Welp. My first solo snow camping trip is in the books. Mistakes were made and lessons were learned ... most importantly though, Super Mario World was played! 🎮 Hope y'all enjoy this one. It was a lot of fun to edit.
I think you are underselling yourself. For someone who didn't air down, use 4-low, nearly drove off a cliff, didn't bring any chains, and almost died, this could be considered a big win.
yeah i hate these people that have youtube channels dedicated to this and i seem to have more knowledge having never owned a truck and its all just a dream for me. i really dont understand the allergy these people seem to have with chains. like do they think it just looks cool to not have chains. just imagine how many first responders life they are putting as risk trying to look cool for youtube.
From experienced solo winter camper, just a few things, always take enough food for three more days then expected stay, chains for your rig, point your rig facing down, a good pair of snow shoes and don’t cheap out on winter survival clothing, top of the line is well worth the money. Make sure you are near an ample supply of dead firewood, just a few things. Be aware of the forecast before you leave home.
Admittedly I am probably your mom's age and though I am happy to see that Super Mario made you so happy, I couldn't help but think... chains would have probably been a good idea since there is ice on the road. you just forgot to pack your whole winter kit! I still go out by myself in my 4x4 Mitsubishi Delica and still do foolish things, so no judgement, but sometimes our learning curve is steep and thank God you're ok. I have done my own high risk learning times that were great but looking back I am just happy to have survived. You got a sweet dose of grace on the way don for sure! Take care my friend/ Glad the camping was so awesome.
Chains, very important before you ever return to the backcountry. Not much else we can do on ice. You made it though and that is what is most important. Thank you for taking us along with you. 🦋
Cool video and a sweet rig that you have there. Try dropping your privacy shades on your next winter trip. They sort of create a thermal break between the side doors of the camper and the inside. That should help get the temperature up inside of your camper. I run an Alu Cabin with the same fireplace and my camper will stay in the mid 50s on the low setting. Some insulation on the truck bed, the rear door and front bulkhead will help tremendously. The self adhesive, foil lined rubber that they use for firewalls and transmission tunnels works well. Hope that helps you. Keep adventuring!
When that happened again you can put your truck in neutral if you're going downhill that way the truck won't be pushing you down the hill it will just post and you'll be able to control it
Looks like a fun trip! I live in WA also and have a bit of snow driving experience. You did great and intuitively made a lot of the right decisions. A couple pointers - always air down and and go to 4lo if you’re that slow. The truck will do most of the work for you. Braking will put you into a slide faster than the xfer case will. Keep it in first and use the brake gently when needed. I’m in a 200 series so probably a bit heavier than you (LOL), but I’m running 34” KO2s and would have aired down to about 25 psi on that. Also - on the skinny vs wide debate. If you’re not running in swamps or deep snow, skinny wins every time. When you air down, you’re elongating the traction surface along the same axis as the weight of the vehicle, so you get more traction. A lot of off-road tires actually take this into account with the tread design - check out the sidewall transition on your tires. Anyhow - that’s my take. Enjoyed the video!
Thanks for the feedback. Seems like the general consensus is to use 4-low, as you mentioned. I went deep down the rabbit hole researching this prior to the trip, but it seems like that research led me astray. I think where I may have gone wrong is that a lot of the research I was looking at was referenced from Jeep guys ... and some of the modern Jeeps have EXTREMELY low gearing, which could cause issues. The Tacoma? Definitely not.
Next time perhaps chains (for the conditions you found), snow skins (should the conditions favor those) and a good book. What was your plan for downed trees on the return flight?
That rig is a luxury for this adventure! Enjoyed your trip with @WheresWiseman and came back to watch this snowy camp. Looking forward to the next one!
Engine braking is alot better on slippery surfaces than using the brake pedal. Rule of thumb is if you're crawling/going under 15mph you should really be using 4LO and let the engine do the work. I just went snow wheeling/camping near Ellensburg last weekend and it was fairly sketch, aired down my 35x10.5s all the way to 10PSI for max traction and it was fine. Ice is sketchy no matter what, a good set of chains for the rear axle wouldnt be a bad idea if you plan to do this often, the ride will suck with them on but its way less sketchy on ice > Gen5 4Runner owner
Appreciate the tips. I'm definitely learning. Is 4 Low on an icy descent a good idea though? Seems like a higher chance to lock all 4 tires and spin due to engine braking? But I could be wrong. And chains .... haha YES. That is literally the FIRST thing I bought when I got back from this trip. A set of chains on the rear probably would've made that descent feel like nothing
@WheretoNextOverland yeah the general rule of thumb is if you're just crawling and need maximum traction, 4Lo is what you want to be in. You can always go up to a higher gear if you need to. But the speed at which your truck will crawl at 4lo 1st gear is suuuper slow, if you find yourself picking up speed just gently use your brakes. This is completely unrelated but REGEN braking (what EVs and PHEVs use) is NOT good to use on slippery/icy roads as that will lock up the brakes, but 4Lo is basically there for this really slow speed, super low traction situations. As far as airing down for hard packed icy roads, I would still recommend it as it will still increase your contact patch of your tire = increase your overall grip level. Remember when you air down, the tire track gets longer much more than it does wider (think of a tank track) so even that will significantly improve driver confidence and control, say being at even 20psi vs full highway pressures. I'm hardly an expert but I've been wheeling around the PNW, including lots of snow since moving here in 17' so I promise I'm not talking out of my butt
@WheretoNextOverland also, from basically all the local wheeling guys I've talked to have all said, get your chains from Les Schwab.. they're apparently the ones to get. I also have been told by a lot of folks, be super careful putting them on the front of a IFS as they can get loose and tear up something like the CV boots. Just a pair on the rear & air down (or it's going to be SUPER bumpy) and hit that 4Lo and you'll probably be like whoa this thing is a freaking tank. If you ever need a wheeling/adventure buddy hit me up, I'm down in Graham WA and the 4runner is usually down to go wherever. I always carry 4 MaxTrax, 12k winch, recovery ropes, snow shovel, soft shackles, tree straps etc... been stuck in the snow to many dam times to not know better
@@TheOutdoorBeerReview If chains are needed, they should be on all four tires (that is unless you're ok with your front end ending up in the ditch). Keep in mind turning and most of the braking power comes from the front tires. Also having chains only on the rear can encourage your truck to swap ends when trying to go up hill. If for some reason you're caught with only one set of chains, they should be on the uphill axle, even if that means swapping them when heading back down. Chains work just fine with IFS. By Les Schwab chains, if you're referring to their Quick Fit ones, they're decent and a great option for the IFS with limited clearance. For the rear axle, a set of studded chains offers much better traction and durability. V-bars are a close second. Real chains are also generally easier to put on and off than the quick fit ones despite the name.
