Best Way To Drive In Snow?

HAVE THE 03 LTD 4RUNNER UP HERE IN PATRIOTS COUNTRY AND AM GETTING POUNDED WITH SNOW - 18-24 INCHES

I TOOK IT OUT FOR ITS FIRST SNOW DRIVE AND IT WORKED QUITE OUT QUITE NICELY.

I JUST KEEP IT ON 4WD HI WITH VSC ON.
IS THIS THE BEST WAY TO GET AROUND IN THE SNOW?

THIS IS MY FIRST 4WD VEHICLE AND TRYING TO GET A HANDLE ON WHAT IS BEST

THANKS

I was driving on 95 in Maine tonight and I didn't have any problems. Just take it easy because you can still loose control at any moment. Driving around town I found that locking the center diff. and VSC off it handled the snow much better.

You can take the handling to an even higher level if you get some snow tires for the winter months.

thats true. these Dunlops aren't exactly great. No deep aggressive tread.

I don't know much about snow driving...however, here are some basic points:

1. ALWAYS leave your 4runner in 4wd HI. Always.

2. If you anticipate that your 4runner will be buried by the next morning, then LOCK YOUR CENTER DIFFERENTIAL the night before. Why?? Well, if you lock your center diff, then VSC (and dethrottling function of Traction Control system) is turned OFF. With this turned off, you can "power" your way out of a hole...allowing your tires to spin without your engine computer cutting engine power in response to slippage.

If you do not lock your center diff, then in the morning, you may have problems locking your center diff. As you may know, locking the center diff (and going from 2wd to 4wd) is best done with your steering wheel straight and no slippage on any wheels. Also, a running start is helpful...that is, your 4runner needs to be rolling to make the switch quickly. Thus, if your 4runner is buried, then doing the above is difficult with your 4runner stuck in one place.

But, also, remember to UNLOCK YOUR CENTER DIFFERENTIAL once you're clear of any obstruction. You MUST do this to prevent binding of the center differential around corners AND to allow VSC to come ON.

VSC is very helpful for the average owners in slippery conditions, including rain and snow.

3. If you are going to go thru thick/deep snow, then LOCK YOUR CENTER DIFFERENTIAL for reasons mentioned above.

Other than the above points, just be careful. Snow driving is very tricky for beginners (including myself). Getting dedicated snow tires is a very good advice.

Your 4runner should do exceptionally well in snow. My brother's friend has a Toyota Sequoia and he cannot say enough about VSC and ATRAC (4-wheel traction control system).

Have a safe winter,
Thai.

I just push a button and 2 seconds later its locked.

Here's a pic of the snow in New Hampshire.

Awsome!

My 93 (I found out what year it is! YAY!!) Hilux Surf only has 4 low! Whats up with that?

The snow wasnt that bad here. Lots of snow drifts and slippery roads.

You can't really tell from the picture, but there are actually 6-7 cars lined up behind me that are completely buried.

NICE!

patin22 said:

You can't really tell from the picture, but there are actually 6-7 cars lined up behind me that are completely buried.

Click to expand...

PIAA's? Nice!!!

How do you trun the VCS off? I did not know I could do that. I don't remember turning it on? If I romp on the gas it spins for a second then makes some ABS noise and boggs and sends power to the front. How's it turned off?

I thought you had to be in 4 low to lock the center diff?

Iman74 said:

PIAA's? Nice!!!

Click to expand...

Yep. I'm seriously considering a set of fogs too though. We went snowboarding Saturday and I need more light for whiteout conditions - I tested the driving lights and they were just not made for that kind of use. It was like blinding sunlight!

Colemanfu said:

How do you trun the VCS off? I did not know I could do that. I don't remember turning it on? If I romp on the gas it spins for a second then makes some ABS noise and boggs and sends power to the front. How's it turned off?

I thought you had to be in 4 low to lock the center diff?

Click to expand...

After locking your differential, VSC is supposed to disengage automatically. I found that when I'm stuck, however, it's still helping at lower RPMs. There were a number of times this weekend that I needed to lock the diff in order to get myself moving out of deeper snow. I found that a slow steady rise in RPMs overrode the VSC and allowed me to spin my tires a little to crawl out of the ruts I was stuck in. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that the skid control is ever fully disengaged even with the diff locked.

I think traction control is still on, but not as aggessive as when the skid control is engaged. I was able to lock the center diff this weekend, and was able to get through deep snow no problem. When VSC is on, it activates too much in deep snow, and makes driving difficult.

The best thing you can do while driving on snow is to keep a constant speed. Any sudden moves will result in loss of control. If there is ANY way of going around an obstruction rather than slamming on your brakes. DO IT. The reason for not using 4LO is because when you get completely off the pedal there is too much brake torque and can cause a loss in control. Also, you can't go over 40mph. Most of the time its true that powering out will get you out, but if you know the snow is really really deep (too deep for your suspension) then flooring it is not the answer and will just make it harder to get out w/o help. I would be refering to when you bottom out and all 4 wheels are basicly lifted off the ground. Like this... Click Here (big image) . But, nomal getting around you probably won't ever have to deal with that. Just was trying to add to the list of things to know about snow driving. oh, and the way we got out was to basicly wait and let the truck melt the ice and then rock it back and forth (side to side. Lucky for me though I don't have to deal with VSC.

When VSC is on, it activates too much in deep snow, and makes driving difficult.

Click to expand...

I hate to sound like an old fart, but if the VSC is activating that much, you're overdriving the vehicle.

Best to slow down and take it easy. Remember: Safety First!

OLD FART!!

heh, completely kidding... we are referring to when the truck is almost stuck and it is actually a good way to get your self out by just spinning the wheels until they dig their way out or find traction. Works the same with mud.