Snow driving

Different storms bring different snow. 2 storms ago in Utah, we had the wet heavy stuff that packs in your wheel wells. This most recent storm was light powder that left the road dry underneath.

 

Yep

 

We get weird snow here too, driving down the road it constantly changes, best to stay alert and not go too fast.

 

I'm a recovering Buckeye...I totally understand.

 

I agree with this.

Not sure I agree with this. I haven't come across anything in any of my vehicle owner's manuals that says that pumping brakes will disable ABS. I could be wrong though.

 

I think he means if abs engages, you let off the brake. Abs disengages and you try again to apply the brakes.

I personally disagree with the advise. Abs is designed to keep the wheel from locking and relying on kinetic friction to slow the vehicle. Static friction (no wheel slip) is a more powerful force.

This is why you don't floor it to get moving in the snow.

Wheel slip = bad

 

The ABS on these trucks sucks balls in snow

 

No abs on my truck so I cannot speak to that.

 

go practice in the parking lot at a park or some open area.

 

When you don't have an ABS you do the pumping technic to mimic the ABS and prevent wheel locking.

 

ABS is the greatest thing since sliced bread, until it isn't. It really depends on the vehicle and road conditions. My first vehicle with ABS was a 1986 BMW 535i gray market autobahn burner. The BMW's ABS in the snow was amazing. The next was a GMC pickup and its ABS sucked balls. The first time it, the ABS, kicked in I slid straight through a red light and into oncoming traffic. Slid isn't really the correct word, more like rolled because the ABS would keep releasing the brakes before any braking action could take place.

The lesson I've learned driving many ABS equipped cars and trucks is never drive in a manner that requires it, ESPECIALLY on slick roads. When I leave home the morning after a storm, I will jam on the brakes while doing about 10 mph to get a feel for how slippery things are. If it's slick as snot or not "too bad" that little test is my gauge for the rest of the drive.

So, you will never read about pumping the brakes in an owners manual because for 99% of drivers and road conditions you should absolutely let the ABS do its job. But, if you find yourself driving a mid 90's GM product on slippery as snot roads, a sliding tire provides more stopping friction than one where the ABS just lets it roll. The technique is to jam the brake until the ABS kicks in then release, rinse and repeat. If you need this technique then clearly you have done something wrong and not followed my tips above. That said, shit happens and practice before hand helps. (in my case with the GMC I had sold the BMW to buy it and I assumed it ABS would be as awesome. (silly, stupid me) I literally had both feet on the brake pedal pressing as hard as I could while the ABS just grr, grrr, grrred me into oncoming traffic. Had I pumped the brakes I could have stopped. That's why I said it's hard to do in the heat of the moment.)

 

So many different kinds of snow The trick is knowing just which your driving on.

Quite a lot like skiing

Anymore far to many idiots on the road Nothing I need to do can`t wait a day or two

I think it comes down to decent tires and practice

 

The ABS on these trucks will try to kill you.

 

I'm in northern Minnesota and this is my first year with the 4x4 Tacoma. I've previously run a Jeep Cherokee, then an Xterra. First and foremost is good tires. I've run BGF TA/KO's and General Grabbers on my previous two vehicles, running Duratrac's on the Taco. Obviously dedicated snow tires is the best option, but I personally don't go that route.

As for weight in the back, I have (3) 70lb bags of tube sand laying lengthwise in the bed, on the cab side. They're long enough where against the cab, the lay right from the cab to just over the axle in my short bed. Seems to be perfect so far this winter.

Regarding 4 wheel drive, I rarely use it and rarely have in previous years. Only time I use it if the snow is deep and I need the extra traction to barrel through it. Occasionally I'll throw it in 4H at a stop sign or stop light if I'm on a hill or otherwise know it's extra slick. I take it out of 4H once I get going.

The most important thing, and I can't stress it enough, is to SLOW DOWN. With good tires and 4 wheel drive, I'm confident I can get going if I need to, I don't need speed and momentum to keep me going. 4 wheel drive isn't going to keep me from sliding into the ditch if I'm driving too fast. That's the one advantage to having a 4 wheel drive truck in my opinion. I can just leisurely drive through really bad roads and the tires and 4 wheel drive traction will get me where I need to be, without needing the speed and momentum 2 wheel drive vehicles may need.

As far as tire pressure, I've always kept them properly inflated - in other words, airing down is only good for off road driving in deep snow, and unplowed roads. I played around with less air this year and what I found was, for city driving, mushy tires is the last thing you want on roads with a few inches of snow/slush.

The above is based on my experience and what I've found works best for me. Again, nothing beats slowing down. Disregard my profile pic, that was from a trip to Utah back in September. I currently have about 4 inches of snow sitting on the truck in my driveway. Watching the Vikings game then going to play in the snow. SKOL!!

 

An example of the winters I live through and enjoy...Here's me adjusting my headphones while I clear snow from my roof after a snowfall a couple years ago.