Really good advice given above. One thing that was hinted at but may not be clear: If you do start to slide, steer in the direction of the slide, i.e. if you slide right, steer to the right. If you steer to the left, you WILL spin. This should also be part of your practice in an empty parking lot.

cant believe it hasnt been said yet....use your GEARS w/ 4wd down hill instead of the brakes.

* 4WD doesn’t mean that your vehicle has the ability to make a 35 mph curve at 75 mph. I know. I lived in and near ski resorts for decades and watched many a brand new crunched SUV go back toward the cities on the back of an AAA flatbed. 4WD is great for going forward and backwards on snow and ice, but does little in turns except for those experienced enough to know how to correct with the throttle and not the brakes in snow (for older vehicles without traction control). City flatlanders get a new SUV and drive like they see on the commercials without knowledge and skill to know better. Especially adolescent ones, which can and will take out the most experienced snow and ice driver along with them.

* As mentioned before, get some practice if you can. Learn how your rig handles snow and relax and don’t white knuckle it. Quick and erratic steering inputs often lead to negative results.

* In most states, there are special speed limits imposed when there is snow on the road. They are there for a reason. Unfortunately, many flatlanders tailgate those who are sticking to the rules, with negative results mentioned above.

* It sounds as if where you are going will receive little snow or if it does will be quickly plowed. Actually, all terrain tires do best in deeper snow, as unpacked snow actually enhances traction. Plowed roads lead to ice, which is more likely to lead to driving issues. If it’s sunny, ice will have a melting ice water coating, making things worse.

* As said, put it in 4WD HI as soon as you encounter ice. It doesn’t hurt to have your vehicle in 4WD HI for short stretches of dry highway if the road doesn’t have sharp turns (I know, I’ve more than once accidentally knocked my old 2002 Tacoma, with an electronic 4WD activation button on the side of the transfer case shift lever, into 4-HI while vacuuming and went on my merry way for tens and dozens of miles at highway speeds before making a 90º turn onto another street and then encountered drivetrain wind up). I often leave my old trucks and current 4Runner in 4-HI on stretches of highway and interstate with stretches of alternating dry/snow/ice/wet conditions without issue.

* And if you feel you are getting in over your head, there is no dishonor in turning around and getting out of the snow and ice.

Is this a thing?

People in Florida make fun of people who drive slow with flashers on during heavy rain. You're actually not supposed to turn on flashers unless you're pulled to the side of the road. The department of highway safety even puts messages on the billboards like "headlights on flashers off"

I feel a lot more confident now... You guys have no idea how much this helps!

I appreciate everyone who has contributed to the thread

Slow and easy and for sure use the gears to help you slow down.

Lots of good advice in this thread. Just remember to do everything slower and more deliberately: accelerating from a stop, braking, turning.
And if you get stuck do not spin your tires. This will just melt the snow and dug you in deeper. Use 4WD LO and also ATRAC and lock the rear diff if you need it.

If one feels that they need the flashers on, then they shouldn't be driving.

It's against the law everywhere and it also blinds other drivers in the dark when raining or snowing.

Don't be that fool.

that's not exactly true. Many states allow it.

Hazard Light Use - AAA Digest of Motor Laws.

It's also a really good idea to have them on in a whiteout blizzard or in fog. Hazzards don't blind anyone. You're going to get blinded by the people driving towards you with their headlights on FAR worse than someone next to you having blinkers on.

Best advice I ever got. Pretend your Grandma is buckled in the passenger seat in her Sunday best. She has a huge bowl of tomato gravy on her lap, filled to the top, with no lid. Drive accordingly.


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What others have mentioned will keep you safe with one caveat, the dingbats that are coming up behind you. Going down long inclines, I almost always ride my brakes feather light, when I see someone in my rear view mirror coming up quick even though I could go faster. Generally they will see your brake lamps and slow down if not thank goodness for the tow hitch.

So 21 states allow it.
And it is blinding in the rain or snow in the dark, that's why the majority of states do not allow it.
But now I understand why so many idiots do it down here in Florida

There are a lot of elderly folks in Dade and Broward Counties who can barely see in bright sunshine let alone during a rain storm.

Not sure exact laws about this. Maybe they're trying to tell people to put their headlights on because most don't do that in rain? Of course I'm not there so I have no idea.

I personally don't do it, but it's not uncommon to see. For example, if you have any mountains near you or large hills, you've probably seen truckers putting their hazards on so people know they're going slower than normal and will likely pull up on them quicker. Granted in a snow situation it'd be more for visibility than anything.

In the end I doubt you'll have any issues. Just take it slow and increase your stopping distance just like you would do in rain.

You've got that right. lol
Sunshine one can deal with, we're used to them.
It rains so hard here most times that visibility is literally less than 30 feet and then mix in some slow moving flashing lites and it's a mess.
The blizzards I still remember from the north.