How to 2WD in winter?!

My “off road” rear wheel drive Tacoma is useless in any winter condition. Slides if any snow on the road, got stuck on flat gravel drive with 2 in snow, etc. Only has rear differiental locking system, which did not get me out of snow. It has gotten me out of mud in the warmer months (and has also left me stuck in mud). None of these instances where ever in true off road conditions, just basic situations I had to be in. Am I doing something wrong or do I need to sell this thing?

 

put weight in the box, get winter tires.

 

If you're driving on black ice, you're useless regardless of 4x4. If on snow, get chains.

 

A locked rear diff will only make driving in snow more dangerous esp in a 2wd. You need chains, weight in the bed and good tires.

 

Good winter tires and a some weight in the bed. I had a 2wd S10 years ago and thats what l did.

 

Better tires.

I think 08’ had an 8” open diff. They aren’t too good in slippery conditions.
I know, as my truck is the same. Unless it’s in 4WD it spins and keeps spinning once a tire breaks traction.

Tires helped me tremendously.

 

We do have 200 lbs of sand in the bed. We have brand new tires on them, but not winter specific. Will it really make a difference? Do you just store the winter ones the rest of the year?

Edit: new tires are Goodyear Wrangler ATS

 

Growing up on the prairies everyone drove trucks and no one uses chains in the winter.
Weight in the back and good winter tires will make a huge difference.

 

Out of curiosity, what tires are on there now?

I live in Tennessee. We don’t have to deal with snow often.
But I do cross many yards and fields in my truck.
Wet slick grass, leaves, and mud. (I try to avoid the mud)

 

Running a dedicated tire will definitely make a big difference

 

This is a little surprising, I have owned my single cab 2WD for 8 years now and driven daily even in the bad winter we got here in MA a few years ago. I've never had the issues you mention.

But I would get 150-200 pounds of sandbags in the bed for sure. If that doesn't help, snow tires. Go easy on the skinny pedal as well.

 

Did you try planting your right foot firmly to the floor? Usually does the trick for me.

 

We have Goodyear Wrangler ATS tires. You are RWD?

 

I am 4WD.
But I have the same rear differential as you.
It’s an open differential, unless we are locked.
(Locked diffs at higher speed+slick conditions+cornering = can be “dangerous”)

I don’t think there was Auto LSD added until 09’.
Which in my opinion, would help quite a bit.

 

I have duratracs and there is a slight incline from my neighborhood to the street if there is snow on the road I can’t pull out from a stop in 2 wheel drive. Every truck I’ve driven is the same way. If you get a studded snow tire and 100lbs over each rear wheel it would feel like a different vehicle. It’s the only thing that will really solve the problem so your probably going to get another 100 posts saying the same thing.

 

I could not live where I do without 4WD. I couldn't make it down to the nearest paved/maintained road in winter or mud season. I would certainly not make it home No, 4WD is not a panacea. And weight in the bed/appropriate tires can help a lot. But 4WD, if used properly, is a game changer. Just so long as you keep in mind what it's not going to help. Like stopping down a snowy icy hill :-(

 

Duratracs work ok for me in 2wd. My key is to be light on the go pedal, feathering it as needed. Sometimes without extra weight in the bed, I just drop into 4wd and drive.

 

Speed and power is the answer. Speed and power

 

Automatic or manual tranny?

 

Auto I’m thinking. If it was a manual it would say so on his card and he would have told us six times already