this truck is fun!

Got our first winter storm of the season today. This gave me a chance to really put my truck/4x4 to the test. Ive only had it since august. It was fun simply going around stuck cars and up and down hills with half a foot of snow on them. I actually stopped midway down one of the steepest roads here, and backed up it. I literally would have to TRY hard to get stuck. It was neat feeling the traction controls work and beep. Coming from a ford focus, it is awesome to now be able to tackle winter roads with confidence. I kept seeing another tacoma, a MGM sport doing the same thing I was. Not that I ever doubted it, but today really showed me how awesome this truck is.

 

Those traction controls will come to drive you crazy after awhile. I was always turning them off on my 2011 so I could actually drive it, but I don't have that problem with my first gen!

But I agree, the 4x4 capabilities of these trucks is next to nothing. I had a skeptical buddy of mine riding with me one time in my '11 and he didn't think I could come to a complete stop on a real icy hill, put it in reverse and back up the hill in 4x4, I did it and he was just shocked, couldn't believe a little Toyota 4 banger truck did something his monster V8 Chevy Scottsdale couldn't.

 

My previous vehicle was also a Ford Focus. Not only was I thankful for 4WD during last year's horrible winter, I was thankful for 9" of ground clearance. Digging out a high-centered car out is no fun.

 

Just keep in mind that no matter how easy she drives in the white stuff, you still brake like other cars too and you will slide so make sure to give yourself plenty of stopping room, and don't get cocky.

Find an empty parking lot, turn off nanny modes, and whip some donuts!

 

I may never get to drive mine in the snow, the sand will have to make do.
Maybe one day I can take it on a trip where it snows.

 

Exactly. Too many people get a false sense of security in 4x4, or just dont know much about it. It only helps you GO. Dm1215, it is fun as hell, but the resulting salt on the roads is not. I'll be hitting the carwash when the weather permits.

 

The traction control can make it worse it's only for instant traction if your spinning and leave it on it won't do you much if any good because it's got the brake on, on the opposite side. What is good is the skid control I hit black ice going down hill and was heading for the lake and that thing did one hell of a job making it go in the direction I want to go.