4Runner snow mode - tips?

[tcpoob]

We'd a foot of snow today in metro Boston by end of day. Tried to make it up my steep (about 25-30 degree) incline driveway but failed after multiple attempts. It's only 30-40 feet long but a somewhat steep incline. I tried Hi4 with both center diff locked and unlocked. neither worked. Could only make it up 1/5 of the total length. I know the stock Bridgestone H/T I've sucks but I doubt the Revo would have made any diff given the unplowed steep driveway I have. I also tried using shift lever in gears other than (D), like 4, 3, 2, combined with HI4 (locked diff and unlocked center differential). Not sure if the snow covered steep driveway is too much for the Runner. I ended up spending 1 hour shoveling the snow (my snow thrower is still in the shed, blocked by my grass mower and other junks). Finally after shoveling most the snow on the driveway off to the sides, I backed up the runner and gave it a litte momentum, it went up in HI4 (unlocked center diff). Now parked in my garage!

Those of you more experienced driving in snow, could you give me some tips for driving uphill in unplowed deep snow, like my driveway (only 30-40 feet). I wonder what I could have done differently and if there's any chance at all making up the hill in a foot of snow.

Thanks. What a night! My arms are hurting from too much hard shoveling. Perhaps I am overconfident with the Runner - '05, V6, multimode 4WD, stock tires Bridgestone H/T (sucks). I was hoping to not have to shovel.

 

[Mark86]

Did you try it in 4LO? You should have first tried it in 4LO and then tried it in 4LO with the center diff locked. I once got stuck in a snow drift in my driveway and was able to wiggle it out in 4LO and the center diff locked. When this happened, I had the stock Dunlops. A 4Runner should be able to make it up your driveway without a sweat. Revos definitely would have given you more traction.

 

[tcpoob]

I didn't try 4LO. I read somewhere that in snowy/icy conditions, you dont want too much torque which causes the tires to spin. And I thought 4LO is the gear that provides the most torque mostly for towing purpose. Was I misled about the 4LO?

Should I really have tried it? I will next time. My wife laughed at me trying to go up the 40 feet 30 degree 1 foot snow packed driveway w/o plowing it.

Did you try it in 4LO? You should have first tried it in 4LO and then tried it in 4LO with the center diff locked. I once got stuck in a snow drift in my driveway and was able to wiggle it out in 4LO and the center diff locked. When this happened, I had the stock Dunlops. A 4Runner should be able to make it up your driveway without a sweat. Revos definitely would have given you more traction.

 

[Mark86]

I didn't try 4LO. I read somewhere that in snowy/icy conditions, you dont want too much torque which causes the tires to spin. And I thought 4LO is the gear that provides the most torque mostly for towing purpose. Was I misled about the 4LO?

Should I really have tried it? I will next time. My wife laughed at me trying to go up the 40 feet 30 degree 1 foot snow packed driveway w/o plowing it.

I think you should have tried it. I think you were misled about 4LO. The minute I shifted into 4LO, I got out of the snow drift I was stuck in. If you look in your drivers sunviser, there is a little cheat card in the pocket that explains the 4WD system in the 4Runner.

 

[Northof49]

Get a run at er and keep it taped.....

 

[psychoklr]

I'm with the your tires suck theory. I guarantee you'd make it up that with better tires like Duelers or snow tires. I had the same crappy stock tires last year and now I have Dueler's and it's like night and day !! I went in this week to upgrade to an 06 and I told the dealer i want to swap my tires to the 06 when I do

 

[ToolmanJohn]

Traction problem = Tires

It's most likely your tires. The Dueler H/T's aren't good in the wet and snow. I know, I had them up until about a month ago. they release way to early when surface traction is low.

I have Bridgestone Blizzaks right now, and I can't say anything bad about them. They are really excellent. Corner great, stop quickly, just what I bought them for. However, I don't know if they could do a 25-30 degrees climb on a low traction surface like snow. Probably chains would be the only thing.

Yesterday, the plow did not clear the parking lot where I work, but I drove all around in 10-12 inch deep snow, and through a couple pushed up 16" drifts. No problems , lots of fun. Plenty of stuck cars in the lot. They had to get shovels and dig out to get into other peoples tracks so they could leave work.

 

[Bobby]

Better tires would've definitely helped. Revos probably would've made it up your driveway. We had about 6" of snow here and I had absolutely no problems going up some really steep unplowed streets from a complete stop with my Revos.

As for tips, momentum is your friend for steep hills. 4Lo probably wouldn't have helped. Get a running start in 4Hi, D and locked center diff and don't let off until you get to the top.

 

[tcpoob]

my sis in NJ also said yesterday she'd about 6 inch in Plainsboro.

the thing w/ most driveways is, you usually have to make a turn from the main rd to your driveway so you lost quite some momentum.

seems most agree tires are very important in this snow/steep incline condition. but you and Mark have diff view in using 4LO. I guess the only way to know is for me to try it in the next storm. I am sure there's more to come the rest of winter.

now, off to free my snow thrower first in the shed. BTW, anyone knows where I can get a ramp for my shed to get my snow throwers out? In the past i've always used makeshift ones like two piece of wood or even a unused door from my hse. it's a pain. i dont want to have to build one if it's readily available as i suck in tools and projects. thx.

Better tires would've definitely helped. Revos probably would've made it up your driveway. We had about 6" of snow here and I had absolutely no problems going up some really steep unplowed streets from a complete stop with my Revos.

As for tips, momentum is your friend for steep hills. 4Lo probably wouldn't have helped. Get a running start in 4Hi, D and locked center diff and don't let off until you get to the top.

 

[Bobby]

The deal with 4Lo is that the wheels spin slower so you might be able to get better traction getting out of stuff but for a steep incline, you need speed and better tires. If you feather your throttle, you really don't need 4Lo.

When you turn into your driveway, back up all the way to the curb on the other side of the road, straighten up and get a running start. You should be able to carry enough momentum to go up unless your street is really, really narrow.

For the ramps, you can buy something like these:
Ramp ends

I think Home Depot or Harbor Freight has them and they're fairly cheap (under $15 ea). I'm sure you know how to use a drill and screwdriver, right?

 

[kullenberg]

Driveway

I have a very simular drivway, here in the mtns of NC. I put Revos on my 04 V8 sport, after about 10k mi on the Dunlops, and have never looked back. I now have 26k on the Revos with little discernable wear. I commonly go up the drive in 4hi, center diff locked, in up to 8" of unplowed snow. More than that, I have a standing order with a plow guy. My drive is gravel, which improves traction. I've never spun a wheel.