SoCalRunner
New member
Sorry for the dumb questions, I don
Never driven in snow-please advise
- Thread starter SoCalRunner
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Since you are running a 2wd I would suggest tires.... In all honesty you should be fine . Also take some safety gear.
Just take it slow if you hit snow , give yourself plenty of stopping distance. The 4R does very well in snow.
Also you will be on main roads , not like you'll be in the middle of now where , but a communication device would good , cell phone or CB radio ect...
Just take it slow if you hit snow , give yourself plenty of stopping distance. The 4R does very well in snow.
Also you will be on main roads , not like you'll be in the middle of now where , but a communication device would good , cell phone or CB radio ect...
and on top of all of this advice be very aware that there are other drivers on the road that are alot worse off than you, we call them the drivers that "think" they know what their doing in snow drivers.
after your done being safe and prepared for you and your family its time to be the most defensive driver youve ever been. Be alert about whats going on around you and if theres a car sliding up behind you and what other drivers are doing around you.
the one thing people around here try and teach is about braking in the snow, or on ice, dont do it, shift down to slow down and lightly tap the brakes, if you start to slide you can not turn, you need to let off the brakes to turn. If you have ever rode on a jet ski, its like that, you cant turn un less your hittin the gas.
hope this helps and i know youll be fine with the tips from the folks around here!!
after your done being safe and prepared for you and your family its time to be the most defensive driver youve ever been. Be alert about whats going on around you and if theres a car sliding up behind you and what other drivers are doing around you.
the one thing people around here try and teach is about braking in the snow, or on ice, dont do it, shift down to slow down and lightly tap the brakes, if you start to slide you can not turn, you need to let off the brakes to turn. If you have ever rode on a jet ski, its like that, you cant turn un less your hittin the gas.
hope this helps and i know youll be fine with the tips from the folks around here!!
Just so you don't get the wrong impression about snow, tire chains are only for deeper snow, such as in the mountains or during a heavy storm when the road has not been plowed. The mere presence of snow doesn't automatically imply you need chains. Just slow down and watch out for the nuts around you. Driving is easy - stopping is the challenge when roads are slick. But when the snow is really deep and driving is hard, that's what the chains are for.
In the flat Midwest on an interstate or in an urban area, you shouldn't find any conditions that the 4Runner can't handle unless you're driving right in the middle of the storm. So watch the weather, too!
Here's why you don't want to drive during the storm. With last week's storm in the Chicago area, a 60-mile stretch of I-80 in central Illinois was actually closed (and full of cars!) because the traffic combined with snow falling at a rate of 2" an hour made the road impassable. When people skidded across the road or off it, that created a traffic backup, and then the plows were stuck in traffic! If the plows can't get to the snow, they can't plow it, and then everyone was stuck. That's why you should bring food and blankets. Illinois State Police and the Red Cross finally got to everyone that night by way of snowmobile or National Guard vehicles. They got the road moving the next day with an army of snow plows and tow trucks.
In the flat Midwest on an interstate or in an urban area, you shouldn't find any conditions that the 4Runner can't handle unless you're driving right in the middle of the storm. So watch the weather, too!
Here's why you don't want to drive during the storm. With last week's storm in the Chicago area, a 60-mile stretch of I-80 in central Illinois was actually closed (and full of cars!) because the traffic combined with snow falling at a rate of 2" an hour made the road impassable. When people skidded across the road or off it, that created a traffic backup, and then the plows were stuck in traffic! If the plows can't get to the snow, they can't plow it, and then everyone was stuck. That's why you should bring food and blankets. Illinois State Police and the Red Cross finally got to everyone that night by way of snowmobile or National Guard vehicles. They got the road moving the next day with an army of snow plows and tow trucks.
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Jeff Kleb
New member
Don't forget to leave with a full tank of gas! Should you get stuck in the aforementioned traffic jam, you want as much fuel as possible if you might have to idle the engine so as to run the heater.
If you know bad weather or road condtions are ahead, stop and top off that tank when it reaches the halfway mark. Your 4Runner has a large tank, but it goes quickly when idling or if you are creeping along in a traffic jam.
Most of all -- be safe! Your 2wd 4Runner will do okay in snow, provided you don't try to start uphill from a dead stop. That can be a bit tricky. The traction control will help you a lot when negotiating curves. Don't be afraid of the funny clicking noises it might make.
P.S. My 4Runner is not that great in snow with the 2wd, but I am lucky enough to have the little switch that says 2HI, 4HI and 4LO.
:awais:
You'll be driving on interstates between Texas and Kansas, right? You most probably won't need chains, but if it would give you (or your wife) some piece of mind, get some easy to install chains. Then learn how to install them BEFORE you leave home.
More important is to make sure your engine coolant and windshield washer fluids have enough antifreeze in them to stay liquid at cold temperatures.
There's nothing worse than having all the vehicles in front of you spray filthy slush on your windshield and your washer fluid is a solid block of ice.
