Surefooted In Snow

[sc4808]

I know that this gets brought up every year, but I continue to be amazed as to how surefooted this truck is on snow and ice, it is really difficult to get it out of shape.

 

I am in Washington State right now and we have had a lot of snow in the last week, This truck has been amazing, just point it where you want to go and thats where she goes.

 

Now don't get me wrong, I am not an idiot and fly up to stop signs and slam on the brakes or drive like an idiot, I use common sense and drive safely, but the truck makes it difficult to get in trouble.

 

The really surprising thing is that I still have the Factory Bridgestones on it with 60K miles and they still grip very well, better than my Boots do, I have busted my Butt a couple of times its so Icy.

[kawtoy_77]

+1, I feel the same way; even in my 2wd!

[sc4808]

I would love to see how it would do with a set of winter tires but so far I cant justify the expense.

 

The Autotrack is great as well, my 03 has a manual transfer case, I love the Auto feature on my 08.

[Sierra89]

That's good to hear. My girlfriend and I are taking our first roadtrip in her new 06 Sierra Z71. We're heading to Lake Placid and I haven't had the chance to drive in any snow with it yet. This trip will be the first! Man, I'm looking forward to it!

[svaneld]

I have to echo all that has been said. I have an 05 Sierra that I am going through my 1st winter with and it is doing great. For some reason we dont use snow plows here in Southern Idaho so I have had plenty of chances to test both the auto 4wd and straight up 4wd. I have been empressed by both. I have herd these trucks are average in wet, snowy or icy conditions but it is just as good as my 00 tacoma I drove before. I have some new LT geolanders on my truck and I have not been nervous yet in any conditions.

[foghorn23]

I've had three Silverados over the years. All 4x4 all with the locker in the rear end. If the tires were good there were few places I couldn't go. Lots of times 2wd was good enough as long as you drove like you had some sense. However, I've learned the hard way that all 4x4's are not created equal. I leased a 2007 Tundra Crewmax 4x4 in 2007. It undoubtedly has to be the worst snow truck I've ever driven. I could go in 2wd with my GM's equal to what this will do in 4x4. It has a faux limited slip that Toyota tried to use the braking system to create traction. Simply put it doesn't work. I've got brand new all terrain tires on it now and with our "monster" snowstorm (four inches) this weekend it just struggles. I've had Ford f150's and GM's before. I can't decide if it's due to the 4.30 rear end and the large v-8, the weight of the truck as the crewmax is very heavy and is more on the front axle. Beats me.... anyway the lease is up in the spring and my time with Toyota for trucks is over as well. Live and learn. I've been driving in snow for 23 years and I miss my Z71's. I aim to have another one.

[Stevens03]

My impression has been the GMT-900's is the smoothest 4x4 I've ever owned. I don't know whats different from the GMT-800's, but the 900's are smooth and quiet.

 

Auto 4wd is flawless. Love it

[Snow White]

we had a cold sleet and it flash froze on me last year while i was in the grocery store, no lie it dropped 10 degrees in 30 minutes and i left into a parking lot of ice..... i took it easy but.... while i was stopped at the crest of a rise, the truck slid, literally just fast enough that i could job next to it, but not fast enough to climb a curb, so i ended up smacking the side of an acadia. i was so pissed cause i could've gotten out and walked next to it, it was going so slow THE DAMN ABS doesn't even work going that slow.....

 

worst part... truck was 1 month old. new bumper, new grille, new headlight but no major damage. gave me a chance to get my black bumper, lol. i actually find it's really easy to get loose in the rear....

[Denali_Joe]

I've had three Silverados over the years. All 4x4 all with the locker in the rear end. If the tires were good there were few places I couldn't go. Lots of times 2wd was good enough as long as you drove like you had some sense. However, I've learned the hard way that all 4x4's are not created equal. I leased a 2007 Tundra Crewmax 4x4 in 2007. It undoubtedly has to be the worst snow truck I've ever driven. I could go in 2wd with my GM's equal to what this will do in 4x4. It has a faux limited slip that Toyota tried to use the braking system to create traction. Simply put it doesn't work. I've got brand new all terrain tires on it now and with our "monster" snowstorm (four inches) this weekend it just struggles. I've had Ford f150's and GM's before. I can't decide if it's due to the 4.30 rear end and the large v-8, the weight of the truck as the crewmax is very heavy and is more on the front axle. Beats me.... anyway the lease is up in the spring and my time with Toyota for trucks is over as well. Live and learn. I've been driving in snow for 23 years and I miss my Z71's. I aim to have another one.

