Fishtailing in The Snow

Hey y'all, this is my first Taco and she's a 2001 TRD PreRunner. Im having a few issues with fish tailing in the snow. Wondering if y'all have any advice? Sorry to sound like a dipshit. Thanks for the help y'all.

 

That's normal. Snow tires and a few sand bags in the back for added weight. It's still going to fish tail of course. Just not as bad. Easy on that throttle.

 

4x4

 

Don't turn your locker on.

 

Something with a bit more bite on the rear works for me. It won't stop snowy burnouts, but it will help to settle the ass end down in the white stuff

 

I have a 2004 RC 4X4 and I just bought 360lbs of sand tubes to put in between my wheelwells. Only had 240lbs last year. It helps considerably. When I replaced my Michelin MS/2's last May I did a "lot" of research on winter tires that would still work fine off-road and during summer. I went with Cooper ATW's which have been getting very good reviews. They are supposed to be excellent in the winter. I'll see. I only had a couple of mild snow storms after I put them on. I'll see how they do this winter when it really gets bad with the snow and ice. We are about a month away from the really bad stuff right now.

Other than these suggestions? All I can say is learn how to work the gas pedal as well as the clutch if you have one. The driver has the most influence over vehicle control in the winter.

 

Thanks a ton y'all, I already have some nice AT's on her so I'll just need to weigh her down and get good. Because as you northern guys know, "Winter is coming."

 

Practice and experience !!

I only seem to ever get stuck in my driveway

 

I think the most important thing you can do is just alter your driving behavior in the snow. Go slower overall. Don't accelerate quickly. Don't make sudden/severe turns, and if you have to make a wide turn the slow way, way down.

After that, sandbags over the rear axle and good winter tires will help. Or a 4x4 conversion.

 

Full Throttle, Countersteer.

Enjoy.

 

This!

If you need it to get moving then use it. But for general driving it makes things worse.

 

Yota was my first RWD. I had heard about how difficult driving them in snow was. My first experience in slippery conditions was a freak ice storm on the way home from work. Saw cars fly off the road, several car crashes right in front of me. For the first few minutes I was freaked out. It was my first manual transmission as well. I couldn't time getting into 1st gear and staying straight without sliding backwards.

Once I got the hang of countersteering it got to be a lot less stressful. It's difficult to trust at first but driving a RWD in snow is actually easier for me now as a result. Controlling the direction front wheel drives in icy conditions is very difficult.

 

I learned how to drive in Alaska.
Mustang, El Camino, C10 2wd pickup, Camaro were vehicles I had before getting a 4wd. Forces you to learn how to drive. Still one of my favorite driving conditions.

 

I actually prefer RWD in the snow. FWD is better for getting going from a stop, but if you put a bunch of weight in the bed or trunk RWD isn't too bad. Main thing is if you start to slide in a curve, FWD, you ease off the throttle and hope to god it catches traction before you slide off the road.

RWD, you have a lot more control if the car starts to slide wide. Punch the throttle, crank the wheel to opposite lock, and what do you know, you stopped skidding, and are going the way you want to. Plus it makes you feel like you are a WRC race car driver lol.

Best car I ever drove in the snow was an old Cadillac Brougham with an open diff, new all season tires, and about 200lbs worth of sand in the trunk. That car was a beast, even in 5-7" of unplowed snow I made it home. Also a lot of fun to do lurid 30mph sideways drifts in the empty mall parking lot.

 

Add 240+ lbs. of sand/gravel bags w/ shovel between wheel wells, snow tires and PRACTICE driving/sliding/stopping in Empty snow covered parking lots.