Snow Wheeling Tips n Tricks

Man, does she ever!! It was a roll over when I got it, and I gave it another couple years of life. Now she’s torn down, and I’m building a 01 double cab.

 

You carry 4 spares, or you making a wicked remote TW Express delivery there? haha

 

I was dealing with a really long stretch of icy highway, so I ran out on the AT’s, and swapped to the MT’s for the trail. I hate BFG KM2’s on ice. Hate. I need to sipe and stud them, then they’ll be ok for it.

 

hahah might have overcooked the entrance just a bit on that one.. You know you're in for it when you turn the wheel but she keeps going straight

 

Thats actually really good to know, and is about what I expected. I've been casually toying with the idea of going to KM3's at some point this year. But I definitely dont want to give up the overall good performance of the KO2's in the snow

 

May 3rd and 65*F midday. Wouldn't have thought I'd need to bring the chains or snow shovels. But this one section got us pretty good with that icy spring time snow. Got us both on the way in and the way out

 

Nice!

You have the right shovel, snow shovels are garbage for recoveries. That hard packed snow is like moving cement sometimes.

Those sections are awesome, you know its there, and you have to go through it again on the way out.

 

Here’s a few things I’ve learned in the last few months. Been doing a LOT of snow wheeling and have been having a blast(but wish @POSTacoMike could join ).

A couple things to think about when you’re out in the snow.

-crawling will often get you further than full throttle.

This depends on the snow. Crawling has its place as does full throttle stacks. The snow can change beneath you and you need to change your tactic.

Example-
Here I obviously the throttle it and ot doesn’t not work at all.
https://youtu.be/CssNnGwDHHU


This is the way.
https://youtu.be/ua9UIYcAaXo

With crawling I’ve been amazing what I can get through, and get up. Even if you don’t have any fancy gears. Left foot braking and having the right rpm (in an auto) you can get by. With a manual it’s tougher without hearing.


-A little shovel work.

Seriously, as long as you don’t dig yourself in and get really high centered, you’re not as stuck as you think in the snow.

Example
In the first video I’m trying to get it to go further right. It isn’t working, I’m not stuck, but it’s not working. Can’t get it to bite.
https://youtu.be/hT-YpPud93w

Video 2
I take one scoop of snow and it starts to move, in the right direction.
https://youtu.be/VZg2hCD9IdM



-don’t dig yourself a hole. When movement stops, let off.

If you lose momentum, and you keep on the throttle, you’re a spinning out all the snow that is under your tires, offering you any grip. You’ll end up buried. And once you’re laying on your belly, that is tough to shovel out from. Always give yourself a little advantage by letting off the throttle before you bury yourself. Sometimes even if you have an inch of movement you can get yourself unstuck without winching or shoveling. If you have zero movement, chances are you’re finished.


Keep in mind these don’t always apply in every snow situation. The great thing about snow is that it’s constantly changing, it’s never the same twice. It’s never the same at the beginning of the day as it is at the end.

 

Can't say I've ever been snow wheelin'. Looks like a lot of fun, though.

This is the undercarriage carnage of driving 20 miles home in 15" of snow in a PreRunner with only Duratracs on the back. Made it home...no issues. Does that count?



I have a set of dedicated snow tires these days.



You'd have to hook a strap on my rig and pull me through the stuff you guys are conquering

 

And here it's been nearly 100° all week lol. Ugh

 

Next year!!! NEXT YEAR FOR DAMN SURE!!!!!!!!!

 

Two quick things I forgot.

-RIG WEIGHT. I’ve put a LOT of effort into trying to reduce weight from my Tacoma in the past couple months. And it has paid off. Weight is incredibly important in snow.

-grooving tires. This applies if you’re serious about snow wheeling. If you are, groove your tires.

 

A little weight in the bed never hurt for snow wheeling.

 

If you’re trying to float, Yes it does hurt.

 

No, you just need better flotation

 

Damn, some of you guys look like you could use one of these:


For my part, I've been really happy just running a set of studded Hakkapeliittas, even off road. No trouble in snow up to the top of the wheel or so and I haven't been bold enough to try anything deeper. Fantastic on ice, I walk up stuff that takes the boys running ATs a few tries.

 

So....less weight...


I would like to find a 40x15.5r17 tire. But it doesn’t seem to exist.

Snowys going back on the headlocks for tomorrow. With the help of my boy


And we’re headed for snow.

 

Picked up some snow tires. 375/65/16” Mickey Thompson MTZ’s.

 

As @Spoonman mentioned, groove them. I did. My shoulder and arm hurt! This is with a heated fire iron.

 

And yea, I missed a lug!