stuck in snow...question

So at work we have a small dirt lot that does not get plowed. Early in the season I swing through there on my way out. Today I buried it, 8ft from the driveway. Could not move an inch. Snow was up to my sliders.

4-hi, nope
4-lo, nope
4-lo locked rear, nope
4-lo locked rear + atrac, nope
4-lo locked rear MTS, nope

yeah, complete bonehead move but maybe I can learn from playing a stupid game.

I think the bottom was a little crust with ice under it. I walked back to the office and grabbed a snow shovel and dug out in front and behind all four tires.

What would you have done to get yourself out?

In the end, 4 of my coworkers (including the 3 that I supervise) drove by...the first one has an F150 so he got me out, back the way I went in. Had my boss gone by, I'd have kept digging then gone to get some salt for traction (not that his F350 couldn't get me out, just that I'd never hear the end of it).

 

Airing down may have helped but generally snow sucks.

 

That didn't even cross my mind but is a very good point. I was a little focused on "never hearing the end of it" if my boss had to pull me out of there.

 

I would have left it there until the snow melted before I let a Ford pull me out.

 

Like on sand or a slippery hill, momentum is your ally. Plus if you already know the path forward is devoid of any hard obstruction I would have tried to keep my speed above 5-10 mph and blast through.

Ran a short trail run through rim deep snow on top of ice this morning. Up and down 1% - 2% grades and just kept a steady pace. Was actually looking forward to trying out the new ‘tree saver’ but I guess I didn’t try hard enough to get stuck.

Oh and you may not hear the end of it at work but you made a critical error in letting us here know about the blunder

 

There’s not much you can do at that point if you are bottomed out and your tires aren’t hitting solid ground. Digging or a tow, maybe some traction boards are the only option.

 

Been there done that myself. Goodyear silent armor tires and about 10 hours on this trail because we went with 2wd Rangers. I got stuck at the bottom of a snow covered hill that the truck refused to climb. I never thought to air down. Soon after this pic was taken a buddy with better tires towed me up the hill after ripped out the rear brake lines because I left the parking brake set and I clutch dumped in 4wd low.

 

Maxtrax and a shovel.

 

Air down, floor mats as traction boards

 

I would have used more momentum so i wouldn't have gotten stuck in the first place. Or pulled out my Maxtrax/traction boards.

 

I've learned my lesson and traction boards are a must for me, mud, snow, etc. Helps to have a winch and something to attach to, but traction boards and a shovel do work wonders.

 

Shovel and traction boards.

 

I carried as much momentum as I dared, it was through (sort of over) the snowbank, into the snow on the other side then back to the snowbank, not enough room to carry any real speed. I knew I done messed up as soon as my front tires hit the other side of the snowbank and I carried throttle but lost momentum.

I am aware. I can take the beating I deserve.

 

So many comments here I don't even where to start.

1. You made us look bad with the coworkers - that Toyota guy had to pulled out of the snow/mud by a 2wd F-150. That one hurts.
2. You have made a case for why you need a winch. Obviously, this might come in handy cause your 4x4 aint that great -
3. I just thought....that maybe and in trying to defend you here, but maybe your system never engaged at all. If your system was already locked in and it was so damned cold and bitter out there, your dashboard could have said it was there, but maybe it never got to engage at all. This issue has happened to several on the beach where they never engage their 4x4 stuff and when they tried nothing goes.

all in all, glad you had a little bit of fun with the coworkers and you were nearby where people could help you. I can't talk too much because with my first Taco, I got stuck in the outerbanks and even though I had 4x4, I just didn't know how to engage 4lo, and ended up calling a towing guy, he laughed so hard....but told me I wasn't alone. Good fun!!

 

That sounds like lot of snow. Not sure what else could be done other than digging when your belly is resting on snow.

 

Sometimes the snow is simply too wet/compacted to do anything with, and traction can change drastically from one week to the next. Preserving momentum with 4-lo locked going full-send with engine redlined may work, but obviously can be risky if there are curbs or lamp posts in the lot.

You know what's worse than being pulled out by an F150? Having your Toyota break down on the trail and getting a ride in buddy's Jeep to buy Dorman parts... but you don't complain because you're 400 miles from home on a Saturday afternoon.

 

I pulled a Ford out of a ditch alittle while ago..surely this must redeem OP. The Ford guy was like no way your getting me pulled out. Next day came by with his promised case of Heineken for the pull out.. I was like.. if we had a second 4 runner we could rip your truck in half...

 

The biggest trick to not getting stuck in deep snow is to not stop in deep snow. You need to start with 4WD on and carry on momentum. Snow tires help.

 

Just curious... did you try crawl mode?

I've gotten my Tacomas and Tundras stuck in deep snow more times than I can count but have yet to do so with my 4Runners. I have used crawl mode on a steep section of ice with some success. I wonder how it would do with a stuck vehicle in deep snow.

 

Do you have Crawl Control?

 

next time make sure you have a healthy appetite so that you can eat the snow

 

I was in 4wd and carrying as much speed as normal...and I kept my foot in it until there was no more forward motion.

That is the one with the dial and 'speed'? I did not, maybe I should have but I figured that would only work if you were moving? Guess I don't know how it works, never tried that one before.

 

When the vehicle is suspended on the snow (vehicle's weight being carried by the axles and belly of the vehicle) and the tires aren't touching the ground, no "mode" is going to make a difference. Watched a guy a while back on a snowy off-road trail...built Jeep with big fat tires. He was gonna show us how "airing down" would let him drive over the snow instead of sinking. That worked for about 30 yards and then the Jeep broke through in a place where the snow had to be 5' deep. Took a couple vehicles pulling with winches to slide him back out of there.

 

yeah, that would be my first thought. the only thing that gives me some pause is having watched videos of 4R's stuck in deep sand to the point the axles were actually resting on the sand and the crawl control seemed to actually work some magic... inch by inch. I dunno. If I ever get mine high center stuck in deep snow i'll definitely give it a try.

 

A few years ago I backed out of my driveway and headed down our street in my Tacoma only to realize I was on ice. I was able to stop, but I started sliding forward and sideways . I put it in 4 low and reverse, activated crawl control and it pulled itself back up the hill. It's the only time I needed it, but it saved my ass.

 

General snow advise: don’t spin the tires. Get into 1st gear and 4lo, so the least spin and be gentle on the throttle. Spinning digs and creates ice. As said, momentum is your friend and if you don’t spin, the best path out is often back where you came from, to get a better line or path.

 

I have never tried crawl control or any of the snow mode stuff but I find it hard to believe that any of it would be useful in deep snow like the OP experienced.

 

Deep snow acts like wheel chocks, once you loose all forward momentum your wheel just spin and forms a water layer between rubber and snow/ice...absolutely no traction is possible sans having studs.

Certainly has to be a limit to what CC can do, this YouTube video has one of the better examples of what to do (and why I stated that momentum is your ally) in such slippery conditions.

2023 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro Snow and Ice Off-Road Test skip to the 7 minute mark.

 

Yes, momentum and wheel speed are your friends in deep snow, mud and sand. Going slow just isn’t going to work.