If you’re over dressed in your sleeping bag then you’re going to sweat. Game over. You’re cold. If you go to bed with a moisture wicking layer and keep it conservative you should be fine. You should be a little cold getting into your sleeping bag. I cold bagged it (sleeping bag only- no tent or shelter) with an issue sleep system in -6F while wearing arc teryx base layer, wool socks, and a wool cap. Easy night.
You have two options. Down shift to first gear or put it in for low and then coast down the hill. Avoid breaking as much as possible, however if you have to use the brakes start doing so three times earlier than you would ever think you had two. Take it from a guy from Buffalo, New York who knows snow and driving in it like it’s a second nature is breathing.
Well we can see you had a nice trip and some thing to learn on your next one. At least now you know how your rig responds in that type of weather. Main thing is take your time and research the area it was nice to see that part of stampede pass with snow on it seeing the lake in parts of this video thank for taking us on your trip and be safe out there
@midnightadventureswa no doubt, lots of lessons learned on this trip, both good and bad. Arguably, it's trips like this one (where a bit of adversity is thrown in) that tend to create the best memories
Second airing down is only beneficial when you’re stuck. Your tires are already gonna be low due to the cold temperatures and the slow speed which prevent them from heating up and airing up. So any benefit of dropping 10 to 15 pounds has already been achieved when you wake up in the morning.Leave the tires alone until you get stuck and that goes for snow sand whatever
Thanks! And yeah, I'm pretty proud of myself for that SNES setup. Side note .... those games seemed a lot easier when I was a kid. Some of them are downright brutal haha
Follow-up comment....Talon Sei has the same heater in his camper...below zero temps outside and 73°F inside...his Dickinson keeps his camper toasty warm...why doesn't yours? Insulation...???
That's a great question. Wish I had a good answer. This was my first trip in cooooold weather like that. It could be insulation I suppose .... but that's an awfully big difference to just come down to insulation. So 🤷♂️
@@WheretoNextOverland to be fair, could also be a lot of heat loss due to tent vs a hard shell camper...at first didn't realize that guy didn't have a fabric tent but a hard top. I don't think you have tent walls with insulation kit...Thanks for the reply. Cheers
@@WheretoNextOverlandfrom what I understand, those heaters work best when there is a large section of the intake/exhaust pipe exposed. In the Alucab, the space for pipe is really limited. In Talons setup, there is more open space / exposed pipe 👍
@jasonday4658 that could definitely be. Though I sorta suspect the biggest difference between something like an Alucab vs a Kimbo is that the Kimbo is hard sided and (i assume) waaaaaaaay better insulted
@@jasonday4658 But isn't the external portion of the pipe inlet air from the outside and the exhaust pipe is the internal pipe so i don't think one would get much radiant heat from the exhaust pipe. I may have that backwards.
Love the SNES mini idea! That's a great way to relax in the camper. I'm going to be do some snow camping in the WA Cascades end of the month, I may have to steal your idea...
I would like to see some opinions regarding the airing down and low. It appears from what I can gather you are correct but that seems to me to be counterintuitive because power will be going to all four tires if you were in for low. As well airing down, Wood put more tire on the surface of the road. Thanks 😊😊
The internet is full of contrasting opinions on both of these things. It's tough to pin down a 'definitive' answer. That being said, most of the people I've heard from / spoken with since this video went live who are ACTUALLY experienced snow wheelers recommended 4 low and airing down for those conditions. It would be interesting if I had a 'do-over' to see if those things would've made for an easier (or worse?) descent
Bold going out alone in those weather conditions. At least you were on a well-used road, so worst case, you'd probably be ok. I myself have zero interest in snow wheeling/camping. However, my new rtt will be here this Monday, and I will be looking forward to the spring thaw to get my camping on. I will be exploring the Stampede Pass area more next spring/summer.
Solo snow trips in the mountains are definitely experience builders. It’s amazing how just in a day conditions can change. Those icy roads can be terrifying but you picked a good place for this trip since other people travel up there too. Good call on the Nintendo that looks like a blast.
Yeah, you make those trips look so easy 🤣. But I guess that comes with experience. FINALLY someone mentioned the Nintendo. I was so proud of myself for that hahaha
@ Ha ha thanks, I’m still learning, every trip is an adventure. Before you pulled out the surprise I was hoping it was a Nintendo and when I saw it I literally said “Hell yeah!”
I'm pretty sure that's the lake we took the short spur to check out when I attempted to go explore there but missed a turn somewhere to end up in Greenwater...spur of the moment trip,, no offline maps where download lol
Nice outing. I've got a TRD 3rd gen also. I usually air down to 22-25psi and then put it in 4-low with MTS on multi terrane. If it's iced up, I run chains on the rear. depending on the downward incline, I'll run it in 3rd or 2nd, let the engine do the breaking. I liked watching Scott Alpine when he had his full-size rig busting snow. And like him I spend a good portion of time clearing trees and winching myself up to that sweet camp site. Looks like your stove is a game changer for sure. Thanks for posting.
Good advice 👍. I bought a set of chains when I got back hahah. They will now live in the truck for winter trips. I definitely think that descent would've been easy work with a set of chains on the rear
I’m surprised the Dickinson heater can’t get the camper warmer. I have a wedge camper with a diesel heater. I’ve camped when it was 6 degrees outside and can get to 70+
I think those diesel heaters crank out a LOT more heat. The benefit of the Dickinson is it doesn't use much propane. I could have run it higher (it was on low all night), which probably would've helped a little bit. But I don't think 70 degrees is a possibility with it
You want to be 4-lo when in snow unless you’re doing higher speeds. 4-lo in first gear when going down hill. You want the tires to keep turning which gives you more traction. Hitting your brakes is actually not a good idea especially on very icy surface as you will lose traction.
Yeah, it sounds like the internet maybe led me astray on the whole "don't descend steep icy hills in 4 low" advice. The internet giving bad advice? Shocking, I know! 🤣
Good job. I might be on the air down side of the tire only because of more area on the ice. Where at in E WA? I'm south of Spokane. Looking forward to getting out.
Yeah, many have pointed out that airing down may have been of benefit. I think y'all are probably right given the conditions. This was just east of Snoqualmie Pass off I-90
Well done! I can’t remember but I’m guessing “no” since you didn’t mention it…lockers? Regardless, great job and great video. Keep them coming and congratulations on 25k+ subscribers!! Whoop whoop!
Thanks man! Appreciate it! Didn't use lockers. Dont think they'd be helpful going downhill on ice (maybe more harmful than helpful?). But .... IDK. Everyone has pointed out that they believe all the research i did is wrong, so 🤷 lol
Lockers are typically worse in the snow for complicated reasons I'm not going to explain here. If you want to improve your snow traction, real snow tires (not just 3PMSF) and a limited slip differential is what you want, not lockers.
i agree 100% with the logic of not airing down, not 4 lo (so that you have control over the decisions not the gears), and no chains ( they are ice skates) but once a year i swear never again too so what do i know lol
Also, I knew exactly where you were, we actually camped there one late summer day. Jeez, that’s really scary driving down those switch backs, I would have kept it safe and probably head to Kachess….no cliffs there. Lol
I know you're almost home free at the little pull out under the power lines. I always think it would be such a cool spot and nice view without those damn powerlines when I'm there. Way to get outside your comfort zone on this vid!
@@JerodBeeson haha yeah, that spot would be so good without those power lines! Definitely got out of my comfort zone and learned a lot as a result, which I take as a big win! Cheers 🍻
Dude, the Nintendo. That's awesome. I want to go snow camping so bad, but the anxiety at the same time. If you ever want a snow camping buddy, we're not far away. 😉 Also, I think we ALL want to know Christine's comments after watching this. 😳😝
What section of the road were you on here? OnX is showing me the Stampede Pass road is closed for the season. Is that right or am I looking at the wrong section?
new Sub here, i hope the vids can be longer, nothing worse than getting in and out of something faster than a Kitty Cat 🐈 and alley of 5 Chinese restaurants😂
Next time you do the same trek in the same conditions you’ll be more experienced and better prepared. You’ll be wanting to do it by yourself again to prove yourself , again. 😊
100% agree. It was a great exercise in experience building and learning. Sometimes trips like that are the BEST way to learn. I'll do it again, that's for sure.
44 degrees is too cold for being 25 outside at night, always wondered about the alu cab propane heater….My deisel heater can get the tent to 85 on medium setting when it’s 29 outside. Hmmm….the camper is far bigger, but 44 is way too cold. Lol. Love your camper though
Yeah, I had been warned by the guys at Mule that the Dickinson isn't all that great at getting the camper hot when it's super cold out. 20 degrees warmer certainly helps, but it's not GREAT. I think that's why they've switched to propane heaters with thermostats now.
The diesel heaters can put out a lot of heat. Ran a cheap vevor in a regular gazelle tent. At 0 deg f...never used my sleeping bag, kept the tent at 70 all night. Love that thing.
Haha, yeah, I'm kinda with you on that. I had a Trailhunter on order for a year before pulling the trigger on the 3rd Gen. Based on what I'm seeing out of Toyota's current products, I'm pretty happy with my decision
@@WheretoNextOverland dude A ranger Raptor would be my #1 choice if I had to buy literally anything new with a bed. Compared to the Tacoma TRD Pro, it has a V6 instead of a I4 Hybrid, 2 turbos instead of one, better interior space and backseat room, and it's a whopping 10 grand LESS. But screw new vehicles, I'm in the market currently for a clapped FJ lol. Those are the best.
@FullsendOffroad yeah the Ranger Raptor definitely looks like a bargain in the world of mid-size halo trucks. But yeah....when it comes to camping and offroading, the thought of pinstriping ans beating up on a 60K+ truck doesn't seem especially appealing!
@@WheretoNextOverland Suggestion for a future video, check out Government Pass, may have a different official name, thats just what us locals call it, off Hwy 410. It's kind of near Chinook Pass. Pretty good altitude, excellent views of both Mt Adams and Rainier .
Thanks for the video. I've been asking around about why the heck aren't those campers insulated...your video has helped me realize that i guess the overlanding camping world is brainless. That stove everyone brags about cranking all night and it is 43°F (only 22° F above outside temp)? For the price of what looks like a Modcap, it should have closed cell spray foam R6, or something comparable. I would love your opinion on why you are ok with sleeping in cold temps in a metal box and using way more propane than you should. Why switch to a different type heater like mentioned in your comments below vs adding insulation? My thinking is without insulation, long extended trips in winter means lots of propane fill-ups.
Learn what excactly four low and high, staying in four high dropping into drive three or two according to gear ratios would be the same as four low. There is a video on utube explaining this theory. Growing up in the Rockies a taller narrow tire works great in snow, we never aired up or down. This does not apply to professional buggies with very large tires.
I think the concept of not airing down whether the snow is hard packed or not is completely incorrect. With the snow being extremely hard, it doesn't matter whether you have full tire pressure or not you're probably not cutting through the ice and on top of that being aired down, the contact patch is going to be significantly more Which pretty obviously the bigger the contact past the more traction you're going to have whether that is forward traction or breaking traction. Just my opinion.
Yeah, this make sense. With compact ice on the road -- the tires probably weren't gonna be able to cut through that and get to dirt anyway ... so more contact patch would've been mo-better (in hindsight)
The next dead UA-camr? :( but hey at least the footage was beautiful! edit: the Mario surprise was indeed epic. anyone reading this comment please do your research before doing stuff like this I would love to do the stuff just for shits and giggles and some creativity but it’s important to prioritize your safety. I hope this brother did have all the communication gear in case he got into trouble. I would recommend a Zoleo. glad he had a heated cab at least.
That's a bit of a stretch. I drove up a reasonably trafficked road to an area i know well, less than 2 miles from q major highway. Satellite communicator always with me. Coordinates to camp sent to my wife. Winch and full recovery gear onboard. Shelter, food, water and proper clothing all with me in abundance. Risk of getting stuck? Sure. But hey, it's always really easy to be critical of others from the comfort of a couch. 🤷♂️
I came across your video and it was GORGEOUS with the tree's with snow on them and all the snow all around ❤ The scenery was BREATHTAKING the walk to the lake, campsite and your setup. When you showed the Super Mario I was in awwww. I love that game haven't played for year's but remembered the 1st time I played it I ended up with arthritis playing for hours on New Year's Eve 😂. I never drove in snow but it look's SPOOKY 😅. I'm from Hawaii and yes it snows here too and also a active volcano (Hot and Cold). I enjoyed your video very much. Thanks for sharing. Stay Safe and Healthy ALOHA From Hawaii ❤❤❤❤
![A CRAZY decision and WILD Semi Recovery | Alaska Arctic Adventure [ MOVIE ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/oESkgq_hu4c/mqdefault.jpg)
![A CRAZY decision and WILD Semi Recovery | Alaska Arctic Adventure [ MOVIE ]](/img/tr.png)
Welp. My first solo snow camping trip is in the books. Mistakes were made and lessons were learned ... most importantly though, Super Mario World was played! 🎮 Hope y'all enjoy this one. It was a lot of fun to edit.
omelhorabrigo.blogspot.com/2024/12/acampando-sozinho-nas-montanhas-na-neve.html
I think you are underselling yourself. For someone who didn't air down, use 4-low, nearly drove off a cliff, didn't bring any chains, and almost died, this could be considered a big win.
Best comment yet. 🤣
yeah i hate these people that have youtube channels dedicated to this and i seem to have more knowledge having never owned a truck and its all just a dream for me. i really dont understand the allergy these people seem to have with chains. like do they think it just looks cool to not have chains. just imagine how many first responders life they are putting as risk trying to look cool for youtube.
I appreciate your honesty. You are brazen to be out there! Hang in there adventurous soul.
From experienced solo winter camper, just a few things, always take enough food for three more days then expected stay, chains for your rig, point your rig facing down, a good pair of snow shoes and don’t cheap out on winter survival clothing, top of the line is well worth the money. Make sure you are near an ample supply of dead firewood, just a few things. Be aware of the forecast before you leave home.
Admittedly I am probably your mom's age and though I am happy to see that
Super Mario made you so happy, I couldn't help but think... chains would have probably been a good idea since there is ice on the road.
you just forgot to pack your whole winter kit!
I still go out by myself in my 4x4 Mitsubishi Delica and still do foolish things, so no judgement, but sometimes our learning curve is steep and thank God you're ok. I have done my own high risk learning times that were great but looking back I am just happy to have survived. You got a sweet dose of grace on the way don for sure!
Take care my friend/ Glad the camping was so awesome.
Chains, very important before you ever return to the backcountry. Not much else we can do on ice. You made it though and that is what is most important. Thank you for taking us along with you. 🦋
Cool video and a sweet rig that you have there. Try dropping your privacy shades on your next winter trip. They sort of create a thermal break between the side doors of the camper and the inside. That should help get the temperature up inside of your camper. I run an Alu Cabin with the same fireplace and my camper will stay in the mid 50s on the low setting. Some insulation on the truck bed, the rear door and front bulkhead will help tremendously. The self adhesive, foil lined rubber that they use for firewalls and transmission tunnels works well. Hope that helps you. Keep adventuring!
Great tips! Thanks for sharing. Gppd call on the privacy shades, I'll definitely try that next time
When that happened again you can put your truck in neutral if you're going downhill that way the truck won't be pushing you down the hill it will just post and you'll be able to control it
First time to see a camper with entrance inside. I love it!! I was on pins & needles watching you go down. Stay safe..will like & subscribe!
Looks like a fun trip! I live in WA also and have a bit of snow driving experience. You did great and intuitively made a lot of the right decisions. A couple pointers - always air down and and go to 4lo if you’re that slow. The truck will do most of the work for you. Braking will put you into a slide faster than the xfer case will. Keep it in first and use the brake gently when needed. I’m in a 200 series so probably a bit heavier than you (LOL), but I’m running 34” KO2s and would have aired down to about 25 psi on that.
Also - on the skinny vs wide debate. If you’re not running in swamps or deep snow, skinny wins every time. When you air down, you’re elongating the traction surface along the same axis as the weight of the vehicle, so you get more traction. A lot of off-road tires actually take this into account with the tread design - check out the sidewall transition on your tires. Anyhow - that’s my take.
Enjoyed the video!
Great tips and pointers, thanks for sharing them. Glad to hear you enjoyed the video. Cheers! 🍻
What PSI were you running? No brake, 4-low and let the transfer case do the work. It does not lock your tires up as you me tioned on your descent.
Thanks for the feedback. Seems like the general consensus is to use 4-low, as you mentioned. I went deep down the rabbit hole researching this prior to the trip, but it seems like that research led me astray. I think where I may have gone wrong is that a lot of the research I was looking at was referenced from Jeep guys ... and some of the modern Jeeps have EXTREMELY low gearing, which could cause issues. The Tacoma? Definitely not.
@WheretoNextOverland you also want your transmission in the lowest gear; AT in 1 or MT in first gear. It makes a big difference
Next time perhaps chains (for the conditions you found), snow skins (should the conditions favor those) and a good book. What was your plan for downed trees on the return flight?
Chainsaw. Book? Nah. Videogames.
Day 2: Definitely a Type 2 Adventure.
I just moved to the PNW and look forward to exploring. Thanks for the great videos!
@@jameshoiby welcome to the PNW. Cheers 🍻
That rig is a luxury for this adventure! Enjoyed your trip with @WheresWiseman and came back to watch this snowy camp. Looking forward to the next one!
It's a luxury for sure! It has transformed the way I think about winter camping, without a doubt. Cheers 🍻
Good to have goals! Haha. Great trip, edit, and nice driving!! Amazing winter vibes 👌🏻
Thanks! Beating Super Mario World while hanging out in the camper is THE goal of 2025 for me. 🤣
Engine braking is alot better on slippery surfaces than using the brake pedal. Rule of thumb is if you're crawling/going under 15mph you should really be using 4LO and let the engine do the work. I just went snow wheeling/camping near Ellensburg last weekend and it was fairly sketch, aired down my 35x10.5s all the way to 10PSI for max traction and it was fine. Ice is sketchy no matter what, a good set of chains for the rear axle wouldnt be a bad idea if you plan to do this often, the ride will suck with them on but its way less sketchy on ice
> Gen5 4Runner owner
Appreciate the tips. I'm definitely learning. Is 4 Low on an icy descent a good idea though? Seems like a higher chance to lock all 4 tires and spin due to engine braking? But I could be wrong.
And chains .... haha YES. That is literally the FIRST thing I bought when I got back from this trip. A set of chains on the rear probably would've made that descent feel like nothing
@WheretoNextOverland yeah the general rule of thumb is if you're just crawling and need maximum traction, 4Lo is what you want to be in. You can always go up to a higher gear if you need to. But the speed at which your truck will crawl at 4lo 1st gear is suuuper slow, if you find yourself picking up speed just gently use your brakes.
This is completely unrelated but REGEN braking (what EVs and PHEVs use) is NOT good to use on slippery/icy roads as that will lock up the brakes, but 4Lo is basically there for this really slow speed, super low traction situations.
As far as airing down for hard packed icy roads, I would still recommend it as it will still increase your contact patch of your tire = increase your overall grip level. Remember when you air down, the tire track gets longer much more than it does wider (think of a tank track) so even that will significantly improve driver confidence and control, say being at even 20psi vs full highway pressures. I'm hardly an expert but I've been wheeling around the PNW, including lots of snow since moving here in 17' so I promise I'm not talking out of my butt
@WheretoNextOverland also, from basically all the local wheeling guys I've talked to have all said, get your chains from Les Schwab.. they're apparently the ones to get. I also have been told by a lot of folks, be super careful putting them on the front of a IFS as they can get loose and tear up something like the CV boots. Just a pair on the rear & air down (or it's going to be SUPER bumpy) and hit that 4Lo and you'll probably be like whoa this thing is a freaking tank. If you ever need a wheeling/adventure buddy hit me up, I'm down in Graham WA and the 4runner is usually down to go wherever. I always carry 4 MaxTrax, 12k winch, recovery ropes, snow shovel, soft shackles, tree straps etc... been stuck in the snow to many dam times to not know better
@@TheOutdoorBeerReview If chains are needed, they should be on all four tires (that is unless you're ok with your front end ending up in the ditch). Keep in mind turning and most of the braking power comes from the front tires. Also having chains only on the rear can encourage your truck to swap ends when trying to go up hill. If for some reason you're caught with only one set of chains, they should be on the uphill axle, even if that means swapping them when heading back down. Chains work just fine with IFS.
By Les Schwab chains, if you're referring to their Quick Fit ones, they're decent and a great option for the IFS with limited clearance. For the rear axle, a set of studded chains offers much better traction and durability. V-bars are a close second. Real chains are also generally easier to put on and off than the quick fit ones despite the name.
@tyeetamer the 3rd Gen Tacoma doesnt play nice with chains on the front tires.
Being a Toyota is probably a big help! I love them. I have a 2011 Camry SLE With 90,000 original miles.
If you’re over dressed in your sleeping bag then you’re going to sweat. Game over. You’re cold. If you go to bed with a moisture wicking layer and keep it conservative you should be fine. You should be a little cold getting into your sleeping bag. I cold bagged it (sleeping bag only- no tent or shelter) with an issue sleep system in -6F while wearing arc teryx base layer, wool socks, and a wool cap. Easy night.
You have two options. Down shift to first gear or put it in for low and then coast down the hill. Avoid breaking as much as possible, however if you have to use the brakes start doing so three times earlier than you would ever think you had two. Take it from a guy from Buffalo, New York who knows snow and driving in it like it’s a second nature is breathing.
I’ve done that same type of drive so many types and I just refuse to drive the snow in the hills now. Sucks though cause that camp view was gorgeous
Haha, yeah, I probably won't be quite so brazen driving up snowy shelf roads like this next time.
But yeah, the camping part? A blast!
You're way braver than I am going snow wheeling alone.... Good stuff man.
Braver, or maybe dumber? Haha. Either way, thanks man!
5:30 mark. I like the “ode to Mr Rodger’s” sweater change “would you be my… my neighbor”.. should happen after each episode going forward!
🤣 🤣
Well we can see you had a nice trip and some thing to learn on your next one. At least now you know how your rig responds in that type of weather. Main thing is take your time and research the area it was nice to see that part of stampede pass with snow on it seeing the lake in parts of this video thank for taking us on your trip and be safe out there
@midnightadventureswa no doubt, lots of lessons learned on this trip, both good and bad. Arguably, it's trips like this one (where a bit of adversity is thrown in) that tend to create the best memories
I was not expecting the SNES but I gotta say that did sound really good 😂
@@PhilippeLalonde I'm still basking in my GENIUS for that one! 🤣
Second airing down is only beneficial when you’re stuck. Your tires are already gonna be low due to the cold temperatures and the slow speed which prevent them from heating up and airing up. So any benefit of dropping 10 to 15 pounds has already been achieved when you wake up in the morning.Leave the tires alone until you get stuck and that goes for snow sand whatever
Great video, the gaming set up is amazing and I am going to have to steal that idea!
Thanks! And yeah, I'm pretty proud of myself for that SNES setup. Side note .... those games seemed a lot easier when I was a kid. Some of them are downright brutal haha
@@WheretoNextOverland Oh absolutely! they are 10x harder now as an adult
Follow-up comment....Talon Sei has the same heater in his camper...below zero temps outside and 73°F inside...his Dickinson keeps his camper toasty warm...why doesn't yours? Insulation...???
That's a great question. Wish I had a good answer. This was my first trip in cooooold weather like that. It could be insulation I suppose .... but that's an awfully big difference to just come down to insulation. So 🤷♂️
@@WheretoNextOverland to be fair, could also be a lot of heat loss due to tent vs a hard shell camper...at first didn't realize that guy didn't have a fabric tent but a hard top. I don't think you have tent walls with insulation kit...Thanks for the reply. Cheers
@@WheretoNextOverlandfrom what I understand, those heaters work best when there is a large section of the intake/exhaust pipe exposed. In the Alucab, the space for pipe is really limited. In Talons setup, there is more open space / exposed pipe 👍
@jasonday4658 that could definitely be. Though I sorta suspect the biggest difference between something like an Alucab vs a Kimbo is that the Kimbo is hard sided and (i assume) waaaaaaaay better insulted
@@jasonday4658 But isn't the external portion of the pipe inlet air from the outside and the exhaust pipe is the internal pipe so i don't think one would get much radiant heat from the exhaust pipe. I may have that backwards.
Love the SNES mini idea! That's a great way to relax in the camper. I'm going to be do some snow camping in the WA Cascades end of the month, I may have to steal your idea...
Oh man, the SNES was perfect! Make it happen!
I would like to see some opinions regarding the airing down and low.
It appears from what I can gather you are correct but that seems to me to be counterintuitive because power will be going to all four tires if you were in for low. As well airing down, Wood put more tire on the surface of the road.
Thanks 😊😊
The internet is full of contrasting opinions on both of these things. It's tough to pin down a 'definitive' answer. That being said, most of the people I've heard from / spoken with since this video went live who are ACTUALLY experienced snow wheelers recommended 4 low and airing down for those conditions.
It would be interesting if I had a 'do-over' to see if those things would've made for an easier (or worse?) descent
Bold going out alone in those weather conditions. At least you were on a well-used road, so worst case, you'd probably be ok. I myself have zero interest in snow wheeling/camping. However, my new rtt will be here this Monday, and I will be looking forward to the spring thaw to get my camping on. I will be exploring the Stampede Pass area more next spring/summer.
Congrats on the RTT! There is GREAT camping to be had up Stampede Pass
lol that Nintendo, love it! We gotta do a camping trip one of these days
Hahah, yeah -- the Nintendo was a GENIUS move. The rest of my decisions --- questionable at best 😂
Solo snow trips in the mountains are definitely experience builders. It’s amazing how just in a day conditions can change. Those icy roads can be terrifying but you picked a good place for this trip since other people travel up there too. Good call on the Nintendo that looks like a blast.
Yeah, you make those trips look so easy 🤣. But I guess that comes with experience.
FINALLY someone mentioned the Nintendo. I was so proud of myself for that hahaha
@ Ha ha thanks, I’m still learning, every trip is an adventure.
Before you pulled out the surprise I was hoping it was a Nintendo and when I saw it I literally said “Hell yeah!”
@scottalpine 🎮 👌
For future reference always use four low going down hill using brakes on slippery roads is a huge no no
Ice is your enemy out winter wheeling. Tire traction devices is a best practice to have in your tool box.
I'm pretty sure that's the lake we took the short spur to check out when I attempted to go explore there but missed a turn somewhere to end up in Greenwater...spur of the moment trip,, no offline maps where download lol
Forgetting to download maps before heading out definitely makes for an interesting trip. Have done that more than once. Hahah
Nice outing. I've got a TRD 3rd gen also. I usually air down to 22-25psi and then put it in 4-low with MTS on multi terrane. If it's iced up, I run chains on the rear. depending on the downward incline, I'll run it in 3rd or 2nd, let the engine do the breaking. I liked watching Scott Alpine when he had his full-size rig busting snow. And like him I spend a good portion of time clearing trees and winching myself up to that sweet camp site. Looks like your stove is a game changer for sure. Thanks for posting.
