in winter driving

[tailduster]

just curious whats the deepest snow anyone has taken a stock 4x4 4runner thru. Does the rear diff. locker make much difference?

 

[pat161]

Your question is a tough one to answer. I have blasted through light fluffy snow nearly up to my hood, and I have gotten stuck in less than a foot where the bottom six inches had melted and frozen into slush. 3rd gens are light and that is our biggest problem, we are not heavy enough to cut through the snow for traction. For the most part if it is not fresh powder I try not to bury my axles, every time I have in set snow I end up stuck in some way. But I live in MA and we get powder sometimes, but then it gets warm and it changes to packed snow, so if you live someplace where it stays cold your snow is totally different.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Diff lock will help at slower speeds going through the white stuff but don't use it to just plow through snow since it's not really a traction aid at higher speeds.

 

[p nut]

Also, tires make a HUGE difference. This will be my first year with Bridgestone REVO's, so I'll report back after winter hits. But in the past, I've driven through some crazy stuff with snow tires (on my car). I had a 1990 BMW 325is (RWD) that I took up skiing frequently. I had better traction going through snow than some SUV's with A/S tires.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

yep,tires are a big deal and my Nittos are surprisingly quite good for AT tires and handle slush and ice really well too.