Traction settings

Took my wife to the airport pre-sunrise this morning. Typical December morning in Colorado, most of the week it’s been T-shirt weather woke up to lower 20’s a dusting of snow, about an inch. Now that I’m home and alone I have the time to ask an old question- what’s the best setup for driving in this weather? It’s too smooth for 4WD but my slip indicator lite comes on. The streets go from dry to a layer of ice on water under snow. I’ve always just driven it as it normally is but am wondering if there is a better setup.

I’ve got an off road version with crawl control so everything is available.

what do you suggest?

 

I do 4wd if I know I'm gonna spin the right rear tire, so at red lights where its usually polished ice, then I'll switch it off on the fly.

 

4HI with VSC active. Otherwise, the normal, default setting in 2HI where VSC and TC is active at all speeds. Turning on autoLSD may help, but at that point you can probably just use 4HI.

 

Something I noticed in autoLSD is the truck can accelerate better than regular 2wd, but if traction is lost the truck is much more likely to fishtail.

I agree with Bishop84. Take advantage of the on the fly capabilities. I will shift mine in and out of 4wd as needed on those in between days.

 

this is a usual problem, with many coming from (or expecting) an AWD experience. This truck is 4WD, not AWD, and of course in 2WD it is often on an empty bed.
If the roads are slick, use 4WD. Adding weight to the bed will help tremendously too, and some sand bags can buy opened to help you or others out of a jamb,, especially in CO.

 

I leave it in 4Hi on mainly icy or snowy roads and will switch to 2WD if I know I need to make a sharp turn on pavement that might be dry. I also exercise 4Hi after a first rain (because roads will be slick) on straight roads to keep 4WD working in non-winter months.

 

The best setting is snow tires. Just got Blizzaks on mine and they’ve been great in snow and ice so far.

 

Ditto. Hakkas for me when I get home.

 

I only use 4hi on heavy snow or ice. Not necessary for regular light snow or rain unless you're going way too fast or have terrible tires. Never 4 low on regular roads. Only for serious off road situations.