1. It hardly ever snows here
2. My truck doesn't have it
3. I drive a standard.
5. I grew up driving on ice and snow-that's why i live here now.

She had no idea what "traction control" was.

but when I drove the VW in winter it helped to turn it off....

we don't exactly get a whole lot of snow 15 miles NNW of central London.

btw - that's the diesel version

but last year was 3 feet year round. Hence the end of me driving the VW in winter.

It's as much a 4 wheel drive issue as a clearance issue.

I always shut off the ESR when I turn into the driveway...makes a big difference with traction.

http://www.drivingfast.net/road/winter-driving-myths.htm#axzz1jY4LHlfJ

I've never heard of it so I don't even know how to find out whether we have it, or how to turn it off.

Edited to add: Thanks for the advice! It's sweet of you to take the time to give it!

of which you speak.....

You may become familiar with "too far off the road for the wrecker".

Haven't had her in snow yet, but I'm out of South Florida for a while so you never know....

Mud Terrains ain't too bad in snow, but the big lug tires (like Thorn Birds) turn into sleds on packed/plowed snow. Depending on the type of locker (or posi), they pretty much want to go straight, no matter what you may be doing with the steering at the moment.

AND you ain't goin' nowhere. Probably why you are stuck in the first place.

I've owned 4WD vehicles. If you do not know what you are doing, you will only get farther out before you are stuck far worse than if you were driving a 'normal' vehicle and also make it hard for anybody to get to you.

In snow, let your momentum work for you. Don't hit the drifts so hard you plane above them. When you lose momentum, you will then sink into the drift and compact the snow under you and take the weight off the tires. The heat form the engine and exhaust will help keep you there. Hope you have a shovel. Dig out everything except the wheels.

What you should have done is to hit the drift slow enough not to ride over it. If you stop, you can still back up in your wheel tracks to try again. Or back up and try a different route.

And remember, just because you can get going easier, does not mean you can stop any better than "they" can. Everyone has 4 wheel brakes.

This is my neighbours car,it is stuck from a pile of snow from over night. The car won't rev up because the traction control won't let it. I turned it off,the motor revved up and spun the tires and out it came.

Doesn't even make sense. I had a Jeep.

Traction control

Most traction control systems (such as ETC, DSC, ESP) can reduce engine power or apply the brakes in response to spinning wheels. When driving in winter conditions, it is especially beneficial to keep these systems active as they are much more capable of maintaining traction (and keeping you on the road) than most humans. However there are occasions when a reduction in power can hinder progress (for example when stuck in deep snow), and only then should these systems be temporarily switched off. If you have tried pulling away unsuccessfully – try turning the systems off and having another go. If this doesn't work you'll need to consider your options.



Read more: http://www.drivingfast.net/road/winter-driving-myths.htm#ixzz1jakEzbo0

The advice is bad advice... Traction is the ONLY thing that will get the vehicle moving..

Please don't misinform folks who may need this good advice some day.

I have lived with snow for over sixty years.. I know spinning your tires is the worst thing one can do....

actual traction. The traction feature on your new car does not allow tires to spin at different speeds,or your motor rpms to rev up,so you sit there,your tires not spinning,you ain't going nowhere. Push the traction off button on the dash of your car. I did this just yesterday to help my neighbour out of a snowbank. Start rocking the car back and forth,get some speed up and out you go. Or you can leave your traction on and go nowhere and pay for tow.

Many traction controls apply the brakes selectively, or reduce engine power severely. When you get outside those parameters, it does not behave logically. In fact, many "old timer's" driving techniques (like putting 2 wheels into the edge of the snowbank on glare ice) utterly befuddle ABS brakes and/or traction control.

don't be without it. Rev'ing and spinning does shit except get you more stuck.

I wouldn't know where to turn off the traction control on mine. My old car had a switch but my minivan does not have a switch. I'd have to read up on it. I have AWD though and it's a blessing as last year I got out of many places other cars got stuck in. I will never not have AWD, especially with the crappy snow removal around here.

My Ranger has limited-slip

Our departmental micro-van is a Chevy. After reading the link, i now know what all that shuddering racket is underneath when I drive down the cowpath to the dish farm.

Upthread a DUer posted the link. It could save someone.

http://www.drivingfast.net/road/winter-driving-myths.htm#axzz1jY4LHlfJ

The only vehicle I've been in with "traction control" is the Chevy micro-van I was talking about.

I just got ABS 10 years ago. I like it, but I did OK w/o it for almost 30 years. Not so sure I care for TC.

I send you my thanks... from Houston (68°F at 9am)