4X4 Best Practices for Snow Covered Roads

When I was still driving trucks with blinky lights and a siren, I would often shift into neutral when braking on icy or snowy roads. Taking the power off the rear wheels made the truck less likely to skid, even with anti lock brakes.

YMMV, so don't overdrive the conditions on the road.

 

Back int the early 1990s we had a Dodge Ram (equivalent of the full size Blazer) for a supervisor vehicle. For whatever reason the supervisors preferred the Blazers we had. One snowy day the Shift Commander took th Ram in preference to his assigned Crown Vic.

He stopped by the station because he was unfamiliar with 4WD and knew I was a "gear head." I showed him how to shift into 4WD High and he asked me when he should use 4WD Low.

"When the snow is over the light bar. Otherwise, use 4WD High."

 

I laugh when a Camaro or Challenger blow by me in the high speed lane when it's snowing. I laugh more when they are spun around backwards and stuck in a snow bank on the median strip.

I laugh more when it's a Subaru.

As someone mentioned AWD doubles the number of driven wheels, but not the number of wheels with brakes.

 

i am getting a headache

 

My opinion ...

Once at an airport in winter someone not used to midwest winter asked the desk clerk about driving in snow, and the clerk was clueless on advice (good on the register, though).

I asked the Florida man if he skiied ... he said yes. I told him one of the worst errors you can make is "powering through" the hills of snow between lanes or over packed snow piles, as you are effectively skiing at that point. As another poster said, neutral, to "let the vehicle/wheels find its own speed" or just back off the skinny pedal.

I understand the potential problems with 4H regarding slipping of wheels now ... thanks all for the explanation and I can extend the life of my tires now. Today I took to roads (not just intentionally moguled fun-paths, but real roads used for real daily life (or at least weekly life). I was trying to choose 2H, 4H, 4L and even "crawl". All this explanation about traction, for me, agrees with my view of driving ON snow (not through it) and will let me be smarted next time.

 

4WD damage on ice is a real thing, remember the differential grenading wife?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rear-differential-major-damage.596261/#post-19992611

 

Leave in 2H, long-press the track-off button. Then remember the wisdom of Hudson Hornet: "Sometimes when you wanna go left you gotta turn right".

 

Except for running the 4wd a few miles a month, I think I actually used it once for a minor snowstorm this year so far.

 

My man!

 

Not all snow is the same.

I use 4X4 as needed. Usually just to get started on an incline, or to drive up one. Once underway it is rarely needed. If the ground is completely covered with several inches of snow it won't hurt anything to stay in 4X4. If you need to park or turn a corner you can't make as sharp of a turn. That's why I only use it when I need it. My dad never owned a 4X4 vehicle and he managed to get everywhere he needed to go.

If the snow is patchy with some clear pavement and some snow definately use it only as needed.

Most of the time low range is a handicap in snow. I live on a steep hill. I use low range 1st gear to drive the 1st 1/4 mile down to level ground. This allows me to creep slowly down without ever touching the brakes. Otherwise, I never use low in snow.

Most of the time a locking rear diff or limited slip rear axle is a handicap. They can be useful to get you moving if you have one rear wheel on ice and the other on dry pavement. But once underway the last thing you want is for BOTH rear wheels to start spinning. With an open diff and only one wheel spinning you'll stay on the road.

If BOTH rear wheels start spinning on ice/snow the rear end of the truck is headed for the ditch. Especially if it happens in a curve. But even on a straight stretch of road the road is higher in the center to allow rain to drain toward the ditch. If both rear wheels break traction, they will slide downhill toward the ditch.

Newer vehicles with traction control systems do a better job on ice/snow than limited slip or locking diffs. Those are for off road situations where one wheel is suspended in the air and not in contact with the ground.

 

Do you guys ever lower your tire pressure when driving in snow?

 

Not me! Never had to.

I also use my 4hi in rainstorms. It's good to throw it in 4wd every once in awhile, if you haven't.

 

Way to bring a 1+ year thread back to life.

This thread gave me this vision of Minnesotans in their driveways letting air out of their tires before their work commute when it’s -10F. Not happening!

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Hey! I just brought it to the attention of the other poster for the information in the 99% that existed. Blame @Tocamo for the "breach of etiquette".

 

What are folks thoughts on TCS in winter conditions? I've found it's useful when going above 20mph and you have momentum but tends to interfere when coming from or to a stop.

 

Alaska winter is 4wd as necessary, if 2wd gets squirrely then 4hi. The only time I've used 4lo was then I slid into a snow filled ditch and I had to use the diff lock as well to get out.

 

Subarus are great, no brainer snow machines, especially with great winter tires

 

Bad practice. You don't want to "float" on the snow. That's why pizza cutters are good in the snow.

 

You do want to float, but you need tracks not tires to bring that to fruition. Without tracks, it’s best to dig down to hard ground and have enough clearance to not float on your belly.

Snow and ice are treacherous, but unlike mud and sand, you can always shovel your self to freedom.

Bonus: no trip to the car wash necessary.

Snow rules.