4Runner in snow?

[delloro]

Went up to the mountains Saturday. No chains needed as I have 4wd and M+S tires. Grabber AT2, stock size, with the snowflake symbol.

Went up the hill (and back down) fine, but while tooling around, I saw a foot or more of snow in a field next to the road. I drove into the field, and proceeded to wallow around like a fat man on a water bed. I quickly steered back to the road. Don't know how far I could have gone on like that, maybe a long ways. Had my 8 year old with me, didn't want to get stuck. Still thinks I can do anything.

I crested a moderate hill, and an AWD minivan had slid back down and into a bank. The snow had melted the night before, and refrozen into ice, with a fresh layer of snow on top, most of which had been plowed off. I tied a strap to him, and got stuck myself on the ice. Once I had spun away the bit of snow left behind by the plow, I was on ice and going nowhere, but sideways a little bit.

Not to worry, I put chains on the rear and popped him out like a boss. No spinning, no nothing, just forward.

Lessons learned:

As little as a foot of snow can make for lots of tire-spinning and poor directional control on level ground, even with snow-rated AT tires in good condition.

Even snow-rated tires in good condition are no match for ice.

Chains rule. I have QG2128 chains, awesome ice traction.

 

[oljedi11950]

:doh::lasercannon::shrug: hmmmmm

 

[Jayhawk5G]

It's the driver, not the TEP !

Fixed that for you :lmao:

If my SR5 4x4 could make it through the last three Chicago winters on stock Duelers then there really is no excuse for your TEP. You put it in 4 High and you drive reasonably, still stop well before you need too... watch out for other drivers who may be in less capable vehicles etc. The 4x4 only gets you started, it doesn't help you stop. Get to aggressive in a turn and you will slide, though 4x4 will help you recover better than 4x2.

Then as others said upgrade your tires, I've been on Cooper AT tires in stock size and they have done very well and we have gotten more snow than normal for this time of year. We really haven't even hit snow season yet.

 

[Spokanesteve]

Skiing

 

[Martyb]

I have been in a few snowstorms and my new LE with AT snow flake tires was great in deep snow and on the highway in various conditions. It could be a bit better on ice with pure winter tires (which I have had on a Jeep Commander and my wife's Sonata) but I still feel very secure. Part of it may be that I drive a lot more conservatively than I used to. No longer am I intentionally trying to go sideways like when I had a Subaru Outback and Audi 5000QT.

 

[J-Rock]

WTF. Put some good winter tires and stop crying! My 4 years old drove on my legs trough 10 inches of snow and he was laughing not crying!

 

[GG Allin]

I drove an M3 with snow tires for 5 winters. That car was better than most out there. Tires is everything.

 

[Layson]

Stock tires and I think this thing is a machine in the snow. Really actually impressed with it. I have a really steep driveway that is completely iced over. 4runner doesn't skip a beat. I can stop on it and then continue up it. I even stuck it in 4low and didn't even have to touch the pedal to go up it.

 

[Toffees]

Stock tires and I think this thing is a machine in the snow. Really actually impressed with it. I have a really steep driveway that is completely iced over. 4runner doesn't skip a beat. I can stop on it and then continue up it. I even stuck it in 4low and didn't even have to touch the pedal to go up it.

Is it true yours performs better in the snow because it's a Blizzard Pearl?

 

[Ron4RNevada]

Yes: Stock '13 Blizzard Pearl 4x4 on Toyo (E) M/Ts only way to fly....

 

[SirBarton]

When I lived in Boulder, CO in the late 1990s my 1990 2nd gen was great in snow. I just put a few sand bags in the bag in the winter to balance it out.

Also, I constantly watched lots of locals drive all kinds of cars and trucks (even 2WD) through snow all the time.

Tires and more driving experience in snow will make all the difference. Upgrading to a Limited will not keep you off that bus after you total it going too fast in to those turns.

 

[007Tacoma]

When I lived in Boulder, CO in the late 1990s my 1990 2nd gen was great in snow. I just put a few sand bags in the bag in the winter to balance it out.

Also, I constantly watched lots of locals drive all kinds of cars and trucks (even 2WD) through snow all the time.

Tires and more driving experience in snow will make all the difference. Upgrading to a Limited will not keep you off that bus after you total it going too fast in to those turns.

Lived in Nederland during that time driving a 74' Scout II. I wanted a 4Runner so badly back then...

 

[Coolrunning]

Lived in Nederland during that time driving a 74' Scout II. I wanted a 4Runner so badly back then...

Absolutely love Nederland!!!

 

[Lindenwood]

As some have implied, for everyday commuting in snowy and icy conditions, you will probably be disappointed in anything after a Surabu if you come in with the same expectations.

That said, I certainly love my 4Runner and trust it to take us where we need to go, using appropriate tires.

But, I have driven Midwest winters with a bicycle, a motorcycle (yup...and it actually worked out much better than you'd expect), a Turbocharged MR2 with wide summer tires (now THAT was interesting!), a stock Jeep Cherokee 2WD, a lifted Suzuki Samurai on MTs with a locked rear, a Honda Fit, and a Honda Civic. So, I tend to just accept what I have, learn its strengths and limitations, and otherwise rely on my own abilities to get me from point A to point B.

