25 essential SnowRunner tips, tricks and secrets

SnowRunner is one tough mudder fluffer. Here are 25 essential tips, tricks and secrets to help you get out of the mud and on to pastures wealthy.

Hello and welcome to my SnowRunner tips, tricks & secrets guide. I made this video and article because the game is genuinely fun. It’s actually become my lockdown drug of choice. However, sometimes it can seem like pushing treacle up a hill would be easier and I’d agree.

I got the sequel to MudRunner before its release date so I’ve managed to learn quite a bit about it. So here, without further ado, are a load of things worth knowing that might help you get up to speed.

Got your own tips? Let me know in the comments and be sure to subscribe for more SnowRunner videos, of which there are a few already, plus all my other racing game and car content. You could also check out my 10 best trucks guide and subscribe for my forthcoming advanced tips and tricks.

1) SnowRunner tips, tricks & secrets: Repair bridges

In a game where getting stuck is so easy, sticking to the main roads is a good plan. But like all good plans, they can be thwarted. So if you come across a bridge, find the necessary supplies (usually service repair box things). You get paid and it will help you progress around the map more quickly. That brings me to my next tip.

2) Learn what supplies come from where

It’s good to learn what icons mean and where things come from. A lumber mill provides wooden planks, as you would expect, while the fuel station lets you fill up a fuel trailer buy fuel supplies for a trailer.

Service Spare Parts, meanwhile, come from the Service Hub. Some buildings offer multiple items, so use the triggers to check. If you’re unsure, open up maps and go to objects then scroll through each one. A little icon will appear of what each building can provide. Easy.

3) Consider sticking in Michigan

It can be tempting to jump ahead to Alaska, but the pace is slower and that can be off-putting. Instead, get used to the game by doing the tutorials in Michigan, build some funds, learn the way the game works and then when ready give Alaska or the other locations a try. This is especially useful if you lack the more capable pre-order trucks.

4) The winch is your BFF

Seriously, I’ve Spidermanned my way along just about every area. You can use it to get free, rescue other vehicles, turn trailers or vehicles over. It’s your digital soulmate in SnowRunner.

Now you can use the quick winch system by looking in a rough direction and then pressing the button. But sometimes this fails so it’s better to learn how to use the winch option after pressing Up.

You can be quite creative with the winch. I towed my H2 from the back of the fuel trailer I had with me. This is possible because you can choose exactly where you connect the tow from and to. Simply press up, then attach winch then use the D-pad to scroll between each point on your vehicle then the other vehicle. Your attached trailer has winch points too, which means more range.

5) Change the time of day

This is one of the overlooked SnowRunner tips. Nighttime cruising is particularly fun in SnowRunner and you do have headlights to light your path. But sometimes you may want to make the journey as fast as possible, in which case go into the map and then press the relevant button for moving time. You can quickly move forward to morning or whenever you prefer.

6) Find free trailers

You can buy trailers and maybe you want to do specific deliveries so go for it, especially as they usually do not cost much. However, you can drive around inhabited areas and usually find something that you can drive away for free and even sell at the trailer store for decent money. Usually there will be one near buildings so that’s a good place to start looking. Remember that you can buy back trailers you sell for the same money so effectively you are renting them.

7) Get the right tyres

Chained tyres are best for snow, while mud tyres are best for mud and given how much mud and snow there is in SnowRunner it’s a safe bet to go get these as soon as you can.

If however you know you are only on roads, then perhaps reduce your rolling resistance and increase your speed by going for more on-road friendly variants. And maybe even get the gears that up your top speed.

Bear in mind that the I, II, III and IV grade of a tyre isn’t an overall improvement necessarily. You may find II is best for mud, while III is best for on-road so check all of them before purchasing.

There’s actually a really useful guide to tyres and their bonuses to each surface, check the description for a link.

8) Not all maps have garages (but that’s okay)

The garage is a safe haven in SnowRunner, but not all parts of the map have it. Alaska’s Pedro Bay, for instance, is garage-less so if you have to recover it’s all the way back you go to the nearest garage in another area. However, there is a little trick, which I will now mention.

9) Trailer Stores have a secret trick

That trick is that can buy a maintenance trailer at a Trailer Store, use it to refuel and repair then sell it back for the same money. It’s not quite the same as having a garage, yes, but it could save you from needing to recover and then the long drive back.

10) Scout for the Hummer H2

A good scout is useful for driving around to see what’s what before you roll out the big guns. The Hummer H2 is one of the better ones and can be found near the lake on North Port of Alaska. It’s actually part of a mission so start that first, this is done right next to the Hummer and the mission is called Drowned Hummer, then deliver back to parking and it will be yours to use.

11) Sell found vehicles and trailers

Selling one or more vehicles can help you get a better truck. Driving round on the map can usually find you an abandoned vehicle, which you can winch back to safety. Or repair it if, press up when close to the abandoned vehicle, change vehicle to it and then hit recover. Yep, no need to winch stuff home the old-fashioned way. Service trailers can do the repair thing, while fuel can be topped up from your own vehicle or a fuel trailer.

