Winter Driving Tips

[r2m]

Attaboy! Nice. That's exactly how I got my MetalTech bumper.

Now my problem is the powdercoating was thin and now I'm getting surface dust. I really need to get it redone.

View attachment 4061860

Yeah, my MetalTech bumpers are showing a little surface rust to. Eventually I'd like to swapthem out for aluminum bumpers and shed some weight.

 

[r2m]

I generally drive in snow conditions with the transmission in 'S' mode,

Just for clarification for those that may not know, 'S' mode doesn't mean 'Sport' mode. It starts you out in second gear (which is actually just the opposite of what 'Sport' mode would do). The purpose is there isn't as much torque applied to the wheels when starting off from a stop, thus resulting in a more controlled take-off from a stop.

 

[MeefZah]

Just for clarification for those that may not know, 'S' mode doesn't mean 'Sport' mode. It starts you out in second gear (which is actually just the opposite of what 'Sport' mode would do). The purpose is there isn't as much torque applied to the wheels when starting off from a stop, thus resulting in a more controlled take-off from a stop.

I am actually referring to 'S' mode as the manual shifting mode, pulling the shifter out of 'D' and to the left, then manipulating it forward and rearward accordingly to shift up or down as speed and conditions dictate. The same way I would assume everyone operates it while off road...

And as I previously posted in this thread, I think ECT 2 / 2nd gear start is pointless. Do people just mash their foot down on the gas like madmen from a stop, necessitating a mode that starts them moving only in second gear to keep them from losing control? That's ridiculous. You can't just slowly press the gas pedal to manage wheelspin in 1st gear?

Those two things ('S' and ECT 2) are not related as 'S' most certainly does not start you out in 2nd gear.

 

[Littlehouse]

Did you try using your DAC? You should have. It's like Crawl Control,but for only going down hill. It'll let the computer determine wheel speed and braking.

Damn, no. I shoulda thought of that. Never used it before…..

Only time I’ve touched that button has been to turn it off when the car wash guys hit it haha

 

[Littlehouse]

Yeah, my MetalTech bumpers are showing a little surface rust to. Eventually I'd like to swapthem out for aluminum bumpers and shed some weight.

Thoughts on which one? I like lil b’s but it’s steel. I was leaning towards victory blitz but there isn’t much protection, just more clearance.

 

[r2m]

Thoughts on which one? I like lil b’s but it’s steel. I was leaning towards victory blitz but there isn’t much protection, just more clearance.

A suggestion if you can afford it, go with an aluminum bumper and reduce the weight on the front end.
If I had to it all over again, or if I actually do it all over, I'll be looking at aluminum.
A heavier gauge aluminum to equal the same strength as steel will still be lighter. The only issue is aluminum is a little more expensive and requires TIG or some form of gas shielded welding, which not everyone has, albeit, is becoming more common.
But the other positive is, aluminum never rusts!

 

[r2m]

Do people just mash their foot down on the gas like madmen from a stop, necessitating a mode that starts them moving only in second gear to keep them from losing control? That's ridiculous. You can't just slowly press the gas pedal to manage wheelspin in 1st gear?

Try asking me that question when I was a teenager with my first several cars! Pedal to the metal!!!!

 

[Arailt]

Late to the party, but I always lock the center diff on snow covered roads. That turns off the traction nannies and I don't have to worry about the throttle cutting out and killing my momentum.

 

[r2m]

Late to the party, but I always lock the center diff on snow covered roads. That turns off the traction nannies and I don't have to worry about the throttle cutting out and killing my momentum.

Do you ever get a little wheel spin on a wheel when that wheel goes over ice?
That's what concerns me.

 

[Rednexus]

Late to the party, but I always lock the center diff on snow covered roads. That turns off the traction nannies and I don't have to worry about the throttle cutting out and killing my momentum.

I made a "nannies off" switch for my GX. ATRAC/VSC/ABS in at least the 470 are terrible in the snow with tires at full pressure. To the point where my GX was less capable than the Subaru Forester on 26.5" tires that preceded it (but, those systems do work OK in the snow on aired-down tires).

Plus, with nannies off, you can do this:

 

[Arailt]

Do you ever get a little wheel spin on a wheel when that wheel goes over ice?
That's what concerns me.

My experience in snow is almost all western PA, mid-Atlantic, northeast snow, so results may vary. When we got enough snow (3+ inches) that covered the road, there was rarely, if ever, ice on the ground under the snow. I would definitely get wheel spin in the snow though, which is why I turn the nannies off . With them on, the ATRAC/TRAC/VCS bs completely cuts power if you spin or start to slide/drift, and you're dead in the water. I prefer to be in control and throttle out if I start to spin. Like @Rednexus said, basically garbage in the snow with traction control on.

