Advice decending on ice

Hi all, I live of a steep dirt and gravel road in WV and the winter can be challenging. What do you recommend for icy and soupy mud conditions to reduce chance of sliding down? For example, use max engine breaking with 4wd lo in low gear? How about climbing up, 4wd hi or 4wd lo? Also, Toyota recommends only rear wheel chains but do cable-type chains have sufficient clearance for Taco front wheels? I have V6 4wd '09 Tacoma with Yoko geolanders. Thanks.

 

It really depends on the situation and how slippery the conditions are.

4WD for sure.... going up hill, it's more about getting momentum and keeping momentum. If you stop or slow down in the middle, it's harder go get that momentum back and even harder to get traction.

Going downhill - it depends on how slippery the conditions are. Engine braking & 4lo are good ONLY when there's enough traction to slow you down.
If there's not enough traction there to utilize engine braking or 4lo - you're just gonna slide down anyway regardless.

If the roadway is THAT slippery - I would put the passenger side tires on the side of the roadway where there might be more traction. For instance, if the roadway is ice and the side of the road is snow - drive partly on the snow. T

 

If studs are allowed in WV, in those conditions, I would run a dedicated set of winter tires with studs. I've run snow tires & all terrains in winter but my set of Firestone Winterforce tires with studs has by far exceeded any tire I have run in Vermont mountains & ice this winter. (Thanks HT)

I have not experience any pucker moments at all, go up to the mountains skiing & towing a snowmobile trailer through VT,NH, Maine not a problem. They don't act "squirrelly" at dry highway speed & nor make a lot of noise. The truck stops & my abs does not kick in. They cost $400, a hundred less than my 500 ins ded, inexpensive in comparison to a repair bill.

There are some posts on chains too, never run em tho.

 

Stay away from the cable chains. We used those on my wife's Honda Prelude one bad winter and they ruined her tires. The rollers on the cables dug deep grooves into the sidewalls.

 

My advice... when it's that icy out... stay home

 

I also drop/climb a nasty grade w/ 15% sections (to a stop) everyday. Snow tires are really key, though in WV might be overkill. I've never had to use 4lo on it, when its really bad I'm usually in 4hi and I'll decend in 2nd (6spd). Climbing I'd also stay in 4hi, your more likely to dig yourself a hole in 4lo. Keep in mind your 09' w/ VSC/TRAC/AUTO-LSD has three settings in 2wd and two in 4wd. You'll probably want the TRAC off to ramp your wheel speed up for the climb.

If its total ice (see my camera icon), best just to stay off the road till at least some sand/salt is on it.

 

Chains go all 4 or only in back in 2WD and 4WD and NEVER front only in 4 WD and there is no point in front only in 2WD. General rule of thumb that I have always heard.

May be it is just an old farmers myth; I dont know, but I have never striped out a front axel or torn out a transfer case as one or two of my friends have done by not following it.

 

Move to Arizona