YotaAtieToo
Thick skull
We often go on for pages on a single part, but I haven't seen much on how to drive these rigs. As built rigs have become so easily accessible, it seems driving skills and principles are all but gone. A recent trip to the snow really baffled me at how bad people are at diving. Everything from mild to fully built rigs on 42+ tires.
Maybe we can all add basic rules and tips we've learned over the years here.
SNOW
-Rule #1 MOTHER FUCKING AIR DOWN! If you won't go down to 5 psi, stay home, you're just fucking up the trail for everyone else. I cannot believe how many times I've passed people on 40-44+ tire on my current 33s or my last 4runner on 35s because they were at 8 lbs. The bigger the tire, the lower you'll need to go, even more so with bias. Every tire, rig and condition is different but usually 3-4 psi on radials and 1-3 on bias tires works well. Sometimes lower will float better, but sometimes it can also be too low. I've successfully ran 3 psi in multiple sets of 285/70r17s on stock 4runner wheels, so I don't want to hear the blown bead excuses.
I usually start at 5 psi when I go into 4wd. Sometimes the trail is already packed or the top has a crust and this works fine. If it seems like it's wanting to dig, I'll go lower.
- Momentum is your friend, wheel spin is not. At least not in the deep Sierra powder. Once you aren't moving stop spinning your tires, it just makes it harder to pull or dig you out.
Another part of this is that when making runs into fresh trail, let of the gas when you start to slow down, again, momentum, not spinning tires. Sometimes depending on conditions I'll let off right before the tracks end.
When you back up to get a run, back up at least far enough that you're front tires pass over where you're rear tires stopped. This helps keep your tracks packed.
- Keep your lockers on. The stupid thing where you wait till you get stuck to turn them on just fucks up the trail and may not actually help you get unstuck. The exemption would be if you're just driving down the packed ruts.
On the a similar note, think about the guys behind you. I've been the guy with the smallest tires in the group many times. Usually the thought is to put you in the back. This can work as the guys in front of you pack the trail more and more. It doesn't work when the one guy thinks he doesn't need his lockers and/or doesn't need to air down very much because he's on big tires and has to bang up every hill.
Descending a steep slick hill -
-Don't stand on the brakes going down hill. you can easily end up in a slide without steering or control. When you lock the tires up, and now you are skidding or sliding down the hill you have no steering. Then when you let off the brakes and the tires start to rotate you will suddenly start turning in the direction the wheels are turned, the back will start coming around and when you panic stamp the brakes now your headed into a down hill spin. You want to use gearing and engine braking when going down hill. This way your wheels are still turning and you have steering. Brakes are always a last minute option. Put it in low & first gear and use the gas slightly if needed. You are better off going slightly faster down the hill with a little throttle because you will be able to steer.
I'll add more as I think of them.
Maybe we can all add basic rules and tips we've learned over the years here.
SNOW
-Rule #1 MOTHER FUCKING AIR DOWN! If you won't go down to 5 psi, stay home, you're just fucking up the trail for everyone else. I cannot believe how many times I've passed people on 40-44+ tire on my current 33s or my last 4runner on 35s because they were at 8 lbs. The bigger the tire, the lower you'll need to go, even more so with bias. Every tire, rig and condition is different but usually 3-4 psi on radials and 1-3 on bias tires works well. Sometimes lower will float better, but sometimes it can also be too low. I've successfully ran 3 psi in multiple sets of 285/70r17s on stock 4runner wheels, so I don't want to hear the blown bead excuses.
I usually start at 5 psi when I go into 4wd. Sometimes the trail is already packed or the top has a crust and this works fine. If it seems like it's wanting to dig, I'll go lower.
- Momentum is your friend, wheel spin is not. At least not in the deep Sierra powder. Once you aren't moving stop spinning your tires, it just makes it harder to pull or dig you out.
Another part of this is that when making runs into fresh trail, let of the gas when you start to slow down, again, momentum, not spinning tires. Sometimes depending on conditions I'll let off right before the tracks end.
When you back up to get a run, back up at least far enough that you're front tires pass over where you're rear tires stopped. This helps keep your tracks packed.
- Keep your lockers on. The stupid thing where you wait till you get stuck to turn them on just fucks up the trail and may not actually help you get unstuck. The exemption would be if you're just driving down the packed ruts.
On the a similar note, think about the guys behind you. I've been the guy with the smallest tires in the group many times. Usually the thought is to put you in the back. This can work as the guys in front of you pack the trail more and more. It doesn't work when the one guy thinks he doesn't need his lockers and/or doesn't need to air down very much because he's on big tires and has to bang up every hill.
Descending a steep slick hill -
-Don't stand on the brakes going down hill. you can easily end up in a slide without steering or control. When you lock the tires up, and now you are skidding or sliding down the hill you have no steering. Then when you let off the brakes and the tires start to rotate you will suddenly start turning in the direction the wheels are turned, the back will start coming around and when you panic stamp the brakes now your headed into a down hill spin. You want to use gearing and engine braking when going down hill. This way your wheels are still turning and you have steering. Brakes are always a last minute option. Put it in low & first gear and use the gas slightly if needed. You are better off going slightly faster down the hill with a little throttle because you will be able to steer.
I'll add more as I think of them.
Last edited: