Tips for driving snowy roads

[Muddy Bean]

I've grown up in Michigan and some of my driving lessons were in snow so I'm no stranger to driving in it. I've driven in heavy snow, slick as snot snow, greasy snow, slushy snow, and we've had a few ice storms that left the roads so slick you literally could not walk on them. My question isn't driving style as much as what settings best match certain driving conditions one might encounter on the road in snow. We got dumped on yesterday and I was doing a lot of driving in prep for today...I love the awd on this truck. Very very hard for me to spin out or kick the rear out on turns even when trying. If I lock the center diff, I can spin it out and swap ends around turns easier it seems. But I can take off from a slippery stop with better acceleration than just awd. I tried locking the rear diff and it was super easy to fish tail the back end on turns but once again, acceleration on snow was amazing. I attempted to lock the rear without engaging center diff...couldn't really tell if it really did it. Am I the only one who likes to lock the rear in city constant stop and start acceleration scenarios?
my home and my hundy:

 

[Rigger]

I love the Hundy in the snow & ice! It's one if the best trucks ever! I haven't done too much experimenting with it at the limits, but I do notice that it is hard to break it loose.

 

[mcgaskins]

From rising sun - don't let your weiner slide out:

 

[2001LC]

That funny. Looks like I-70 east bound just outside of Denver

 

[stonepa]

My take, after 30+ years of driving Land Cruisers and 4Runners in the snow:
- Buy good snow tires, live the Blizzak DM-V1. Worth their weight in gold. Absolutely must be on all 4 wheels.
- Studs are great if you are allowed to use them (Alaska - yes, MN and OH - No)
- Use the center diff lock on icy roads. Otherwise leave it off.
- Snow depth off plowed roads is usually a lot deeper than it looks
- Always buy chains before you need them. When you need them you can't afford them
- Never ever ever use the rear diff lock on icy roads.
- Black ice sucks and the only thing that seems to work are studded snow tires.
- Remember, you may be able to stop but the guy behind you might not. Do what you can to keep sufficient space front and rear
- Take it easy and enjoy the ride

 

[2001LC]

Some good advice ^^^^.

I just have stock all season tires and the cruiser just doesn't care what the weather is, it handle amazingly unless on ice or hydroplaning.

My two cent worth, which I'm sure many seasoned drives are aware:

Plan ahead and make very subtle moves, just letting off gas peddle on black-ice or while hydroplaning can put you in a spin, tap those brakes and watch out. Modern brakes are amazing, but haven't prove to reduce accidents. In Colorado if you hit something, well, then you don't have control. The law is you must have control of your vehicle at all times.


I've seen it more times then I've care to on mountain passes; Divers see the slippery condition or brake light in front of them. For and example while exiting a tunnel like Eisenhower and suddenly they realize their going to fast. Finding themselves on pack snow condition which is like black ice or hydroplaning. I'll see the brake lights come on and then they spin. Most of the time they didn't really engage the brakes, they only slip their foot of the gas peddle and onto the brake, a very natural thing to do when one tenses-up. I've count over thirty cars spinning or in the ditch in one occasion, as one after the other taps those brakes then the dance begins. It is a real rush gently steering through the spinning cars & carnage, not a dance I like to attend.

 

[Muddy Bean]

We've seen some good spin outs already here. I always tell people with 4wd, you can take off faster but not necessarily stop any faster when it's slick. I was just wondering what the best diff procedure was for snow running. I really like how the awd splits the power. Seems to bias power to the front which constantly keeps the truck pulling itself along versus pushing and hence keeps it running straighter down the road in snowy stuff. Locking the center diff actually made it more unstable for me while running down the road because it eliminated the torque split.