Driving in Snow, Mud, and Sand

Snow

In heavy snow, or for additional control and traction at lower speeds, shift the transmission to a lower gear and the transfer case to 4WD Low, if necessary. Do not shift to a lower gear than necessary to maintain progress. Excessive engine speed may cause wheel spin and loss of traction. If you begin to slow down before stopping, try turning the steering wheel no more than 1/4 turn quickly back and forth while still applying the accelerator. This will give the tires a fresh grip and help maintain momentum.

Mud

Deep mud creates strong suction around the tires and is very difficult to get through. You must use DRIVE with the transfer case in the 4WD Low position to maintain momentum. If you begin to slow down and stop, try turning the steering wheel no more than 1/4 turn quickly back and forth to add traction. Mud holes present an increased risk of vehicle damage and becoming stuck. They are often filled with debris left by previous vehicles that became stuck. As a good practice, before entering any mud hole, get out and determine how deep it is, whether there are hidden obstacles, and whether the vehicle can be safely recovered if it becomes stuck.

Sand

Soft sand is very difficult to drive through with full tire pressure. When crossing soft, sandy patches on the trail, maintain momentum and do not stop. The key to driving in soft sand is using proper tire pressure, accelerating slowly, avoiding abrupt maneuvers, and maintaining vehicle momentum. If you plan to drive over large areas of soft sand or dunes, reduce tire pressure to a minimum of 15 psi (103 kPa) to provide a larger tire contact patch. Reduced tire pressure will significantly improve traction and handling in soft sand, but you must restore the tires to normal air pressure before driving on pavement or other hard surfaces. Make sure you have a means to inflate the tires before reducing pressure.