New buyer, snow handling

Hey all,

I'm in the market for a new vehicle, and am interested in a 4runner. The most important things to me are snow handling and overall reliability/quality. Cost is much less important.

I'll be driving in the Tahoe/Truckee area, and I was thinking about getting a 2020 limited for the full-time 4WD to help with transitioning from clear roads to icy patches. I'll be getting snow tires, but I thought I'd reach out to you all on the following:

For snow handling, would you recommend going with the 2020 limited for the full-time 4WD, or will I get better snow handling and winter driving with one of the other trims? Would getting a trim with KDSS be beneficial?

I'm really interested in upgrading/modding it. I was going to focus on a lift kit, tires, winch, bumpers, and skid plates first. Are there any upgrades that stick out to you as a bad or good idea for snow travel? e.g. would you recommend against lifting it with concern that the higher center of gravity would make it easier to roll? Again cost is a lot less important to me than quality.

Thanks a ton for your help!

 

The Limited is unquestionably the best vehicle in the snow.

 

I've owned and driven about every make, model etc awd, 4wd. The best snow performance, sorry to say is a Ridgeline. Next was my lexus IS 250 that was hindered by no ground clearance...still never got stuck!
Have not driven the limited but being a spin-off of lexus tech, it's probably good

 

Welcome to the forum, winchgoesbrrr! I'm from Canada, and I've driven in snow all my life with 2WD, AWD and 4WD. Probably the biggest factor is tires. No matter what type of driveline you have, all vehicles are basically governed by the laws of physics and have 4 small patches of rubber like compound providing friction to the road. I live in a snow belt from Lake Huron, and it is not unusual for roads to be closed during the winter due to snow conditions. I drive a 2018 Off Road with winter tires - Blizzaks. I have a modest lift on my vehicle and a winch. I've helped others out of the ditch a few times. I'm an experienced driver, and I like to be able to decide when to use 4X4. I don't need a computer to decide reactively that a wheel is spinning. I prefer to be preventive, and have 4X4 engaged if conditions are bad. Otherwise, 2WD is fine. A 4 Runner is a heavy vehicle, and has enough clearance to be above the plowed snow and the ridges in all but the worst conditions. Is a Limited a bad choice? No. It will be great. But for me, an OR, that I shift into 4X4 myself and has a locker if I need it, is best. In fact, there are no conditions that I've ever encountered in Canada where it could'nt go, if I was foolish enough to be on the road.

 

I would gladly put my previous full-time 4wd 4runner against a Ridgeline.

I would imagine it would be similar to a 4runner.

So far, I've been through 2 winters on KO2's, minus the 2 weeks I had the original tires on it. I'm actually looking forward to getting out in the snow with these Toyos!

I have to agree with those who have said that the full time 4wd models are best in the snow. Having a functional center differential has it's advantages.

 

Yeah, the Dunlops the 4runner came with were not great in the snow. Otherwise, yes, the FJ was basically a 4runner shortened a few inches.

 

I probably spoiled myself running 3PMSF tires for the last 10-15 years. The Dunlops were not snow rated, and it showed.

 

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=125

 

Can't speak for new ones but the 06 ridgeline ugly as it is scary only knowing morons driving it won't realize it's driving in snow until they try to stop on ice...even then it does well. Have you ever driven one in snow?

 

No, but I can't imagine it being much different than any good AWD vehicle. I've heard stories of how great Subarus are in the snow.

With full time 4wd, my '03 was probably similar. Have you driven a 4runner with full time 4wd in snow?

 

Not a runner but quite a few others. All I'm saying is when i drove the ridgeline in ~8" unplowed snow it was that good handling. Only good thing I can say about it.

 

The Limited would be the best trim for winter driving.

I have the TRD Offroad and use snow-tires in the winter. I engage 4x4 when needed. I've not had any issues in the snow. Aside from snow-tires, 4x4, high clearance, the key to be able to handle winter/snow is to, "drive-to-the-conditions". So, leave lots of space between vehicles, reduce speed when necessary, etc.

 

Snow thread!!!






Above pics are from last year. I had to go to Michigan to find snow. Purpose of the visit was Thanksgiving and Family. It just happened to snow while I was there. I had to go play in it!!! This is state land in Kingsley Michigan. My Off Road handled it like a tank.

I grew up in the Chicago area plus went to College in Minnesota. I drove front wheel and rear wheel drive cars from age 16 (1991) to age 32 (2007) when I bought my 1st 4x4, a 2006 Nissan Frontier. As kids and as an adult, 1st good snow we go and practice our winter driving skills by doing donuts in a large empty parking lot. To get a good donut out of a front wheel drive car, you need to do them in reverse.

