shadowmite

You don't free yourself from being stuck in ice with high torque. You do it with SLOW SPEED to apply the little torque you can. Thus the 4-lo works due to the low speed. The same should be true if you just use the 2nd start switch too...

mnewxcv

ice and snow are two completely different things. snow is not a condition where 4-lo is useful.

YoshiMan

Okay, I think a bit of clarification is in order...

ICE, as in frozen lakes and snowy icy roads, which is I think what everyone has in mind, needs low amounts of torque and slow start up speeds to keep from spinning the wheels.

SNOW, as in THIS:

I can tell you, 4-wheel low works QUITE well for digging yourself out of that!

Booyah

I just floor it--works great lol

GX470Fan

I do quite a bit of off-roading in the GX, mostly in Moab, Utah, a pretty cool place to 4 wheel. In most situations I'm just in 4Low and changing the gearing depending on the terrain. When I'm doing some "gnarly" stuff, I throw on the Center Diff Lock and that usually, 99% of the time, gets me out of the jam I'm in. In very slippery conditions, the "2nd Gear Start" is very useful as well. I live in the high mountains of Colorado and we get our fair share of "big snow" events. However, I've NEVER had to throw my GX into 4Lo in ANY snow conditions so far. The normal "Full Time 4WD" seems to do me just fine. I just use lower gearing when I want/need it. Works fine most of the time, even in VERY deep snow. 4WD High, Low Gear and I'm good to go. I've found that my GX is even MORE capable than my 4Runner Limited I had before, and that's saying something. And, of course, it is WAY more luxurious, which I love. All my two cents. Lexus=Luxury, GX=Capability, Dependability and Reliability.

470reasons

What size/brand/model tires are you running?

GX470Fan

I run Cooper H/T Pluses year round. The Dealership where I bought my GX installed them brand new before I bought my GX. I did some research on them and they seemed like a very capable tire. Since I live in the mountains of Colorado, I drive through many varied conditions. I didn't/don't want to swap out tires every season. I also do a lot of pretty serious off-roading in my GX and these tires have proved VERY capable in all but the most EXTEME situations. I do run them at almost max pressure (about 45psi). Yes, I sacrifice a BIT of ride quality, but I like having the sidewalls as stiff as possible. I can notice crisper turning response and well as better cornering response. Doing that is a personal choice. I was taught that "trick" during my Police Academy Evasive Driving Course and it works for me. My two cents.

YoshiMan

Police academy? hmmm, Wonder if we've met... PM sent!

And You know honestly, come to think of it, I am speaking from my Experience with 4-lo and Hi with my old 4Runner... which is a manual transmission.... ha ha!

chrisvr6

I second the high rpm for snow. I got stuck twice in maybe a foot deep. I could've gotten out myself had i been able to floor the throttle and get the tires to clean themselves out. Damn traction control.