 

[jspagna1]

Snow

I find that dedicated winter tires are the best way to go. That being said my 3rd gen had AT tires and went with winter tires for a couple of years before I sold it and it did perform better with dedicated winter tires.
My daughter has a 13 Subaru Legacy AWD and winter tires make it even better.
Now on my 11 T4R SR5 this year I went with the Firestone Destination AT tires after the stock Bridge Stones needed replacing and so far so good.

 

[Jayhawk5G]

I find that dedicated winter tires are the best way to go. That being said my 3rd gen had AT tires and went with winter tires for a couple of years before I sold it and it did perform better with dedicated winter tires.
My daughter has a 13 Subaru Legacy AWD and winter tires make it even better.
Now on my 11 T4R SR5 this year I went with the Firestone Destination AT tires after the stock Bridge Stones needed replacing and so far so good.

If I lived in the Northeast I think a set of FJ Cruiser Steel wheels and winter tires would be worth it... However in Chicago we get quite a bit of snow but not consistently through winter. I also recently had to replace my tires, I went with Cooper Discoverer AT's and I have also had good luck with them.

 

[4Regrets]

Well I put some new tires on it and logged around 1,000 miles behind the wheel, around 250 of which were on snow and ice covered roads. The TEP provides exceptional traction when the roads are truly terrible, but it is the mixed conditions where it falls short for me.

There are too many roads out here that could be completely dry for miles, then you go over a rise and you're dealing with shoulder to shoulder snowpacked surface. Slowing down to less than 50mph means you're running the risk of getting run off the road by a semi who is waiting until the last possible minute to dart into the left lane to pass.

I am aware it was my mistake, I'm not blaming the vehicle, I love the way it rides and handles, I wish I could get full time 4wd with KDSS. I will buy another 4Runner without hesitation as the vehicle is utilitarian and generally well built. I just can't get comfortable with driving a RWD truck at 55+ mph in mixed winter conditions. I guess I just forgot that rwd vehicles are the antithesis of confidence inspiring in suboptimal road conditions.

I love the truck for what it is, I just need to buy one that offers a drivetrain which I feel is safer for the road conditions I frequently encounter.

 

[Liam1234]

I just can't get comfortable with driving a RWD truck at 55+ mph in mixed winter conditions.

I have a 2011 4Runner SR5, I use the lever to switch into 4WD and have taken her on the highway up to 70 easily. My tacoma truck did the same thing and never had one problem,

Bottom line is that I NEVER engage it above 30 MPH but after its engaged I drive it like its in 2WD and that includes highways speeds. Just today was on the highway with plow trucks and slush and it was in 4WD.

Would I go above 70 in 4WD? maybe, possibly,, but frankly if you are at those speeds I highly doubt you need 4WD... although I was driving mine like a rally car with the traction control off, at one point today in the snow on the backroads.. very fun.. like a large quad.

 

[Liam1234]

Chains rule. I have QG2128 chains, awesome ice traction.

Stupid question.... How hard is it to put on chains while in the snow?

My 2011 SR5 has 110K miles, 6 month old set of Michelin M&S tires and they have great traction and drove it all day in a snow storm today.

I was picking up my daughters friend and the driveway had not been plowed and it was very steep and they warned me not come down as I would not get back up...I ignored that as I like a challenge.

I was able to get up easily when the driveway was fresh unadulterated snow.

I took the friend back home and they warned me again, so did my wife, my daughter, her friend and her friends father via text but I ignored them because I think Im big man on campus and my 4Runner is the balls.

Well...I tried getting back up and failed, and failed again, and failed again and then almost slid down sideways and took out a row of beautiful hemlocks and then I was defeated. The portion where I had driven earlier in the day (no one else had driven on it) was now icy under the new snow that had fallen. Bottom line, 6WD was not getting up this slick icing driveway an snow was falling at a rapid rate still.

I took my shovel out of the back and went to town and others helps and got most of it done along with throwing a bunch of sand and I was able to get up the driveway lickety split.

Also, 4WD low did crap for me as I tried to use it but I knew it wouldn't because of the ice but tried anyway... I did not try ATRAC..just remembered that, I should have...


QUESTION:

Are chains easy to put on? .. would the chains of helped me in this situation?

 

[audiciter]

Well I put some new tires on it and logged around 1,000 miles behind the wheel, around 250 of which were on snow and ice covered roads.

You logged 1,000 miles on new tires since you last posted 5 days ago?

There are too many roads out here that could be completely dry for miles, then you go over a rise and you're dealing with shoulder to shoulder snowpacked surface. Slowing down to less than 50mph means you're running the risk of getting run off the road by a semi who is waiting until the last possible minute to dart into the left lane to pass.

In the midwest (flat farm land) you'll have miles of dry and then two huge fields on each side where wind blows snow causing the same effect. I just shift it into 4 (rare cases) or just let off the gas to drop the rpms and you just drive right over it.

I just can't get comfortable with driving a RWD truck at 55+ mph in mixed winter conditions. I guess I just forgot that rwd vehicles are the antithesis of confidence inspiring in suboptimal road conditions.

Honestly if the roads are snow covered and slick, you shouldn't be comfortable driving 55+ mph in anything.