Good advice 👍. I bought a set of chains when I got back hahah. They will now live in the truck for winter trips. I definitely think that descent would've been easy work with a set of chains on the rear
Yea, still a bit of white knuckle when the front starts to slide!
I’m surprised the Dickinson heater can’t get the camper warmer. I have a wedge camper with a diesel heater. I’ve camped when it was 6 degrees outside and can get to 70+
I think those diesel heaters crank out a LOT more heat. The benefit of the Dickinson is it doesn't use much propane. I could have run it higher (it was on low all night), which probably would've helped a little bit. But I don't think 70 degrees is a possibility with it
You want to be 4-lo when in snow unless you’re doing higher speeds.
4-lo in first gear when going down hill. You want the tires to keep turning which gives you more traction. Hitting your brakes is actually not a good idea especially on very icy surface as you will lose traction.
Yeah, it sounds like the internet maybe led me astray on the whole "don't descend steep icy hills in 4 low" advice.
The internet giving bad advice? Shocking, I know! 🤣
Good job. I might be on the air down side of the tire only because of more area on the ice. Where at in E WA? I'm south of Spokane. Looking forward to getting out.
Yeah, many have pointed out that airing down may have been of benefit. I think y'all are probably right given the conditions. This was just east of Snoqualmie Pass off I-90
Well done! I can’t remember but I’m guessing “no” since you didn’t mention it…lockers? Regardless, great job and great video. Keep them coming and congratulations on 25k+ subscribers!! Whoop whoop!
Thanks man! Appreciate it! Didn't use lockers. Dont think they'd be helpful going downhill on ice (maybe more harmful than helpful?). But .... IDK. Everyone has pointed out that they believe all the research i did is wrong, so 🤷 lol
Lockers are typically worse in the snow for complicated reasons I'm not going to explain here. If you want to improve your snow traction, real snow tires (not just 3PMSF) and a limited slip differential is what you want, not lockers.
i agree 100% with the logic of not airing down, not 4 lo (so that you have control over the decisions not the gears), and no chains ( they are ice skates) but once a year i swear never again too so what do i know lol
Also, I knew exactly where you were, we actually camped there one late summer day. Jeez, that’s really scary driving down those switch backs, I would have kept it safe and probably head to Kachess….no cliffs there. Lol
Yeah, it's definitely a TOTALLY different drive in the snow & ice. Lets just say, many lessons were learned in the making of this video 🤣
I know you're almost home free at the little pull out under the power lines. I always think it would be such a cool spot and nice view without those damn powerlines when I'm there. Way to get outside your comfort zone on this vid!
@@JerodBeeson haha yeah, that spot would be so good without those power lines! Definitely got out of my comfort zone and learned a lot as a result, which I take as a big win! Cheers 🍻
I love camping and always have wanted to do some snow camping. That’s some beautiful country! Where is it that you went?
This was up in the Cascade Mountain just off I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass
The first time I go camping alone I will be very nervous
The irony of driving off grid to camp out in the woods only to then play video games…
Gotta do something when its cold & dark outside for as long as it is here in winter. Might as well be video games!🤷♂
@ no I get it, I live in Alaska, my point was I couldn’t understand why not just stay home if you’re only going out to play video games.
@@PrestonGladd Because its way more fun to play games when you're where he was
Nothing wrong with bringing things you love with you to enjoy.
I would say always air down in my experience. Never seen air down making my traction worse
cleanest tacoma i have seen on youtube man thats exactly how i want mine
Thanks man! There are a LOT of Tacoma's on UA-cam, so that feels like a pretty big compliment.
I hope that's not the 70s road past Greenwater. That road scares me on a good day.
Haha, I know the road you're talking about. This was Stampede from the North end
Dude, the Nintendo. That's awesome. I want to go snow camping so bad, but the anxiety at the same time. If you ever want a snow camping buddy, we're not far away. 😉 Also, I think we ALL want to know Christine's comments after watching this. 😳😝
I believe her exact quote was: "F*** that!" 😂
@@WheretoNextOverland 🤣🤣🤣
What section of the road were you on here? OnX is showing me the Stampede Pass road is closed for the season. Is that right or am I looking at the wrong section?
This was the northernmost section from I-90. It might be closed now though. I wouldn't be surprised
new Sub here, i hope the vids can be longer, nothing worse than getting in and out of something faster than a Kitty Cat 🐈 and alley of 5 Chinese restaurants😂
Tell me about your heater, great video
Next time you do the same trek in the same conditions you’ll be more experienced and better prepared. You’ll be wanting to do it by yourself again to prove yourself , again. 😊
100% agree. It was a great exercise in experience building and learning. Sometimes trips like that are the BEST way to learn. I'll do it again, that's for sure.
Do you have studded snow tires?
Nope, just K02's
Have you considered getting a Subaru? They are very good in the snow.
Can you stand up and play Nintendo in a Subaru with a fireplace going? If yes, I'm in!
44 degrees is too cold for being 25 outside at night, always wondered about the alu cab propane heater….My deisel heater can get the tent to 85 on medium setting when it’s 29 outside. Hmmm….the camper is far bigger, but 44 is way too cold. Lol. Love your camper though
Yeah, I had been warned by the guys at Mule that the Dickinson isn't all that great at getting the camper hot when it's super cold out. 20 degrees warmer certainly helps, but it's not GREAT. I think that's why they've switched to propane heaters with thermostats now.
The diesel heaters can put out a lot of heat. Ran a cheap vevor in a regular gazelle tent. At 0 deg f...never used my sleeping bag, kept the tent at 70 all night. Love that thing.
as the days go by I keep liking the 3rd gen Tacoma more and I keep hating the 4th gen more.
