Hilux Surf in deep snow

[gregtaylor]

I am looking at a Surf for when the snow is really bad (over 15 inches at the moment and many roads are not cleared). A couple of questions:

1. What are the best tyres on the snow? I will willing to accept less grip on normal roads. Or is there some all terrain tyre that will work just as well?

2. On a Gen 3 model, are there any problems in leaving it in 4WD (without centre diff lock) for long periods apart from fuel consumption?

Greg

[Koi]

Go for an all terrain tyre something like BFG AT or General grabber AT2 both good tryes from peoples experience on here.

[Webbo]

Just fitted General Grabber AT2 on the front of mine, very impressed, Quiet on the road and really good grip in the snow.

[J i m s t e r]

My GG's were pretty good last night in pretty bad conditions (sheet ice). No substitute for studded snow tyres but as long as you keep the speed down, the truck will go where you point it. No traction issues at all.

[gregtaylor]

Snow

Thanks for those replies. My wife has a Honda CRV (don't laugh) with BFG A/Ts and they seem brilliant - the car is almost unstoppable yet is a simple part-time 4WD system. Will consider both options though.

Anything on my second question? The roads round us go from clear to iced up every mile or so. Either I would have to keep switching the 4WD on and off or leave it in open diff 4WD. Which is the preference? If I leave in 4WD does it just mean using more fuel? I can live with throwing some diesel at it.

Greg

[Apache]

If you get a 2nd gen, if on dry roads for any reasonable distance, you MUST use 2WD as there's no centre diff. Most 3rd gens have a centre diff so the choice is yours.

Having said that, if its slippy, you'll use 4WD. If it isn't, you'll use 2WD. Makes sense from a drive train longevity / mpg point of view, and its not like its hard work to do it on a 2nd gen as its on a button on the transfer box lever.

[BUSHWHACKER]

2. On a Gen 3 model, are there any problems in leaving it in 4WD (without centre diff lock) for long periods apart from fuel consumption?

Greg

No problems at all. It's the same as AWD.

[Hazzo]

I switch mine on in the street (on hill) once on the main roads its off unless the roads are iced up, its just a button for 4wd high, I've never needed the low ratio selected on the roads here, hills etc are no problem. We've got around 8in to a foot lying in the estate, some compacted/rutted and pretty bad but this car is the only one to get out of the street this week, much to the annoyance of the pi$$ed off, shovel wielding neighbours, who laughed as I struggled to fix it in the summer so now they're busy trudging through the $hit to work/school/shop as the hilux owner bangs on through. H

[mckirdy-services]

I am looking at a Surf for when the snow is really bad (over 15 inches at the moment and many roads are not cleared). A couple of questions:

1. What are the best tyres on the snow? I will willing to accept less grip on normal roads. Or is there some all terrain tyre that will work just as well?

2. On a Gen 3 model, are there any problems in leaving it in 4WD (without centre diff lock) for long periods apart from fuel consumption?

Greg

http://www.vredestein.co.uk/Banden_B...&BandtypeID=59

Im looking at getting these, I have there Snowtrac 3 fitted to my other car and they are incredible. Im driving the car instead of the surf as it has much better traction.

I have semi mud tyres 60/40 on the surf and it does slide around a bit.