My first snow drive

I too avoid interstate travel during early storms if possible.
Half the people who normally have winter tires, don’t have them on yet and the other half forgot that snow is actually slippery.

 

I hear ya. That split second decision time and then your committed.

 

Thanks for the


I love my manual transmission on days like this.

 

A manual is no better in the snow. It might make one more apt to spin out on an up shift. At least that was my experience in my 1st gen. The second gear shift would kick the ass end out once and awhile

 

Yeah, looking at the vid the lane change with too much speed is what got him. Happens often. The rear end is light, doesn't transition the same as the front, get a bit sideways, then what happened to OP but often ends worse.

You have to transition through the ruts carefully, don't be abrupt.

 

When it gets squirmy, clutch helps. I’ve had less oh shit moments in manuals than I’ve had in autos, and I’ve driven a manual far longer and more.

 

I always slow a little before switching lanes, then speed back up. And absolutely carefully cross the ruts.

 

Too much gas pedal. I have to remind myself of this.

 

Sounds like you have a great relationship with the in-laws.
My in-laws are absolute Toyotaholics. It goes without saying, what’s mine is their’s too.

 

Yeah, you have to dial up the concentration a bit to get the rear end over the buildup in the center. Every truck I've owned the rear hesitates when it hits the buildup, doesn't want to track through it like the front did, you have to be prepared for a little twitch.

 

I’m of the opinion that the more input the computer has with stability and traction control, the better the outcome. Autos provide more input and it gives the computer something else to control quicker then a driver can.
So, it could be better in snow.

 

Well I'm not going to add to the critique of the OP's driving. Winter weather can humble any of us.

I have had some white knuckle drives in the upper midwest. One was on Highway 16 in MN during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve driving from La Crosse to Mankato. I had a FWD vehicle with AWT's. Conditions were bad but no place to pull off--if I had, I would have gotten stuck. Eventually I got to a gas station and told myself I would stop until (if) it cleared up. Right then the snow mysteriously let up, and I made it to a family gathering just a little before midnight.

I drove from La Crosse to Omaha on I-35 once in the same vehicle when there was 1/2" of ice and snow covering the entire highway--couldn't even see the asphalt. It was early Sunday morning and I was practically the only car on the road. I was able to go 45-55 without too much trouble, but no way could I have stopped or swerved if I had had to. Fortunately I didn't have to...

That said, I've lived in the Midwest for over 25 years. Most of that time I've had only FWD cars with AWT's and have (knock on wood) never gotten stuck nor run off the road.

 

Good account. The only caveat I would throw in, are the hills. If you can avoid those, your chances are much better.

 

Sometimes it's best to be in neutral when the rear end starts twitching. An MT it's a bit easier to flick it into neutral then re-engage.

 

I don’t know, I can flick my AT in neutral faster than any MT I’ve ever had. But coming from manuals I also have a habit of resting my hand on the shifter. Many AT drivers put it in D and aren’t prepared to touch it again until they get where they’re going. So you’re quicker shift to neutral is probably a perceived belief based on many AT drivers lack of being prepared.

 

Well, the AT if you're in D you're one bump up to N, but if you're in 3 you're navigating up, and maybe fuck it up going too far past neutral and into R.

An MT you pop the clutch in and flick it to neutral easily in any gear. Whatever, as has been said many times, driving safely on snow and ice requires skill, experience, and good tires.

 

FYI if you shift into R position when driving forward the transmission just stays in N.

Also you shouldn’t need the clutch to shift your MT into N. Just saved you valuable time. You’re welcome.

 

Thanks.

 

Press the clutch no power going to the wheels. Most times I don’t need to shift at all, just let the clutch back out slowly once your back in control. I don’t want to down shift if possible yet, for me I feel it’s less likely to lose control, versus down shift in having more possible wheel grab.

Very true, and some you can push and it stops at N before hitting R (maybe all not sure have driven one regularly in a long time).
If it’s bad enough, I prefer two hands on the wheel, and my foot is just a quick lift away.

Driving up the interstate going thru one of the busiest sections of highway with out tourist traffic, vehicle started sliding and spinning, we are all doing 55ish, immediately instinctively hit the clutch. Squeezed the ass cheeks, kept the clutch pressed and steered through as the truck slowed on its own. That was about 20 miles in to my 320 mile round trip snowing till probably the last 30ish on the return home. My truck was new and even with the shitty sport stock tires, I felt like it was a tank.

 

OP, seeing your replies seems like you've learned your lesson.

I was once in the White Mts in NH during a blizzard. We were going to go skiing. Anyways, to go to the ski place you have to go up a hill. While we were going up, saw a few pick-up trucks going too fast for the conditions. Anyways, we saw a flipped Tacoma on our way to the ski place, it was in a ditch. The tow truck was there already, but damn. 4WD ain't shit without snow tires! If the truck in front was "throwing" debris, back the fuck up and slow down!