Driving On Ice Snow Advice

Howdy,

Being a Tucson and desert dweller ice and snow is not a major concern. I have never driven on an icy road!

BUT this week I'm up in northern NM and expecting 7" of snow and temps down to 10°. I'll mostly likely just stay in camp as it'll warm back up to 50° within 48 hours. It's been in the 80°s so ground warm and doubt much will stick.

That said it's as good a time as any to get some advice from cold weather Tundra drivers!

What settings would you use or avoid on a 2019 4x4 TRD OR Tundra?

BTW Yep winter storm on Sept 9! Can 2020 get any weirder.....?

Thanks!

Greg

 

Your best bet is to avoid ice at all costs. You can’t drive in in, but some think they can until physics prove their folly.

 

Right and that's my plan BUT we can easily find ourselves in a situation where it's unavoidable.

With all the ons and offs of LSD and tow haul I figure there is a prime setting to grab as much traction as possible without spinning out. I figure TH a no go but again desert rat that only sees ice in my cocktails.....

Thanks!

Greg

 

4H and creep and refer back to the first post! Good luck and go slow.

 

Throw some weight in the back. Anything... 100 lbs or so minimum. Easy on the gas and brakes. Take it slow. The right tires and 4H help alot.

 

Slow down
Brake and accelerate gently - think smooth
4H before you think you need it
Use the transmission for braking as much as possible
Look far ahead and anticipate curves and the camber of the road and try to use the road to make the straightest line possible

You may encounter snow this weekend, but unlikely to encounter ice this time of year.
Drive safe.

 

Driving on snow vs ice is VERY different! Certain types of snow can be predictable and a blast to drive in.
Ice however is a whole different animal, especially black ice.
With the rapid warming temperatures you're taking about, ice shouldn't be much of an issue.
Enjoy!

 

I live in WPG where we have snow and ice half the year. Never been in a winter accident, even driving a 2wd Sienna for 10+y of those

As stated above...slow down, give more space, don't drive like a madman and pass everyone if they are driving cautiously (you'll cause them to get in an accident), give yourself extra time to get where you are going as somewhere along the road will be an accident, car stalled or lane closed due to slow pile.

Slow down!

 

Drive is S3 so the truck slows you down and you don’t have to use the brakes. These are heavy trucks and don’t stop easily, esp on ice. Don’t be afraid to use 4wd. You might not think you need it, but you never know how much ice is under that 1-2” or more of snow.

 

Thanks!

What about Auto LSD and atrac...those can be turned on and off cant they?

Do we have atrac on Tundra? Maybe thinking of my Tacoma I had....

G

 

4WD , slow and no sudden imputs if avoidable .

 

I’d recommend carrying cables or chains. Likely you’ll never HAVE to use them, but they’ll help you get over snow and ice. As winter starts, I have a couple sand bags from Les Schwab that I throw in the bed, ditto with the cables.

I grew up driving old VWs in Gresham and Fairview (Oregon), which is right at the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge. We got thick ice many years, and I always made it home to Damascus over hills and curves.... after delivering pizza in the crap until the boss made us stop.

All that said, I haven’t gotten to drive the truck on any ice yet.

If there are ruts, use them like a track. You have to go slow. Have a very large cup of coffee. I wouldn’t use tow haul, but I would leave everything else on. No harm using 4hi, but don't try to cut any tight corners. Do use some momentum on hills.

 

Weight over rear axle (sand bags or your gear, no projectiles):


In case you get stuck, got a traction board or mat?
Correct psi, not under or over.

Canadian here, we get icy days, just gotta drive slower and anticipate double stopping distance. If I lived further north with back country roads, I'd get dedicated snow tires but these Ridge Grapplers have been great. I remember it was warm enough to give it a quick wash:

Then in the evening there was a flash snow/ice storm, it all turned icy, and cars were sliding backwards up this access before the city had a chance to clear and salt it. It gets steeper after the police car to the right, I got to the top no problem (from news article different day, driver was fine).

 

Lived in northern MI in the snow belt for last 15 years. Can’t speak for my tundra. Drove Sierra 4x4 for a lot those years. Never really needed four wheel drive much except for deep snow. Mostly stock tires all weather and just made sure tread was good. ALWAYS had 200 lbs of weight in back. Best advice is make sure you have a cushion to stop safely and watch for other cars around you. My rule is if someone tailgates you, slow way down (slowly) so less chance of a having to brake suddenly and get rear ended. Ive always felt weight in back was more important than having 4x4. Doesn’t hurt to use 4 hi if you think you need it.

