Mountain Newcomers

Just moved to running springs and was just curious which all wheel drive four wheel drive does best in the mountains.

Welcome to the mountains! We have owned a full size Toyota pick up, a small Toyota pickup, a Jeep Cherokee and a Subaru Outback. They are all fine, but the the Subaru is by far the best, and when it dies I'll buy another. It handles very well on ice and snow, and is light enough that it goes over areas where the heavier vehicles would get bogged down and get stuck. I have never had to put chains on the Subaru, although if the roads are really bad I try not to drive. Good luck!

Thanks, is it true you have to use premium fuel in the outback v6? and is it true the 4 cylinder doesn't have enough power?

Tires are key, no matter which 4wd you choose.

;^)
pc

And don't forget clearance! Our friends have a Subaru & have gotten stuck on berms before.

Welcome to RS Jason! It's a great community!!

Thanks, I love it up here. Anything I should know or things I should do different up here let me know. I do plumbing and most of my work is in riverside so I have to commute but I do live on hilltop so it is the first road that gets plowed. So whatever vehicle i get it needs to get pretty good MPG.

Keep in mind that there WILL be days that you'll be stuck home... at least for part of the day.
But, it *is* SoCal, not Colorado, so it's not that often.

;^)
pc

buy a new 4x4 compass or any jeep product ,subaru is great but pricy i use one 4 a demo very good mileage appx 30 mpg nice wheel base and very affordably

Hey, I just bought myself a new 2007 4x4 Jeep Compass. It's the first Jeep that I've ever owned, so not sure how well it will do. I was also told too, that you're tires matter.

For winter snow tires for an all wheel drive car, I recommend Hankook Icebears. They're more than enough tire for up here. Prices range from $90-$200 depending on rim and tire size. The trick to snow driving up here is avoiding the Bozos who are not prepared. http://www.hankooktireusa.com/product/tire_detail.asp?pid=82

4WD Tundra, baby. Like the Tacoma, meteor proof!

I've been up here over two yrs now, I have a Toyota 4-runner 6 cycl...I have never put on chains (last winter when they called for R-3 restrictions...I stayed off the roads & read all the alerts on this site...the alerts team did an awesome job) and the only place I've gotten stuck is in front of house due to the massive snow burms the plows leave behind....I also all terrain tires rated at an 8 for snow, 10 is the best rating....I also carry cat litter which I had to use a couple of times under the tires for traction due to ice below the snow cover...

On another note....I suggested you get fire wood before winter hits...it saves on the gas bill and it's a nice way to warm the house....

Welcome...

My husbands 4x4 Ford truck is his pride and joy. Just for fun I drove a circle around it in over a foot of snow in my Jeep Wrangler when he was stuck!! Happy Days!!

Hi Mtnmom, I have a wrangler too. Just for kicks I stopped at the dealer yesterday to look at the new 4 door. It's just not a wrangler. I love my old wrangler it's great in the snow. I've never had a problem. 194,000 miles

whoops, mtmom

We have lived here for 6 years and own two Jeep Cherokee's. We swear by them. They are very reliable.

I've got a 4x4 Toyota 4-Runner with mud and snow tires- this is my "winter car" and I don't have to put chains on it, which I like, but you are still required to carry chains and they will ask you at the chain stop if you have chains. They sometimes also request to see the guage to check if it is in 4-wheel. I don't drive in R-3 conditions (which require all 4x4s to have chains on), but we don't get R-3 all that often. I remember and R-3 last year but the snow was almost 3 feet in Crestline- I'm sure it's worse in Running Springs.

Hi, I wanted to clear something up. Subarus don't require high octane fuel, they use regualr unleaded.

They have "all wheel drive" which is great, and another feature, "traction control" this feature will direct power from a spinning tire to other tires in icy or muddy conditions. If you have ever been stuck with one tire spinning and the others not budging, you will certainly appreciate this feature.

There are other cars that have this, and at this point, I wouldn't buy a car that doesn't have it.

If you have a different vehicle, and want this feature, it is offered as an after market addition, and is often called limited slip differential.