Haha, yeah, I'm kinda with you on that. I had a Trailhunter on order for a year before pulling the trigger on the 3rd Gen. Based on what I'm seeing out of Toyota's current products, I'm pretty happy with my decision
@@WheretoNextOverland dude A ranger Raptor would be my #1 choice if I had to buy literally anything new with a bed. Compared to the Tacoma TRD Pro, it has a V6 instead of a I4 Hybrid, 2 turbos instead of one, better interior space and backseat room, and it's a whopping 10 grand LESS. But screw new vehicles, I'm in the market currently for a clapped FJ lol. Those are the best.
@FullsendOffroad yeah the Ranger Raptor definitely looks like a bargain in the world of mid-size halo trucks.
But yeah....when it comes to camping and offroading, the thought of pinstriping ans beating up on a 60K+ truck doesn't seem especially appealing!
@WheretoNextOverland yeah, an old beater and some bondo does good usually. But having that new vehicle sometimes can be nice.
2nd comment! nice video, beautiful views. Where were you this time?
Thanks! This was up just east of Snoqualmie Pass. Made it up to about 3,500 ft.
shot in the dark, Stampede Pass?
@itsjustme2635 yep!
@@WheretoNextOverland Nice! Me and a couple buddies did that route this summer. Beautiful drive
@@WheretoNextOverland Suggestion for a future video, check out Government Pass, may have a different official name, thats just what us locals call it, off Hwy 410. It's kind of near Chinook Pass. Pretty good altitude, excellent views of both Mt Adams and Rainier .
Snow chains?
Thanks for the video. I've been asking around about why the heck aren't those campers insulated...your video has helped me realize that i guess the overlanding camping world is brainless. That stove everyone brags about cranking all night and it is 43°F (only 22° F above outside temp)? For the price of what looks like a Modcap, it should have closed cell spray foam R6, or something comparable. I would love your opinion on why you are ok with sleeping in cold temps in a metal box and using way more propane than you should. Why switch to a different type heater like mentioned in your comments below vs adding insulation? My thinking is without insulation, long extended trips in winter means lots of propane fill-ups.
Chains?
The snow on those pine trees looked so cool.
It was pretty spectacular up there, for sure
Learn what excactly four low and high, staying in four high dropping into drive three or two according to gear ratios would be the same as four low. There is a video on utube explaining this theory. Growing up in the Rockies a taller narrow tire works great in snow, we never aired up or down. This does not apply to professional buggies with very large tires.
I think the concept of not airing down whether the snow is hard packed or not is completely incorrect. With the snow being extremely hard, it doesn't matter whether you have full tire pressure or not you're probably not cutting through the ice and on top of that being aired down, the contact patch is going to be significantly more Which pretty obviously the bigger the contact past the more traction you're going to have whether that is forward traction or breaking traction. Just my opinion.
Yeah, this make sense. With compact ice on the road -- the tires probably weren't gonna be able to cut through that and get to dirt anyway ... so more contact patch would've been mo-better (in hindsight)
Like an idiot , that's so cool .
Airing down gives you more traction , even on chaep tires .
Winter bikepacking is the real shit.cars are bad for the environment.
aaaaaaand the weirdest hot-take award goes to .......
@@WheretoNextOverland I'm sorry. I know little boys love their toys. But only the truth can trigger someone so hard.
isnt it a hi lux? Toyota- can you alw trust on, next time, mb think have tire chains , whet you.. :-) it can grip all things almost ;-) good video..
Advice tire chains
I want to find that old mario
Find yourself an SNES Classic. Totally worth it!
Always have chains available.
Haha yeah. Lesson learned!
One of the scariest videos I’ve seen! Absolutely beautiful scenery though.
Haha yeah .... it was a fun trip, but NOT a fun descent
Did my comment get deleted?
IDK. If it did it was UA-cam, I don't tend to delete comments (unless they're especially nasty)
To cold.
Haha. Yeah .... ain't no way I'll ever get Christine camping with me in that cold. I'm basically a snowman, so cold doesn't bother me
The next dead UA-camr? :( but hey at least the footage was beautiful!
edit: the Mario surprise was indeed epic.
anyone reading this comment please do your research before doing stuff like this I would love to do the stuff just for shits and giggles and some creativity but it’s important to prioritize your safety. I hope this brother did have all the communication gear in case he got into trouble. I would recommend a Zoleo. glad he had a heated cab at least.
That's a bit of a stretch. I drove up a reasonably trafficked road to an area i know well, less than 2 miles from q major highway. Satellite communicator always with me. Coordinates to camp sent to my wife. Winch and full recovery gear onboard. Shelter, food, water and proper clothing all with me in abundance.
Risk of getting stuck? Sure.
But hey, it's always really easy to be critical of others from the comfort of a couch. 🤷♂️
Rule #1 - never snow wheeling alone
That's a pretty good rule, tbh.
You're never really alone when you have God 😉
Chains !
Tire chains.
I came across your video and it was GORGEOUS with the tree's with snow on them and all the snow all around ❤ The scenery was BREATHTAKING the walk to the lake, campsite and your setup. When you showed the Super Mario I was in awwww. I love that game haven't played for year's but remembered the 1st time I played it I ended up with arthritis playing for hours on New Year's Eve 😂. I never drove in snow but it look's SPOOKY 😅. I'm from Hawaii and yes it snows here too and also a active volcano (Hot and Cold). I enjoyed your video very much. Thanks for sharing. Stay Safe and Healthy ALOHA From Hawaii ❤❤❤❤
Glad you liked it! Cheers 🍻
get chains???
First thing I bought when I got home, lol.