Prerunner winter road worthiness

I doubt I’ll be leaving North Dakota anytime soon. I’m liking it here so far.

Am I insane to think I can make my RWD capable here during the winters? Sandbags in the back, appropriate tires, possibly chains, etc…

Or do I consider selling it for something 4x4? Not super inclined to undertake a 4x4 swap with the business of a move still going on. I do take a 4x4 work truck home each night and use it for work daily. As such, driving the Tacoma is something I do when I want, not out of necessity.

Curious to hear what the community thinks.

 

Plenty of people drive RWD in snow. It's just a matter of knowing how to do it. Driver skill and experience almost always trumps equipment.

With weight over your rear axle and good winter tires you should be fine if you drive appropriately - consider how many people have and still get around just fine in older trucks everywhere on Earth.

 

I think so too. I previously lived in Vermont for seven years before spending 11 years in NorCal. I never had issues driving in the snow when I lived in VT. Common sense and a safe speed will probably get me most places I need or want to go.

 

I drove my RWD Ranger for years. I would never call it "capable" but it worked.

Get some good winter tires (not ATs, even if winter rated) and you'll be ok. I had studs too which were good on that hardpack/icy surface streets that you likely get.

Even with my 4x4 I rarely actually use 4x4 unless things are real gnarly.

 

@Fargo Taco

 

If I could get by with my RWD Celica for a few years you can manage with the Prerunner!!

500' up hill drive way to the township road most winters it was a bob sled run going down.

Common sense will beat equipment anytime. During a Blizzard no need to go anyplace .

I don`t know most places 24 hours after it stops most roads are passable under passes cleaned out even.

If you absolutely need to get out chains and and about 400 pounds of weight and two good shovels when the first one breaks.

 

Thanks for the tag, @six5crèéd.

Fellow North Dakotan chiming in.

98% of the time, 2WD is perfectly adequate, even with my stock tires.

From a dead stop at a red light with no weight over the back wheels you get exactly zero traction but sandbags will help with that. Or just let the box fill up with ice and snow.

I've been living here for 38 years and I've never put chains on any vehicle.

If you have a 4WD work truck for when it gets really crappy out, and it will, you'll be fine.

 

That’s music to my ears. I appreciate the 1st hand input.

 

A limited slip differential makes a difference. I like a truetrac. Drove a 2wd suburban through 8 winters in salt lake and never felt it was inadequate. Throw 4 50 lb sandbags in the bed and think ahead to avoid any need to make a complete stop on hills.

 

When I said if you need to get out It was meant at the time before any Snow Plows were seen near where your living.

Like if your a smoker and run out I hear people can do very foolish things .

 

@Fargo Taco

Over here in Bismarck, I haven’t seen a single plow all day and the roads are packed with snow. Same where you are?

Any idea when the plows run, or why they aren’t trying to keep up with the blizzard? Maybe they’re on the highways? I’m surprised to see the capital city here left untouched by DOT vehicles.

 

No plows that I've seen in Fargo but we also only have about 1/2" of snow so there's nothing to plow.

The 1/8" of ice on everything makes it fun to get around, though.

I don't know when they'll be out but let me know if you see Darth Blader.

 

I’ve been shoveling multiple times a day to keep up with the constant downfall. Gnarly!

 

Under the conditions your having Thorsday evening!!