4runner Did Amazing in 20" of snow

[michael90630]

I have the same question as smackitsakic.

When you have the center diff. locked (and VSC turns off automatically), is it OK to make hard full-lock or moderate half-turns? Somewhere I had read that it is not recommended to turn the vehicle when center diffs. are locked and doing so can damage the drivetrain or the diff. brackets (I belive the passenger side). My '07 V6 4WD does not have the VSC turn-off switch like the newer 4Runner's.

If the answere is YES that it can do damage, than engaging the center diff. will have limted benefits. The driver would only engage it for short periods of time - only when one is stuck - than dis-engage it - but be at the mercy of the sometimes annoying VSC getting turned off. Also it will only allow the driver to go only a short distance - straight and remember to dis-engage the center diff.

Thanks.

 

[eskimochaos]

I have the same question as smackitsakic.

When you have the center diff. locked (and VSC turns off automatically), is it OK to make hard full-lock or moderate half-turns? Somewhere I had read that it is not recommended to turn the vehicle when center diffs. are locked and doing so can damage the drivetrain or the diff. brackets (I belive the passenger side). My '07 V6 4WD does not have the VSC turn-off switch like the newer 4Runner's.

If the answere is YES that it can do damage, than engaging the center diff. will have limted benefits. The driver would only engage it for short periods of time - only when one is stuck - than dis-engage it - but be at the mercy of the sometimes annoying VSC getting turned off. Also it will only allow the driver to go only a short distance - straight and remember to dis-engage the center diff.

Thanks.

As long as there is little traction - dirt, mud, snow you can turn all you want.

 

[clem18]

We got atleast 20" here in South Jersey and I was out for almost 5 hours Saturday night and this truck with the combination of the Grabber tires was awesome. I just created tire tracks in streets that did not have any and when I thought I'm getting stuck, reverse and just give it more gas and off I went (4Hi locked differential)... I actually had to stop more just to help people push their car.

This is before sunset before my drive. I just cleared the snow from the windows and drove out! :biggrin2:

The day after. All the picture were with my iphone so the night drive pictures were just bad and blurred.

 

[Bacon]

Trust me you didnt ruin anything. You cant really ruin anything in a situation where there is little to no traction - spinning wheels and beeps/lights wont don anything and dont mean anything bad is happening - they are more to alert you as to whats going on. Were you afraid to give it gas?

Are you sure the CDL successfully locked and you were actually in 4lo?

i resemble that remark. i blew my trans out last winter in deep snow. no traction. $2500 and about 5 or 6 weeks later I was finally back in my runner

 

[eskimochaos]

i resemble that remark. i blew my trans out last winter in deep snow. no traction. $2500 and about 5 or 6 weeks later I was finally back in my runner

Yea IIRC you have 64k on it.

Trust me it was a freak accident.

 

[DC Dude]

First snowfall with my '06 T4R. I got about 23" of snow where I live, and street was still untouched by the plow around 2pm, so I thought Id go for a spin after the driveway was cleared. I was backed into the driveway, so I put it in 4lo and locked the diff, and went forward got 5 feet off my driveway attempted to go left onto the street and got stuck. I dug out the wheels and backed up. I figured it was because I had to make a decent left turn with all the snow to get on the. But after the first incident I opened a lane to the street. So I figured I would try again, this time I got out onto the street went about 35 yards, in 23" of snow, was going well, almost got off my block to the main road and got stuck again. This time it was bad, it took a lot of digging and finally a push from two neighbors to be able to get free, then I backed up in my initial path and parked on my driveway. I was a little disappointed with the performance. Although I did make it a good distance in ALOT of snow, I was kind of bummed I got stuck so bad. My ride is stock in terms of lifts/wheels/ etc, but I thought it was going to do so much better with the 4lo and the diff locked. I hope I didnt ruin anything on the ride underneath being suck in the snow and trying to wiggle around etc. My anti-slip lights kept going on and what ever it engages kept making a noise, I was getting nervous.

3 year old Dunlops are probably worthless in deep snow.

 

[obxfishn]

I'm disappointed, here in Ohio we've only seen some dust. I love the snow. I just got my 4runner in October, put on some Destination A/Ts, and installed the VSC kill switch. I want to try this stuff out, but I haven't even been in 4x4 yet other than to test it out!

On the getting stuck topic, that has to be the tires or maybe it never engaged... We got a 24" storm two Marches ago. I could take my AWD sedan through it. Granted the only unplowed 24" stuff I drove through was down the alley to the street then to the main/plowed roads but I was fine pushing through it in a LOW sedan (Volvo S60R), but I did have snow tires.

How did you install a VSC kill switch?

 

[eskimochaos]

How did you install a VSC kill switch?

Search....theres a writeup and I believe its a sticky.

 

[alaskaman]

if you lock the diff and do corners you are going to get the chattering of the rear wheels attempting to "keep up" with the front. esp in parking lots etc. I typically unlock it after I get on my street after going straight or long corners with heavy or slushy snow. East coast snow is typically wetter than up here though I heard on weather channel that NY got the fluffy stuff. Finally, having to dig out could be wet snow tires or just plain to deep. Either way it does not sound like you could get enough traction or speed to really go through the white stuff and that sounds like really wet snow.

 

[mredskins]

This is my first winter with out the Dunflops, what a difference. I have Cont. Cross Contacts and they are great in the snow. the biggest improvment was in my stopping power, the dunflops were seriously scary to stop with.

 

[GasGuzzler]

snow in PA

Here are 2 pics from driving around in about 12 inches of snow. It has Wrangler Silent Armors, which in my experience seem to perform about as well as the stock Dunlops in light snow and slush (up to a couple of inches). However, in the deeper, powdery snow these tires did great.

 

[DC Dude]

Nice, but should have turned the fog lights on too. :wink2:

 

[offshorebear]

I had to drive through the storm to pick up some venison I had processed.


4Runner even does decent out hunting. Lucky anyway. The only problem was getting mud under the rear doors and freezing there, making it impossible to open the rear doors quietly.

 

[MikesToy]

Deer jerky eh?

 

[JB.]

I had to drive through the storm to pick up some venison I had processed.

"Let us process your venison and for a limited time we'll throw in a free wolf." ?

 

[eskimochaos]

I had to drive through the storm to pick up some venison I had processed.

"Let us process your venison and for a limited time we'll throw in a free wolf." ?

hahhaha wtf is that?

 

[DC Dude]

I had to drive through the storm to pick up some venison I had processed.


4Runner even does decent out hunting. Lucky anyway. The only problem was getting mud under the rear doors and freezing there, making it impossible to open the rear doors quietly.

How many pounds is that hanging off your hitch?

 

[offshorebear]

My hunting dog didn't work out like I thought it would. :ak472:


No, its a coyote. Its getting a full body mount

Not much weight, 200 pounds maybe.

 

[DC Dude]

My hunting dog didn't work out like I thought it would. :ak472:


No, its a coyote. Its getting a full body mount

Not much weight, 200 pounds maybe.

Your V8 comes with that heavier duty hitch....not sure if the light duty hitch that the V6's have will handle 200 lbs.

 

[eskimochaos]

Your V8 comes with that heavier duty hitch....not sure if the light duty hitch that the V6's have will handle 200 lbs.

Ummmmmmm they absolutely will.