Topic: Winter Trucking

[Triple Bob]

Seeing as the temps are dropping, and it's getting wetter too, I have a couple of questions.

I went with the BF Goodrich K02's, hoping that I wouldn't have to get dedicated snow tires. So when it's actually snowy/icy, how often should I switch to 4WD? Do I leave it on most of the time?

Also. I think I need some weight in the bed, which I won't be using much in the Winter, I'll probably put the tonneau cover back on. What's the best/cheapest thing to put in the bed for a little extra weight over the rear wheels?

[JohnnyMac]

Saw this on the Princess Auto flyer the other day and thought it was a good idea.  I like that you can tie it down so it won't be sliding around back there.  I wonder if you could fill it with sand instead of water as that would likely increase the weight by double.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/110-lb-water-filled-pvc-traction-bag/product/PA0008949661

Bonus is it's on sale right now.

There's also a larger one I found on Amazon but it's a lot more expensive, but could be worth it.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000BV9MA2/ref=emc_b_5_t

[Firm]

When I used to winter drive the Sonoma I had a few concrete pavers in the bed, I'd lock them into place with some 2x4s. Worked well. That's a small 2WD truck though; in a full sized 4x4 like your Tundra on K02's I wouldn't do anything. Those are pretty aggressive tires, and your truck has plenty of weight, even in the back, if anything the extra weight will make it harder to stop in an emergency - which is the biggest issue with 4x4s in winter. Keep it in 2WD unless you notice you're having trouble getting traction, if you are flip it into 4WD until conditions improve, but you don't want to be driving around on dry (or just wet) roads in 4WD.

Between pressers and the CTC Ram I drive a lot of 4x4 pickups and usually only have to use 4WD maybe once or twice a season around here.

[tortoise]

When I had my Mazda pickup I built a covered box in which I just put bags of gravel.  It was 2WD, so it was nice to have some material I could put on the ground if I got stuck.  I didn't put anything in the back of my F-150.

With the F-150, if there was any snow on the ground I would be running it in 4WD.  It was pretty useless otherwise.  The KO2s should be better than what I had on though.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

What Firm said.  Don't do anything special. Use 4x4 sparingly.  It helps that the truck guzzles gas when you're tooling around in 4x4, so that will motivate you to use it as little as possible, lol. 

BTW, hot tip:  You can fully disable traction/stability control.  Press the VSC button once to disable traction control.  Stability control will still be active though, which will kill any 'fun' you want to have.  You need to long press (like 3 seconds) the VSC button AGAIN, to fully defeat stability control.   BOOM.  Now there are ZERO nannies. 

Find a large empty, snowy parking lot, put it into 4HI, and let that V8 SING.  The deeper the snow, the better.  Have fun!

[Gurgie]

What Firm said!

The KO2's are snow & winter rated, so no need for separate winters.

[Ex-airbalancer]

The only time I would put the truck into Auto 4wd is if it is snowing heavy or if the roads have a heavy frost
Been driving pickups since ‘86

If you like leave the truck in 2 wd  and head out to a snow covered parking lot and try missing light poles

All my truck have enough weight in them , never worried about carrying more weight

Cheapest thing if you need weight get some bags of salt

[bridgecity]

Ya, what Firm said.

I just flip it in 4wd at slippery intersections.  Even with dedicated winters I find the 2wd traction is garbage in the winter with any sort of icy conditions.

[ktm525]

I like sand bags for weight right over the axle. Bonus is they can be opened if you need some sand if you get stuck on ice.

[Fobroader]

Dads Sequoia has a locking center diff, so you could theoretically run it in 4x4 with the center diff unlocked as an automatic 4x4 substitute. I only really use 4x4 in intersections, overpasses and city driving. Oh, and buy a recovery strap for all the lesser types in cars and crap when they get stuck in the snow 

[KD]

I like sand bags for weight right over the axle. Bonus is they can be opened if you need some sand if you get stuck on ice.

I use bags of traction gravel.  I find sand is almost useless for traction when it's really cold. 

[Ex-airbalancer]

[quote author =KD link=topic=112546.msg1583372#msg1583372 date=1633103890]

I like sand bags for weight right over the axle. Bonus is they can be opened if you need some sand if you get stuck on ice.

I use bags of traction gravel.  I find sand is almost useless for traction when it's really cold.
[/quote]
He is in western Ontario , it really never get that cold 

[ktm525]

  and I have been driving a Ridgeline for what seems forever so I haven't added weight for eons...

[BWII]

Same, I never have any weight in the back and 4WD gets used so seldom I'd almost wonder sometimes if it's not dried out like an old witches fart.  Wife would use it anytime she thinks the roads are icy, but even then I won't.  If I can't "feel" it, it aint slippery.  She'd have killed the truck a long time ago.  For the reason that if the transfer case in a Tundra is anything like mine, i.e. it's not like a Lariat or Dodge where you can just leave it in AWD mode...you really don't want to use it unless you have to.  Which for us is usually getting into the garage if there's been some fresh snow. No way to get in in 2wd then. Stupid driveway...

But MB winters not COTU.

[tpl]

Same, I never have any weight in the back and 4WD gets used so seldom I'd almost wonder sometimes if it's not dried out like an old witches fart.  Wife would use it anytime she thinks the roads are icy, but even then I won't.  If I can't "feel" it, it aint slippery.  She'd have killed the truck a long time ago.  For the reason that if the transfer case in a Tundra is anything like mine, i.e. it's not like a Lariat or Dodge where you can just leave it in AWD mode...you really don't want to use it unless you have to.  Which for us is usually getting into the garage if there's been some fresh snow. No way to get in in 2wd then. Stupid driveway...

But MB winters not COTU.

I thought the Ridgeline was fully automatic  AWD rather than 4WD  so like other AWD cars/SUVs/CUVs the computers just gave you the best traction  regardless.   

[BWII]

Sorry TPL - I meant "same" as in no weight in the back etc. etc.  Not about the Ridgeline.