Now that I live in Texas and we DO get ice storms frequently. I do NOT engage the center diff lock if I'm driving in icy conditions. They are much less predictable. When we we get too much ice, I just don't go anywhere. If we get snow over ice, same thing - I just don't go anywhere until it melts.

 

[Banandalorian]

On the road in lighter snow where you'll get a mixed of snow/packed snow/slush/ice/pavement leave it in normal 4H-AWD with the center diff unlocked. Remember the GX is heavy so give yourself plenty of room for breaking and turning.

When the snow gets deep enough that you need wheelspin to get through, lock the center diff and use manual shifting to hold a lower gear. If you just leave it in D and start spinning wheels, the car will upshift and traction control will cut power even when it says TCS is off.

4Low is for crawling along in low speed situations where you actually can't drive much faster than like 10mph. In general you wouldn't use this on-road unless you have to chug through really deep snow up or down a steep incline. Pro-Tip: If you've added MTS to your 460, there is actually zero traction control/ATRAC in 4low until you select an MTS mode.

 

[GrizzlyClint]

On the road in lighter snow where you'll get a mixed of snow/packed snow/slush/ice/pavement leave it in normal 4H-AWD with the center diff unlocked. Remember the GX is heavy so give yourself plenty of room for breaking and turning.

When the snow gets deep enough that you need wheelspin to get through, lock the center diff and use manual shifting to hold a lower gear. If you just leave it in D and start spinning wheels, the car will upshift and traction control will cut power even when it says TCS is off.

4Low is for crawling along in low speed situations where you actually can't drive much faster than like 10mph. In general you wouldn't use this on-road unless you have to chug through really deep snow up or down a steep incline. Pro-Tip: If you've added MTS to your 460, there is actually zero traction control/ATRAC in 4low until you select an MTS mode.

Slush (heavy) is the absolute worst, I hate it. Be careful on the sides of the roads because it can suck/pull you off the road if you're not dialed in and paying attention.

 

[Banandalorian]

Really looking forward to our 1/2inch+ of ice this weekend. Nothing says "fun" like liquid rain falling when its 22 degrees outside !

 

[Rednexus]

Really looking forward to our 1/2inch+ of ice this weekend. Nothing says "fun" like liquid rain falling when its 22 degrees outside !

12" of snow forecasted here! Should be interesting as my rear diff and trans skidplate will be plowing (assuming the forecasts come to fruition).

 

[LC Lurker]

17-20” of snow coming my way this weekend. I’m pumped to get the LX in that kind of snow. I’m sure I’ll get stuck at some point and justify 35s next lol

 

[Littlehouse]

Got some new chains for the GX since the others didn’t fit well. These ones look great.

 

[Cold Iron]

On the road in lighter snow where you'll get a mixed of snow/packed snow/slush/ice/pavement leave it in normal 4H-AWD with the center diff unlocked. Remember the GX is heavy so give yourself plenty of room for breaking and turning.

When the snow gets deep enough that you need wheelspin to get through, lock the center diff and use manual shifting to hold a lower gear. If you just leave it in D and start spinning wheels, the car will upshift and traction control will cut power even when it says TCS is off.

4Low is for crawling along in low speed situations where you actually can't drive much faster than like 10mph. In general you wouldn't use this on-road unless you have to chug through really deep snow up or down a steep incline. Pro-Tip: If you've added MTS to your 460, there is actually zero traction control/ATRAC in 4low until you select an MTS mode.

Great summary. I would have a hard time explaining how to drive in the snow after so many years of doing it. If I haven't figured it out by now I'm in trouble LOL. And started with rear wheel cars and a stick.

Pro Tip #2 always wait until AFTER the plow goes by to blow the driveway out

Over the 11 years I had the Taco I had it sideways in the driveway more than once. Don't care how many sandbags you tie down in the bed to prevent them from becoming missile hazzard. The GX beats it hands down but is heavy as mentioned which is good. And bad, but weight distribution is better for traction. I have gone back and forth between pickups and SUV's since before the term SUV was invented. I am done with pickups.

Twenty degrees is that ABOVE zero?! Be a ways out yet before I see that

They missed it this morning it was colder than -21° when I took the dogs out. With -50° windchill but actual temp was -24° the dogs didn't dilly dally around much

At least no snow in the forecast for the next week. I've blown or shoveled snow every day for the last week and had enough of it.