I need some "snow driving" advice!

dwallone

dwallone

New member
North Carolina and it's about to snow... doesnt happen too often!

I have a 2008 4x4 v6 so I have both a center diff lock button AND a VSC kill switch.

If I'm driving in snow, what's the best option? If the conditions are ICY, what are the best options?

Curious as to what everyone's experiences are, I did some searching and it looks like a lot of guys opt to lock the center diff in the snow... but is that because it kills the VSC, and if that is the case is the better option to keep the center unlocked and just hit the VSC kill switch?

Oh, and does anyone air their tires down like you would in sand? I read a few threads during my search that included this as an option... but no one was decisive on what was better... normal psi or low psi.

Thanks in advance....
 
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Keep everything as is.

As an example...assume you're driving over an ice skating rink. Just go slow & keep traction at a steady speed. If you feel like you're going to fast, brake when you are going straight & don't panick.

Don't brake & turn...NEVER brake hard & turn hard or you'll have a damaged vehicle & the Insurance Co. will be getting a call.

Drive slow, be safe & leave the ego at home...life isnt a race.
 
dwallone said:
North Carolina and it's about to snow... doesnt happen too often!

I have a 2008 4x4 v6 so I have both a center diff lock button AND a VSC kill switch.

If I'm driving in snow, what's the best option? If the conditions are ICY, what are the best options?

Curious as to what everyone's experiences are, I did some searching and it looks like a lot of guys opt to lock the center diff in the snow... but is that because it kills the VSC, and if that is the case is the better option to keep the center unlocked and just hit the VSC kill switch?

Oh, and does anyone air their tires down like you would in sand? I read a few threads during my search that included this as an option... but no one was decisive on what was better... normal psi or low psi.

Thanks in advance....
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My advice, just put it in 4wd and don't drive like an idiot. The truck will take care of the rest. I'm also assuming you wont get much snow in NC, couple inches at most. There is no need to do anything but put it into 4wd, you have good tires, that helps a lot. I've driven in all kinds of conditions and never locked my center diff (unless stuck).

Ice is tricky because nothing you do will stop you from slipping if you start. You could also go to a parking lot with snow and "practice/have some fun" and test out the capabilities. Good luck.
 
you dont want to disable anything. let your traction controls work for you. as said earlier take your time and take it easy. best thing to do is take your runner out in a LARGE snow covered parking lot and play around and see just how it reacts. you'd be suprised how good they go.
 
I live in Boston. I've put 85k miles on my '03 4WD Limited since new. I grew up in Chicago and went to college in upstate NY. I've done plenty of driving in the snow.

LEAVE THE CENTER DIFF UNLOCKED AND THE VSC ON. You want the spin control active. You want the center diff to allow the front and rear axles to spin at different speeds. Locking the center diff will make the truck tail happy in the snow or ice. Only lock the center diff if you are stuck.

Drive very carefully. Leave much more room in front. Be gentle with throttle, braking, and steering inputs. Slow down early when braking for a stop or for a turn.

Early on, find yourself a straight stretch with no one behind you. Hammer the brakes and see how long it takes to stop. That will give you an idea of just how little braking power you have.

The 4WD system is very sophisticated and will let you accelerate very quickly from a stop. But the 4WD system doesn't help you turn or stop. So it is very easy to get over-confident. Don't do that. Drive slow and ignore the idiot tailgating you.

No, don't air down. The reason you air down in sand is so that you don't dig in. In snow, you want the tires to dig in and, if possible, reach the pavement below.

Finally, the best thing to have in snow is real snow tires. Probably not viable where you live, but I have a set that I run in the winter.
 
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M1911 said:
I live in Boston. I've put 85k miles on my '03 4WD Limited since new. I grew up in Chicago and went to college in upstate NY. I've done plenty of driving in the snow.

LEAVE THE CENTER DIFF UNLOCKED AND THE VSC ON. You want the spin control active. You want the center diff to allow the front and rear axles to spin at different speeds. Locking the center diff will make the truck tail happy in the snow or ice. Only lock the center diff if you are stuck.

Drive very carefully. Leave much more room in front. Be gentle with throttle, braking, and steering inputs. Slow down early when braking for a stop or for a turn.

Early on, find yourself a straight stretch with no one behind you. Hammer the brakes and see how long it takes to stop. That will give you an idea of just how little braking power you have.

The 4WD system is very sophisticated and will let you accelerate very quickly from a stop. But the 4WD system doesn't help you turn or stop. So it is very easy to get over-confident. Don't do that. Drive slow and ignore the idiot tailgating you.

No, don't air down. The reason you air down in sand is so that you don't dig in. In snow, you want the tires to dig in and, if possible, reach the pavement below.

Finally, the best thing to have in snow is real snow tires. Probably not viable where you live, but I have a set that I run in the winter.
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:iagree: 100%


I would add that your VSC off switch can come in handy. Let's say you're at a dead stop and pulling out into traffic that requires solid acceleration you might want it there. That's a scenario where the VSC will cut the power and a little slip/spin would be ok in order to maintain a strong acceleration.

