Losing traction in snow in 4x4

Hey there guys, I need some serious help here. I bought a 96 3.4 V6 Manual Tacoma last fall. One of the main reasons for the purchase was to take it up to my local ski resort with the 4x4 which is not working out to well. When I get up into the snow and turn 4x4 I have to keep both hands on the wheel at all times. I can't go above 25-30 mph and it feels like the truck is crab walking sometimes. If I push the clutch in she immediately loses traction. It will pull left and then a few seconds later pull right. The way she drives is so terrible I have to turn around and head back. I looked on these forums and thought I had found the solution to my problem. I went to got a simple alignment and they found a few problems of their own. After fishing out myself what was really wrong I brought it to my local mechanic to fix the problems. Im pretty handy with cars but I know my limits. So $800, new Inner and outer tie rods, and control arms later, I thought my problem was fixed. I drove 3 hours to the mountain just to find out that nothing had changed and had to once again turn around. I dont know where to go from here. Ive heard the differential could be locked (it's not), different size or brand of tire (they're all the same), or tires are too wide or too worn (No idea). I dont know where to start. SOS! Please help!

 

Just throwing it out there you are in 4high right not 4low

 

What brand and size tires? How much tread is left? Are you sure the 4 wheel drive system is working correctly, i.e. are all 4 tires spinning?

Are you experienced driving in the snow? This time of year snow is usually pretty shitty to drive in, just gets slushy and instantly turns tires into slicks (at least where I live).

 

Tires will make a huge difference in the snow. If you are not sure how the tread is, show us some pictures of the tires and people on here can tell you if that may be the problem.

 

If your 4wd is working like it should .

There is snow and there is SNOW quite a difference .

Why do you think The Inuit have so many different words for snow

Then there is Snow with Ice underneath .

Are you driving on snow pack or through a foot or more of fresh wet snow.

Just like skiing or driving conditions change on a constant basis

Why do you feel the need to go faster then 25 mph if conditions

Sounds to me like you need more practice

Temperature ,Tires and the weight in the truck as well as gear selection and rpm all play into the equation.

Driving Style is adjusted for the changing conditions Over two feet of snow my Tacoma made it out the 500' driveway

 

Dear Kind of Shitty Mechanic,

Sorry to hear about your Tacoma doing strange things in the snow. All of these members responding to your thread have given you some pretty good advice. I have the same rig as you except for the fact mine is a few years newer. Our Tacoma has seen a fair amount of snow since my family has owned it for the past twelve years. They are not bad rigs in the snow. By design, pickup trucks have to be driven carefully in the snow because they are poorly balanced rigs especially the first generation Tacomas with the 3.4 V6 engine. This particular combination has a lot of power for a small wheel base lite weight pick-up truck. The best thing to do is to add weight to the bed if you are going to be going to the snow quite a bit. This will help balance your Tacoma.

The other thing to remember is do what Wyoming said and drive slowly in the snow. These are pretty capable rigs if you pay attention and drive cautiously. For example, about ten years ago there was a huge snow storm in Western Washington. I had only had my Tacoma for a couple of years, and there was well over two feet of snow on the ground with an icy packed bottom layer. My Tacoma navigated through the storm just fine. I would just get in it and put the thing in first, and I would not try to shift gears or anything.

Good Luck,
Paul

 

Put a couple hundred pounds of sand in the bed. It'll help.

 

The pulling right and left could be your front differential finding traction in the snow and sending power to one wheel and then getting traction on that side and sending power back to the other wheel this can go back and forth as you exelerate in low traction conditions.

 

I live in VT and I put about 400lbs of sand bags in the back for the winter - trying to keep the weight centered over the axle

 

Proper tires and some weight in the bed will make a world of difference.

 

Some aggressive all terrian tires, proper air pressure, chains if its really bad, studded snoe tires, like others have said weight in the back helps alot, and not going fast you should be able to go just about anywhere, I would think 15 20 mph max

 

Have you verified the gearing in the differentials?

 

Maybe go see if your 4 wheel drive works not in the snow.

Get some chains too, they're awesome.

 

If I need to use Chains or think I might the chains are all ready installed on extra wheels in the bed .

Lower the pressure in the tires install chains air them back up keeps the chains nice and tight

A trick from long ago

Having Worked for Ski areas we always keep the roads in great shape Skiers can`t get to the Hill no $$

Unless your having a full out blizzard with whiteout conditions .

Something just does not feel right in my younger days many vehicles got stuck on the access road 95% give me a ride to the mountain I will worry about the vehicle later snow conditions are great !!!

I am thinking lacking experience maybe first 4x4 ??

Maybe go with a friend that comes from a place with July and Winter

 

Are you in 4wd? Did you lock your hubs?

 

Sounds normal to me. Just sounds like someone with little experience in a 4x4 and/or driving in snow expecting to much. Like all the people who buy a 4x4 and think it makes snowy roads handle like dry pavement.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^yep my thoughts.

get some good tires on there, weight in the bed and slow it down chief. you not gonna be doing 70mph uphill in snow with 4wd

 

Something's not right (duh).

• When you are driving in the snow is it all snow or kind of patchy snow and pavement? Because patchy snow/pavement could cause that pulling to the left and right behavior. As will driving with spinning tires. Another, don't know how it could happen, scenario is you don't really have 4wd and it is front wheel drive only and you're feeling torque steer.
• What do you mean it loses traction when put in the clutch? When you put the clutch in you will come to a stop, but I can't see how that would cause the tires to slide.
• And where are you finding snow to drive in in May?

 

Troll

 

Hello kindashitty, (don't write that every day!)
I think that a lifted truck with larger than stock tires compounds what you experience in the cab. I suggest you find an out of the way road and drive it in different gears in 4low and 4high at different speeds to get a feel for the truck. It is hard to know what is going on without knowing your driving style and what kind of tires you are running. Let the forum know what you are running and you will get a better response. Drive safe in the snow and ice.