How good is your Tacoma in the snow

I'm getting ready for my first winter with my Tacoma. I live in VT, so we get quite a bit of snow, and I was just wandering how every ones 1st gen tacos do in the white stuff. How often do you need to use four wheel drive, etc, of course pics are always a good thing either of your tacoma stuck in the snow, or just some snowy drving pics...thanks

 

Been to jersey a few times while it snowed and did fine. Everyone else drives 55- I was doing 65-70, so no problems here. Time for new tires soon though. The stock are ok, but pro-comps are better.

I have not had to use 4wd yet, so 4wd or not it still drove pretty well. I pop into 4wd to once a week to keep the gears lubed, but where I am we do not get anything.

 

I'd love to see some TITS...

 

lol, yea lets see em

 

Gen 1's are great in the snow, ice not so much. Add a few hundred pounds in the bed = better. Good aftermarket tires (BFG, Revos, etc.) = the bomb! Did I mention yet that ice sucks??? I fried my hard drive so sorry, no pics.

Edit - When you are in 4WD, it is always a good idea to have at least one side of wheels in the snow. When traffic wears the snow off but you have snow on the sides or if the surface is uneven, keep one set of tires in the snow so the diff isn't torqued. Your truck will be thank you.

 

Just had a good snow fall and the truck did just fine. Didnt kick out unless I wanted it to

 

Mine in the snow.... In 2wd, terrible. In 4wd, unstoppable. I was up in MA last winter, I am from western MA, and we get a buttload of snow there. Average storm 8-12 inches, I kicked it into 4wd many times, it couldn't stop my Tacoma. If there was 1" of snow on the ground in 2wd, it fishtailed like a bitch. I had Wranglers on at the time.

 

It did fine in the snow, never had any problem, but the ice is a different story, even with good tires. Someone said earlier, you can go 65-70 no problem, til shit hits the fan. Be smart and responsible you won't have any issue.

 

As far as tacomas in the Vermont snow (TITVS )....
My 95 pre-tacoma pickup was great, 2WD most of the time unless the roads were real messy or I was heading up to the mountain. Sorry no pics...
But my 2006 DC w/ that shorty back end didn't fair as well on an iced over dirt road up in Stowe.
The hardpack quickly turned to rock solid ice & before I knew it, there was no saving it just relax and hope you don't pick up too much speed.

Since that day I run studded Firestone Winterforce tires, the best $400 spent. No longer does the ABS kick in at stop signs & 4WD is left only for the real deep stuff.

Black Ice Victim 2007


New Winter Shoes 2008


Heading Up to Bolton Valley, hey another tacoma


Cleared up nicely for some midweek runs!!

 

$400 for those tires? Where?

My first snow experience was in VT last April. TRying to go over the mountains from Just north of Manchester into NY... No dice, had to turn around.. My shortcut cost me another hour.

 

I took my '88 over the Notch to Stowe in January back in the day. My BIL has a time share at Smugglers. Skeery as hell!!!...but I made it back and forth no problem.

 

I'm also curious about driving in the winter.. live in Alaska and have been used to driving a fwd car, then an awd subaru outback (till it got totaled 3 weeks ago) and now I picked up an tacoma 4x4. I'm definitely up for studded tires because it gets icy up here quite often.

x2^^ where did you get those tires? That's an awesome deal!

 

x2 the notch is some intense drving especialy in the winter

 

Make sure your tires are good (AT or snow tires)
Always use 4WD in the snow - why not? It's safer and you paid a lot of money for it. USE IT!
Drive responsibly
Add 200lbs of weight (sandbags) in the bed if you think you'll need it
Dropping down a few lbs in air pressure can also help.

 

I think the biggest mistake people make in snow is getting over confident. Yeah, 4x4 makes it easier to get started and easier to move once you've started, but nothing other than ABS makes it easier to stop. I generally drop my speed by at least 10mph when the snow hits the road. A good set of tires also does a lot toward making you safer, if you don't have a dedicated set of snow tires or at least some M+S rated tires you'll be hating the white stuff.

 

It's all in the tires. 4x4 helps, but if you have bad tires you will just spin all 4.

My FJ with bald dunlops didn't do as good as my brothers 3 series with Blizzaks.

My tacoma with the factory BFGs does so, so.

 

I have the original Dunflops and they did ok. I just aried them down a couple of psi and was careful. The got me to work last year, only one of 2 people to make it in and got me home safely.




I am looking foward to the snow this year...kinda

 

hi tig1 calling-2009 access cab,no problem what so ever.just bought 4 michelin lat.x ice...bring on the winter!

 

It's been about 19 years since I've had a Toyota 4x4 pickup in the snow. I had various other 4x4 SUV's during those years though. I'm the kinda guy that goes out (to play) driving when it snows because it's fun. I now have the Tacoma, and can't wait until we have snow this year. I remember putting a few sand bags in the bed over the rear wheels for extra weight and keeping the gas tank full back in my Hilux days. Yeah, if you have 4x4, use it for sure. Like said above, just because you have good traction driving in the snow, your ability to stop is just as crappy as all the others out there. Engine braking (to slow down) works best either manual or auto trans. Just beware.

 

I'm pretty stoked to try the truck in the snow too but am debating new tires first, mine is a stock '01 TRD off road with stock rims. I'm thinking of going with BFG Long Trails, anyone have anything negative to say about them. We can't run studs up here and it does get wicked icy at times. Also, I have a camper shell on, do people typically add weight with a shell or is the shell sufficient to keep things pinned down??