VSC off or center diff lock if you get 'stuck' in a snow bank.

Basically, if your going slow and want full control of the engine power select VSC off or Diff locked otherwise let the magic stuff do it's thing. In the little bit of slick driving I' have done with mine I use a 20mph rule. If I am going faster than 15-20mph (and not playing) I want the VSC on.
 
We had snow and ice a while back. I thought I was going slow enough up to a stop sign. Hit the bracks, slid and be prepared for your truck to start beeping and making niose. Upset the wife more than me.

_________
'07 SE Titanium V6 4x4
 
CJ3Flyr said:
:iagree: 100%


I would add that your VSC off switch can come in handy. Let's say you're at a dead stop and pulling out into traffic that requires solid acceleration you might want it there. That's a scenario where the VSC will cut the power and a little slip/spin would be ok in order to maintain a strong acceleration.

VSC off or center diff lock if you get 'stuck' in a snow bank.

Basically, if your going slow and want full control of the engine power select VSC off or Diff locked otherwise let the magic stuff do it's thing. In the little bit of slick driving I' have done with mine I use a 20mph rule. If I am going faster than 15-20mph (and not playing) I want the VSC on.
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Awesome. Thanks and thanks to everyone else who offered the solid technical advice and answers to my q’s. It looks like we may actually see close to a foot, hopefully I will have a chance to take some pictures while i'm out.
 
I grew up living and driving in the severe winter conditions of Montreal. I agree with everything everyone has said here. Tires at normal PSI to dig to pavement, centre unocked to avoid oversteer, VSC on to correct for over/understeer, drive slowly, etc. Speed should be based on breaking distiance, not the ability to accelerate. Even people up here in the snow belt haven't figured this out yet and think with 4wd/AWD they can drive faster than everyone else. The vehicles in the ditch are almost always some sort of 4wd/AWD. Don't be one of the those people, everyone will laugh at you.
 
I'm in Raleigh too (grew up in Boston though). The main tip for around here would be to watch out for all those people driving around on bald tires!

See you out and around this weekend.
 
Will_4R said:
I grew up living and driving in the severe winter conditions of Montreal. I agree with everything everyone has said here. Tires at normal PSI to dig to pavement, centre unocked to avoid oversteer, VSC on to correct for over/understeer, drive slowly, etc. Speed should be based on breaking distiance, not the ability to accelerate. Even people up here in the snow belt haven't figured this out yet and think with 4wd/AWD they can drive faster than everyone else. The vehicles in the ditch are almost always some sort of 4wd/AWD. Don't be one of the those people, everyone will laugh at you.
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Yes. No doubt about laughing at SUVs in ditches. The good thing about not getting snow frequently is that generally there isn't a ton of traffic out until it begins to melt. I'll have the roads mostly to myself so I can get done what I need to get done and then head back inside!
 
Excellent advice by 1911 to get on the brakes as a test to show you how tentative your stoping power is in snow. Assume double the distance to stop...at least. After that sobering test you'll drive way differently.

Terrific thread!
 
martini said:
I'm in Raleigh too (grew up in Boston though). The main tip for around here would be to watch out for all those people driving around on bald tires!

See you out and around this weekend.
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What part of Raleigh? I'm close to the RTP area, so N.W. wake co. Problem with this weekend is I need to be in the Triad Saturday AM, they are calling for more snow than Raleigh but hopefully I'll get there and back before everyone with bald tires hits the road!
 
Will_4R said:
Speed should be based on breaking distiance, not the ability to accelerate. Even people up here in the snow belt haven't figured this out yet and think with 4wd/AWD they can drive faster than everyone else. The vehicles in the ditch are almost always some sort of 4wd/AWD. Don't be one of the those people, everyone will laugh at you.
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I grew up in Chicago, driving a '70 Ford station wagon. Huge, underpowered V8 in front, little weight in back, and bias-ply summer tires. In the snow, even gentle acceleration would cause the rear tires to break away. So every time you started up from a stop sign, it reminded you just how slippery it was.

In contrast, with the 4Runner you hit the gas relatively hard and it just goes in the snow. So it is really, really easy to get overconfident. Right up until you try to turn or stop.
 
dwallone said:
What part of Raleigh? I'm close to the RTP area, so N.W. wake co. Problem with this weekend is I need to be in the Triad Saturday AM, they are calling for more snow than Raleigh but hopefully I'll get there and back before everyone with bald tires hits the road!
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I'm in Brier Creek. You should get to have some fun heading out there since they're supposed to get even more than us.
 
martini said:
I'm in Brier Creek. You should get to have some fun heading out there since they're supposed to get even more than us.
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Nice area, I'm in Cary Park so 15-ish minutes away.


They have "salted" a lot of the roads, for whatever good that will do.

I have to make the call as to whether or not the Triangle Aquatic Center will open up tomorrow as well. I'm trying to wait unti the last minute to make that call. We dont want to lose the revue unless we have to... we also dont want people out driving that shouldnt be!
 
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