOWN.