MN Owners

Hi all,

I have a 2004 Tacoma SR5 (one-wheel drive) and have been in MN for about 3 years now. Looking to get into a 2020-ish Tacoma TRD Off-Road possibly this winter.

We own a Subaru Outback which is an excellent vehicle in the winter up here. I am aware of the AWD system differences the Outback has as compared to most 4x4 truck systems. I would like to get another Subaru, but have always liked having a truck and have been wanting to get a newer Tacoma for the past few years.

Curious what you all notice with the Tacoma TRD 4wd in the winter, specifically for MN owners as you know the conditions here. Others are welcome to chime in given you experience true winter weather. I am talking about highway/commute experience. Tires, yes, make a difference.

How does the 4wd high mode work out for you on the crumby days when slushy, icy, or pre-plow times? Does the newer Tacoma have any sort of power-transfer technology in the 4wd drivetrain when traction is needed at certain wheels or is it pretty basic?

Thoughts especially if you have experience with these two vehicles.

Thanks!

 

I have a trd offroad and have lived in MN for 37 years. I have had the truck for just over 3 years.

First thing I will say is that in snow or ice, if you dont have 4wd on then your not going anywhere without weight in the bed. Overall though, the truck just moves through the snow, there is no getting stuck it just goes.

I drove rear wheel drive cars most of my life, but also some awd and fwd ones. The only car that has even come close to matching my tacoma in the snow was a 1988 BMW 325ix (full awd with viscus coupling limited slips in the rear and transfer case)

 

Thanks so much for the reply. Do you drive in 4high full time anytime ice/snow/poor road clearing occurs? The newer TRD and any other Tacoma for that matter doesn't really transfer power from one wheel to another like AWD, correct?

 

Having owned a few Subaru’s and Tacoma’s now, wife still has a Forestor, the Subaru has the better drive system for snowy weather months hands down. Subaru with snow tires and your only limited by the frame rubbing on the snow otherwise the vehicles love the snow. The Tacoma has the clearance for deeper snow days and if your that worried about it you can get snow tires on the Tacoma as well. Fellow MN resident, drive to the ski resorts daily!

 

Yes, 4 hi when the roads are bad.
The Tacomas do have a feature to transfer power to a slipping wheel or tire but differently I think than what your used to in the car AWD.
Also has brake system that keeps the truck going straight on slippery surfaces. This brake feature is my wife's only complaint about the truck.

 

We got out first decent snow of the year yesterday. On actual snow, the Tacoma seems to be pretty good. I drive in 4hi most of the winter, just because of roads. This is my first winter with the Tacoma. It doesn't handle as well as a AWD, or full time 4wd, but it gets the job done and is a heck of a lot of fun on snow.

 

Daily drive my truck on 7 from Hutchinson to Maple Plain 5 days a week. Only had it for 1 winter so far but it did well through snow, ice and slush and the roads once you go west of St. Boni are horrible and only get worse the farther out you go.

Tires do help though, had Duratracs last year and just put on Ridge Grapplers this fall. Eager to see how they do.

 

You cant beat AWD, until you get stuck. Our CRV does great in snow storms, but if you hit the ditch your stuck, regardless of what AWD vehicle you have. This is where the Off Road shines. And yes you can drive it in 4hi for any snow storm , or even a hard rain.

I too use Duratracs (3 peak snow designation) on my Taco, but real dedicated winters on the CRV. Pretty well a must.

 

4 high if there is snow and ice, 2wd when its clear. More or less it will transfer to the working wheels. I have a trd offroad, so I have a factory locker and that helps too.

 

SD owner here and I just got my Tacoma, but I've had an Xterra with 4WD for the last decade and most of my family drive Subarus.

Subaru AWD is unbeatable when the road is intermittently icy and slick, for example on a plowed highway in crappy conditions. Having AWD engaged all the time with no input needed from the driver is a great feature in those conditions. Driving the Xterra (and in the future, the Tacoma) in those conditions, I always keep an eye on the road conditions and switch between 4HI in the snowy/icy spots and 2HI when I'm on clean pavement. Generally it's not advisable to drive a 4WD vehicle in 4HI on clean pavement, since it puts stress on your drivetrain components.

Part-time 4WD like the Tacoma really shines in deep snow, like getting out of your neighborhood the morning after a snow storm. A Subaru will get you through a lot, but ultimately it's limited by ground clearance and tire choice. A Tacoma with its higher ground clearance, typically more off-road focused tires, metal skid plate that's angled to go over the snow rather than plow it, and in some cases even a locking rear differential, will get you through hell and back. When we get a big snowfall, I'm not worried about my wife's Subaru getting her to work safely, but I'm excited to go play in the snow in my vehicle.