And its always good to carry drinking water and other emergency supplies.
But you won't be driving through Donner Pass, so I think you'll be OK as long as you're driving at a safe enough speed to stop quickly if you need to.
Happy trails!
JP
More important is to make sure your engine coolant and windshield washer fluids have enough antifreeze in them to stay liquid at cold temperatures.
There's nothing worse than having all the vehicles in front of you spray filthy slush on your windshield and your washer fluid is a solid block of ice.
And its always good to carry drinking water and other emergency supplies.
But you won't be driving through Donner Pass, so I think you'll be OK as long as you're driving at a safe enough speed to stop quickly if you need to.
Happy trails!
JP
TRZ06 said:
no, they are either 4WD or 2WD, the ones that are 4WD have 2 shifters, 1 for the regular transmission and 1 to engage the 4WD and the 2WD versions have only 1 shifter. Thats for the 3rd gens and im pretty sure its the same for the 4th gens as well with a couple of acceptions of some buttons such as traction control and others.
SoCalRunner
New member
Thanks for the advice
Thanks for the great ideas. Several of them i never even thought of. Putting antifreeze in the wiper well is a good good idea but i thought any water on frozen glass would cause cracking. Driving slow is a given but i now i will also pack the car with blankets, water and snacks incase we are stuck in traffic. I have a pair of motoralla radios that give weather reports so i will bring them along as well.
Unfortunately my truck is a 2wd, i never had use for a 4wd since i stick to city streets. I do have a button in my truck that says "AL" or something- i'm not sure what it does but i'm i wont be tempting fate by doing anything other than driving on paved roads.
Thanks again.
Thanks for the great ideas. Several of them i never even thought of. Putting antifreeze in the wiper well is a good good idea but i thought any water on frozen glass would cause cracking. Driving slow is a given but i now i will also pack the car with blankets, water and snacks incase we are stuck in traffic. I have a pair of motoralla radios that give weather reports so i will bring them along as well.
Unfortunately my truck is a 2wd, i never had use for a 4wd since i stick to city streets. I do have a button in my truck that says "AL" or something- i'm not sure what it does but i'm i wont be tempting fate by doing anything other than driving on paved roads.
Thanks again.
Kmvreter
New member
Re: Thanks for the advice
Make sure to use windshield washer antifreeze/cleaner. Don't mistake this for putting radiator antifreeze mixed with water.
Read the owner's manual about the "AL". Does the 2WD also have VSC and ATRAC? If it does you won't have a problem.
Enjoy the ride!
SoCalRunner said:
Make sure to use windshield washer antifreeze/cleaner. Don't mistake this for putting radiator antifreeze mixed with water.
Read the owner's manual about the "AL". Does the 2WD also have VSC and ATRAC? If it does you won't have a problem.
Enjoy the ride!
All great tips. I have been driving through Donner Pass for the last 4 years between x'mas and new years to go skiing in Mammoth. We got the 4runner after taking 11 hrs (typically a 3.5hr drive) to make the journey once in weather and vowed never to try that again without a proper vehicle. Hence the 4runner. We had a Honda Accord and having to constantly put on and take off the chains to match road conditions was brutal, especially in single digit temps at night.
All these tips, while simple are very important. You have to be able to help yourself when no one else can reach you in weather.
IMO, while everything else is a precaution, the most important thing is to be aware of the weather, keep the gas level up, and have clear (winter verified) directions to where you want to go. In snow, signs and markings are hidden. It is doubly important that you have good directions. Keep track of how many miles you have progressed by the odometer so you know where/when to expect the turnoffs. Also, have a flexible schedule so you are not forced to make time in bad conditions.
All these tips, while simple are very important. You have to be able to help yourself when no one else can reach you in weather.
IMO, while everything else is a precaution, the most important thing is to be aware of the weather, keep the gas level up, and have clear (winter verified) directions to where you want to go. In snow, signs and markings are hidden. It is doubly important that you have good directions. Keep track of how many miles you have progressed by the odometer so you know where/when to expect the turnoffs. Also, have a flexible schedule so you are not forced to make time in bad conditions.
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greasefingers
New member
As others have mentioned, a full tank of gas to me is the most important thing. Not only does it provide heat longer but it adds mass to the rear of the vehicle. Store everything in the back cargo area rather than the rear seat area.
Your mind-set is important
Your mind-set is important
Tucson T4R
New member
jpalaska said:
:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :biggrin2: :biggrin2: :bugeye: :bugeye: :jaw drop: :jaw drop:
CATman
New member
If you stay in someone elses tracks watch ahead to make sure you dont end up in the ditch right behind or on top of them. It can be hard to get out of the tracks at times or in an emergency. Many times I will break my own tracks but I always have good tires and 4wd. You will use a little more gas breaking your own way as well so pay attention to the gas gauge it may fall faster than you are used to.
