Snow Depth VS 4Runner
- Thread starter Seabass86
- Start date
Totally true. As long as you have enough clearance you should be okay. Wish I have read this thread earlier.
We got hit pretty bad in northern Virginia with the 2010 blizzard and I just spent almost 2 hours digging out my stuck 4runner. After almost 7 hours of shoveling for my own house, I was on my way over to my mother-in-law's house try to help her. :lookout:
another tip, try not to get into a situation where you have to free yourself by reverse. It's almost impossible to do with the car hanging on the frame.
Mark86
Super Moderator
The most important thing is to keep your momentum. If you stop in a deep snow drift, you are probably going to get stuck. I got my 4Runner stuck by doing that, and it was because I had a center wedge (tires were actually off the ground). Never got stuck any other time though. My truck is 100% stock.
I wasn't stuck here:
I wasn't stuck here:
About 2' of snow.
No, not talking from the bare ground up, as depending on your tires and the condition of the snow, you can literally be driving on packed snow and be fine. However, from bottom of the wheels up, this is where it got me. You basically wind up "high centered" as your skid plate / frame begins to compact and ride up on the snow.
A foot, you're fine just pushing the snow out of the way as you drive. More than that, you begin to compact the snow.
If you open your door and don't hit snow, you should be fine. If you are pushing snow when you open your door, it's time to make sure you can get yourself out.
And once you're high centered... different game. I carry a shovel with me now.
No, not talking from the bare ground up, as depending on your tires and the condition of the snow, you can literally be driving on packed snow and be fine. However, from bottom of the wheels up, this is where it got me. You basically wind up "high centered" as your skid plate / frame begins to compact and ride up on the snow.
A foot, you're fine just pushing the snow out of the way as you drive. More than that, you begin to compact the snow.
If you open your door and don't hit snow, you should be fine. If you are pushing snow when you open your door, it's time to make sure you can get yourself out.
And once you're high centered... different game. I carry a shovel with me now.
davem
New member
just went thru the big snow storm here in pa (butler co.)and i work for the township so while i was working plowing snow for 24 hrs my driveway was pilling up. i have a steep long drive way got down and back out with 20" on the drive way. runner was scratchin and clawin on the way out but made it.
Co.Ag.2005
New member
i've pushed through ~18" with stock height and stock sized M+S rated tires with no problems! 4HI and center diff locked.
My 97 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4, lifted 3+ inches with 35 inch mud tires, low gears, and a LSD in the rear, was making good headway through the 33 inches of extremely heavy wet snow that we just got in southern Balitmore, MD. It was going okay until I tried to turn around and broke something in my front differential. It was the nastiest snow I have ever tried to drive through. The fluffy stuff would have posed no problem, but this stuff...MAN!!!
Anyway, my truck is all jacked up right now, and I am considering not fixing it and buying a 2005-2007 4Runner Sport or Limited with the 4.7l V8. I'm kind of tired of having a full-sized truck, and wouldn't mind having Toyota reliability and about the same towing capability as the truck.
As for how much snow a vehicle can go through, it GREATLY depends on the type of snow...when we got 26 inches of powder a couple months ago, I'm pretty sure my engine was making a laughing sound as I idled through it.
Anyway, my truck is all jacked up right now, and I am considering not fixing it and buying a 2005-2007 4Runner Sport or Limited with the 4.7l V8. I'm kind of tired of having a full-sized truck, and wouldn't mind having Toyota reliability and about the same towing capability as the truck.
As for how much snow a vehicle can go through, it GREATLY depends on the type of snow...when we got 26 inches of powder a couple months ago, I'm pretty sure my engine was making a laughing sound as I idled through it.
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boston_kevin
New member
The depth is not as much of a factor as the consisency of the snow. I have hit 2-3' light powdery snow in parking lots and had a blast kicking up waves of snow. I have also had all 4 wheels spinning in a heavy slushy snow around 10". I have BFG AT's on mine and have never been stuck for any period of time, but you do get the snow plow effect on wet/heavy snow and you find yourself backing in through your tracks...