I moved to South Central Missouri in 2009. It rarely snows here. When it does it's gone in a couple days if not the same day.

When buying my 4Runner, I wanted a locking rear differential, winch, lift, and armor to allow me to go off road. I had no interest in the Limited as it was too limited for me. Plus I don't care for the styling of the grill. I like shift on the fly 4wd and know how to drive / stop in winter conditions.

 

Some snow rated tires like the K02 are pretty good in winter, maybe even one if the best. But a true winter tire will always be superior below 7C. However if you’re off roading in snow, probably a good snow rated tire that’s nice and luggy will do the job. My 4 Runner is my only vehicle and daily driver, and I need it to be sure footed on slippery icy roads. The only way to get that is to put on the best winter tire you can find. I’m using Blizzaks at the moment and they’re doing a good job. If you’ve never driven a 4x4 on ice with a winter tire, you should try it if you encounter winter conditions where you live. It’s a bit unbelievable. The only problem for some people is that you can tend to over drive them. Soft grippy tires can only help you to a certain limit, though, and if you don’t drive prudently and you surpass that limit you’ll be in the ditch along with the 2WD vehicles on all season tires.

 

In my Nissan Frontier, I carry a set of Thule (now König) XB-16 diamond snow chains. I used them on my Frontier pull a neighbor's car away from his pond a few years ago, on one of the few days we got snow. 4WD just wasn't enough to get traction on the snow covered ice.

I'm holding off on buying chains for the 4Runner till I go to my next tire size. If I get stuck, I have a couple options - airing down, traction boards, and the winch.

Here's the correct size for the stock 265/70R17 4Runner tires:
https://www.amazon.com/KONIG-XB-16-267-Snow-chains/

IMHO snow chains are best used for short distances to get unstuck or make it past an obstacle. You don't want them on full time as they have the potential to really tear up your vehicle. Plus they are for low speed - non-highway use. Once you get unstuck, take em off.

The ultimate chains are V-Bar Chains. Those really dig into whatever you're trying to climb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3etZeA68Bk

While not legal for on road use in most states. They kickass off road and for getting unstuck. Just take em off once you get to safe area to do so.

 

Studded tires are excellent as are chains as DRobs describes, in some places of the western Rockies you are required to carry chains through the passes, and there are special areas to chain up. I’ve seen 18 wheelers in the northern Rockies running chains on even their front wheels. Studded tires are prescribed in some areas of Canada, and illegal in others. The problem is that they damage the highways and require increased stopping distance in dry conditions. Some provinces, such as Quebec, require winter tires by law. As you can see from all the different approaches, there is obviously no perfect solution.

 

True All terrain or mud tires are good but even the cheapest off brand winter tires provide a night and day difference in snow.

I had a 2012 X5 diesel with blizzacks up here just north east of lake Ontario. One word? Unstoppable. The limited hands down will be the vehicle of choice based on solely winter driving. With that said my wifes 3series BMW (RWD) with continental extreme winter contacts trolls 4x4s on AT tires in the snow up here frequently, not joking. Tires are by far the biggest decision to make, not the vehicle. Trust me, a 4runner riding on blizzaks? You WILL be several peoples saving grace in winter.

I traded the X5 for my 2020 TRD OR. But with true 4wd and higher clearance I should be fine, regardless of how these crappy Dunlops perform. With less than 2000 miles I had her put in some sloppy mud and deep ruts (recovering my polaris from a gnarly mud bog) and she performed great. Hell, at 300 miles I did get it stuck in 2wd at a shitty gravel road boat launch . I backed in a little deep to say the least. Crawl control (unnecessary but why the hell not) pulled me right out.

 

You all have been giving great advice. Winter driving is a blast with the proper vehicle and tires. You also need to adjust your driving style allowing for more time to start, stop, and turn.

And yes, if you’re living in snow country and will be doing a lot of driving for months at a time in plowed hard pack that transitions back and forth with bare road, your best vehicle is a Limited, with good AT or snow tires.

However, I’m guessing the OP will be living in CA or NV with occasional trips to Tahoe where he’ll be encountering mostly snow-plowed roads and the occasional Sierra monster blizzard. In that case I’d recommend the OR or ORP trim. (With KDSS). With good AT tires. Just drive defensively in winter conditions and put it into 4WD when you’re in the snow. And carry chains to keep the CHP happy, you’ll probably never need to use them.

 

An advantage to the Ridgeline is that it's a FWD - AWD vehicle and not a RWD - AWD like the 4R. But like most have said here, driver skill and good tires can overcome ignorance and poor setup, electronics and mechanicals notwithstanding.

 

Any 4R property set up will handle normal snow; your decision will be based on whether you feel the AWD is a useful/beneficial feature.