 

Please only do this in 4H if you're on the slippery stuff. If you downshift too quickly on low-traction, the rears will slow down way too fast (which will be pretty much the same as locking them up) and you'll spin.

 

I used 4Hi more than the auto LSD last winter but I might experiment with the LSD more this winter. I think winter tires will be necessary for me because the stock Bridgestones are terrible.

 

on this topic: how does everyone weigh down their beds? Just fill sand bags in the fall and leave them in all winter? Are they secured at all, or just thrown in? Stored in driveway and thrown in if threatening weather? Kept in the shed all spring/summer/fall? I like the idea of having extra weight, but trying to figure out how best to go about it. I know they can become projectiles, but for $5/80lbs, the old fashioned Quikcrete is tempting. If four of them, configured in an X above the axle, with a heavy strap from one corner to the other, be sufficient/safe? Even with a tonneau, eventually, they'll take on water and solidify, but i guess for $20/season, they could be thrown away each year? Or wrapped in a heavy garbage bag prior to being strapped down??

Random thought: what about one of those plastic basketball hoop bases that you fill with water? If they hold ~35 gallons, that'd be super light to load/store, then sufficiently heavy when needed, and probably super easy/cheap to find used/free?????

 

I did the quickcrete and stuck them in the black garbage bags between two 2x6s.They would go in around the middle of
October and I’d take them out in April.

 

Oh paleeeeasse! I don’t have the option of staying home 3 months of the year. Nor would I if I did.

Slow is smooth. And smooth is fast. Sums it up right there.

 

What kind of terrain? Driving in the mountains is nothing like driving in the praire or cities. Thats why you always hear guys say I drive all winter through 7” storms in 2wd with no weight in the bed while others have to actually buy snow tires and carry chains.

 

Just be cautious...
it's called 4-Wheel DRIVE...
Not 4-Wheel Stop.
You'll be fine...

 

Yeah weight in the back is a must I use tube sand its 70lbs a bag also what are you running for a tire....? For sure go easy on the pedal when starting off and slowing down I often will use engine braking if your running in the mountains on banking turns and downhill braking it is helpful.

Damn it ! Now Im looking forward to snow

 

I use tube sand 70 lb bags and I lay them right over each other like a pyramid 5 bags over the axel Ive never had them move on me even under hard braking and if you need it you have traction sand in a pinch.

Leave them out off season along the garage and toss em back in when the weather is coming.

 

Same here. I use 4 70# sand tubes. Two over each wheel well. Then 4H when we get snow. Every year is different but pays to be ready. This will be my first year with Falken Wildpeaks. I've lived in central Oregon for 22 years and driven over the Cascade Range hundreds of winter days and nights. I carry chains but have never needed them in an '88 Toyota 4x4, a 2002 Tundra 4x4 and my current '18 Tundra. YMMV.

 

What have you run for tires in previous years?

 

The last two years, I was running the OEM Michelins. They did surprisingly well in snow. Before that, I was driving my '02 Tundra. I had a set of Toyo's at one point, but the longevity was disappointing. I ran at least 3 sets of BFG KO2's and they did great on snow and ice. Admittedly, I don't go looking for trouble in winter, but have never been stuck or stranded. I'm giving the Falkens a go!

 

@Greg Marmalard what part of northern NM? Its been warm here so roads are not frozen just be careful doubt u will need to get out of 2 wheel drive.

 

Auto LSD, 4 Hi. I drove in pretty much ice all winter in Anchorage in 2012. Record winter. If you don't disable atrac the ECU gets confused on ice in atrac and has a hard time applying the brakes properly and you can try to apply the brakes at even 5 miles per hour but the truck will not brake properly at all and the pedal will go to the floor and you aren't stopping. You have to be real careful in ice. I went through almost 5 months driving in ice up there every freaking day. You get used to it...sort of......

 

Spoken like a true Texan.


@Greg Marmalard Avoiding ice is a good call, but saying it's not possible to drive on it is plain wrong. It's not scary or difficult if others on the road don't make it that way. Proper tires are a must, chains or cables help, but the number one thing is keeping your speed down. Weight in the bed will help with traction, but you're still in a RWD vehicle with good torque and power, so be gentle on the throttle. 4wd is your friend. No sudden inputs to the wheel, gas, or brakes.