 

Couldn't agree with you more. I had an 07 Double Cab I bought in 11/07 with the 5.7 & the TuRD package with 4.56 rear end. The first time I took the truck where I had no business going it took 5 hours for us to shovel and push out. Did way better than my buddies 03 Silverado, but I had it in 4 low with it floored. One tire in the front spins and the opposite in the rear spins. Same scenario the few times I got it stuck. The ABS and Traction control systems are both very noisy. Too much damn beeping to top it off! The traction/stability control did save my arse one time on the highway though, seemed to work good that time. Weird thing was on dry pavement I could leave 2 blackies on the pavement? Toyota rides like crap compared to GM too, however drivetrain on the Toyota rips and the GM needs a tune to compare IMO. I cannot compare 2wd to 2wd as my GMC has AWD. My work truck 2wd Colorado is light years better than the 2wd Tundra, but there are probably 200 hp that separate the 2. The stock BFG's on Toyota suck ass too.

 

I'm real impressed with my Denali with the Cooper Zeon LTZ on them so far!

[foghorn23]

Toyota rides like crap compared to GM too, however drivetrain on the Toyota rips and the GM needs a tune to compare IMO. The stock BFG's on Toyota suck ass too.

 

Dead on right. I do have to give credit to Toyota for the 5.7. Bone stock it puts out a lot of power and the mileage isn't all that bad either. But for how I use a truck (not drag racing) I don't think there's a better rounded truck than the GM trucks. Also as mentioned the Tundra ride is very rough by comparison. I haven't driven one of the new Rams with the coil spring rears, I'd say they would be a smooth rider as well. A few more months and I hope to be back in a Silvy or Sierra.

[mkelly]

I have to say my 2008 is the best vehicle I have ever driven in the snow.

 

 

Even without traction control I have a hard time getting the truck out of shape with a4wd on. I have driven subarus that handle as well as the silverado in the snow, but the silverado stops much better (i have the extended cab iron block 5.3).

[07gregLT1]

2WD with the 3.73 gears and no weight in the back is like driving a mustang around. it sucks. cant wait til my bed extender comes in and i can throw 500lbs back there!

[ken1mod]

Gentlemen,

 

My 2wd with locker is great. No one badmouths the g-80 around me! When that things LOCKS, and it really does, I just put it into the 2 range on the trans, which really does help, it just hunkers down and goes.

 

By the way, the second gear start on the trans can be magic. I have been in places where the truck would not move in D but pulls away smartly in 2. It is really amazing, please put this into your Winter bag of tricks

 

Ken

[foghorn23]

Gentlemen,

 

My 2wd with locker is great. No one badmouths the g-80 around me! When that things LOCKS, and it really does, I just put it into the 2 range on the trans, which really does help, it just hunkers down and goes.

 

By the way, the second gear start on the trans can be magic. I have been in places where the truck would not move in D but pulls away smartly in 2. It is really amazing, please put this into your Winter bag of tricks

 

Ken

 

 

That reminds me... that's another no go for the yota. Can't take off in 2nd gear. You can put the selector in 2 but it drops to 1. You're right about 2nd gear take offs it will make all the difference sometimes. Of course 4x4 makes this less important.

[Snow White]

Gentlemen,

 

My 2wd with locker is great. No one badmouths the g-80 around me! When that things LOCKS, and it really does, I just put it into the 2 range on the trans, which really does help, it just hunkers down and goes.

 

By the way, the second gear start on the trans can be magic. I have been in places where the truck would not move in D but pulls away smartly in 2. It is really amazing, please put this into your Winter bag of tricks

 

Ken

 

the 2nd gear start is a slick trick, i love that feature... in the winter but i hate it when i'm shifting myself sometimes cause you can't leave it in second at the light.