 

Thanks for this. Yeah, the Subaru system is just excellent and with better it just improves.

My Tacoma now is an SR5 (no locker or anything) and I have a set of factory size BF KO2's someone around here sold with 3k miles on the for a steal. I figured they would only help the truck stay on the road. I do run with three sand tube bags and it certainly helps along with my topper. Definitely considering sticking with a truck though for multiple reasons.

Thanks for specifying the drive transfer system. I do need to dig more into the newer Tacoma details to know what I will be dealing with.

Right, the AWD system is really a whole different animal with handling. Not planning to be off road unless by accident.

Good to hear your commute experience.

Yeah, I would go with my same BF KO2 option again. These tires are just great. Heavy, but great. Good to hear folks are staying in 4hi unless clear and dry of course.

What do you notice with the wheel transfer in dicey winter conditions (not off road, but on road with ice/slush/showering snow)?

Do you find the truck to be a good daily commuter in SD during the crumby days of ice, slush, and/or fresh snow on the road? What do you notice with the drivetrain behavior in those conditions?

 

I dont really notice much, the truck just moves like it should

 

Here's a fun spin. I'm in wisconsin. Not as bad as up north. But do a LOT of winter driving as both an emt and ski patroller. Snowdays means get your butt into work no excuses. I also usually commute to the twin cities a few times a year because of family.

I own a 2016 off road and usually drive that. However for the past year I've had a 2021 outback also! Prior to buying my truck I had only ever driven my moms CRV AWD or my sister's FWD civic. Primarily I drove the awd crv. The 4x4 is very different from the awd outback. If you try to run 4H on dry pavement at highway speeds the truck will beep or get mad. Running it in snow is fine.

Like you mentioned tires make a huge difference. The outback on factory tires slid all over the road. What I like about the truck is that I can slide or clip the edges of the road and not worry about getting stuck. I also get more clearance over unplowed snow and a better view angle. I run bfg ko2 ats.

If I didn't need my truck as a truck I would prefer AWD if it was on road only, but with my truck I am very happy. Like others mentioned off road or in ditches 4WD is nicer.. but Ive only ever gotten myself stuck in mud never in snow with the truck.

If I could own the outback and the taco I'd be very happy but I'll be returning the outback soon(it was a free car as a ski patrol ambassador). They both have huge pros and some cons. The big reason I'm sticking with my truck is; well I already paid for it. I really like the custom stuff I've done... bikes and kayaks in the bed without having to lift over my head. Oh and dead animals go in the bed. I'd rather not put them inside the car.

Plan to actually use the bed then get the taco, but it doesn't have as much family/friend room. The backseats are tight for adults, well my 6'+ friends... Outback has better mileage.. almost double what I get in the taco. Oh and the taco money pit thanks to tacomaworld. so many mods.

Neither is a bad choice, just see what you think fits your needs best.

 

I used to unplug coils on my 1992 toyota pickup when it snowed so I had a excuse to not go in on snow days(I was a pizza driver and lived across the street from the store). I would say my truck doesnt run well when its damp out.

 

Yes, excellent. When the roads are consistently nasty (i.e. fresh snow, slush, general nastiness) I feel much more confident in a 4WD truck than a Subaru. In those conditions I feel like the Subaru's computer-controlled AWD system "can figure out how to handle it" whereas the truck in 4HI has nothing to even figure out, it's just mechanically locked into being well-suited to the conditions. Part of it is a mental game, too - the higher ground clearance, higher seating position, and just "being a truck" make it "feel" better suited to ugly conditions.

The only time I'd say I might prefer the Subaru is when I'm on the interstate in "intermittently bad" conditions. 4WD isn't "bad" for those conditions; that's just the lone example where I'd say the truck doesn't handle it better than the car with AWD. After a decade of driving a 4WD SUV, I chose a 4WD truck over a Subaru

 

doesn't work like that when you run ems...

 

Yeah, but it does when you run pizzas. (this was 20 years ago btw)

 

haha indeed it does!

 

There are multiple different AWD systems, but the primary difference between AWD and part-time 4WD on the taco is that AWD has a center differential that allows the axles to turn at different speeds. With part-time 4WD the axles must turn at the same speed. The net effect is that AWD is more convenient and handles better (better at steering) in snow/ice road conditions but part-time 4WD is better at getting you unstuck. AWD is more convenient because you don't have to constantly turn it on and off in the mixed road conditions that are very common in areas that have good snow plowing.

Both systems can be complemented with computer controlled traction control that uses the ABS brakes and throttle to limit uneven wheel spin. The tacoma has a number of different traction modes. See link.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-traction-control-modes-explained.530695/

 

Roger that.

Excellent comparison. Thanks for this.

This is a good perspective on the preferences here. Thanks for the reply.

Very helpful charts!