Sell a few trucks and trailers and your money pile will soon allow you to buy something more substantial, which will, among other things, potentially get stuck less. To sell a truck, you need to retain it then press Y on Xbox, triangle on PS4 and spacebar on PC.

12) Find a good truck

So if you’re looking for something better than the current vehicle you have, and to be honest if you haven’t got the pre-order ones that makes sense, then you can use the SnowRunner sub-reddit, YouTube or Google. Usually someone will tell you exactly where to find said vehicle.

The Royal BM-17 truck can be found on the North Port map of the Alaska region. If you head south-west from the garage location you will find a small pond, the Royal BM should be parked between the trees around the outskirts of the pond.

The International Scout 800 can be found on the Black River map of the Michigan region. From the garage, drive north and scale the winding hillside road and the Scout 800 will be parked at the top.

Russia’s TUZ 42 ‘Tatarin’ can be found in the northeast corner of the Zimnegorsk map in Taymyr, in the woods at the top of the hill.

Derry Longhorn 3154 is at the bottom of the river down a steep hill in Mountain River of Alaska.

The ANK MK38 in Pedro bay of Alaska, specifically the North West corner.

The Caterpillar 745C, which is particularly great for off-roading and rescuing other vehicles but not very customisable, lives in Mountain River in Alaska in the North East of the map. The mission is called Working Stiff. No jokes.

13) Get used to using the map

Now, I know for most people the driving element of SnowRunner is the most fun. However, the map is essential. You’ll need it to plan ahead to make sure your truck twill fit down the road you need it to, you’ll use it to fin d where the job starts and ends, you’ll use it to find hidden vehicles and hidden upgrades.

Just bear in mind there is a compass so when your looking for particular items you make that sure north is up or at least you know where north is, so you don’t get a little confused.

It’s a little overwhelming at first because there seems to be a lot of different things you can do with the map. However, the interface does put buttons and their commands at the bottom of the screen. So if in doubt have a little look there and you should be okay.

14) Locate watchtowers

These help you find new missions and upgrade locations (car wreckage nearby), plus most are usually not so difficult to get to, making them really useful to find.

15) Learn what retain is all about (no number said)

SnowRunner’s menu system is a little clunky and takes some getting used to, but eventually it clicks. One thing that is really worth knowing is Retain. This function, accessible while in the garage, lets you retain a vehicle for deployment in all garages. So you can retain a truck you have in Michigan, then use the global map to go elsewhere then deploy that same truck.

16) You can jump between vehicles easily

It can be tempting to go from one vehicle to another by driving, as I did for hours. Not bitter at all. Anyway, open the map, then click the sidebar and here you can see all vehicles you have on the map. Double click and you jump to it instantly. You can also double click on garage to jump back there and bring all vehicles out of hibernation for a humble brag photo you can stick on the SnowRunner subreddit.

This technique can be used to also put all your vehicles in a garage and then they can be retained. Or you simply sleep better knowing they are out of the snow at night.

17) Recover is free

If you want to get your vehicle back to the local garage, or the nearest one you have discovered if you’re on a garage-less part of SnowRunner, you can press up then recover. This costs nothing, which is nice as it gives you a full tank and repair for free. But you have to disconnect your trailer before you can.

Recover only works for a vehicle you find that is not associated with a mission. Recovery missions will require you to complete them before you can change vehicle and drive them to your heart’s content.

18) Steering wheel support does exist

Coronavirus is said to be making steering wheel support and force feedback implementation more difficult for SnowRunner’s Developer, Saber Interactive. However, apparently it promised the same for MudRunner so we’ll see how that goes.

What I know now, having spoken to the developer, is that fully supported, but not necessarily bug-free, steering wheels are the Logitech G29, Logitech G Saitek Farm Sim Controller, Hori Racing Wheel Apex PS4-052e, Hori Racing Wheel Apex PS4-142e, Subsonic SA5426 Racing Wheel and Logitech G920.

In terms of Thrustmaster, the T150, T-GT, T300 and T80 should be fine but not my TS-XW. At least, it doesn’t work on Xbox One anyway. There’s also support for the Fanatec CSL Elite and Podium F1 Racing wheels.

19) Remember you have headlights

If you prefer to never skip time, your headlights will prove useful. To turn them on, hold the same button used for operating the gears, diff lock and all-wheel drive, left bumper, and then press B on Xbox One. It’s L1 then Circle on PlayStation. PC depends on the individual controls.

20) The trailer view saves you pain

Got a trailer attached? You can press the view change and see one from your trailer. It seems odd at first, but this can help you navigate small roads, avoid cutting a corner and ensure your cargo doesn’t tip over the side. Yes, there’s nothing worse than being 15 metres away from your delivery point and then spilling it all over the side.

21) Be gentle with the throttle

I know Jeremy Clarkson always banged on about speed being king, but in off-roading you sometimes need to take it steady. Try gently accelerating if stuck or struggling, this can actually increase traction and avoid digging you into a hole. Tactical retreats can work too, as can learning to stick to the edges of the mud to help you make it through.

22) The Autonomous Scout winch is your friend

SnowRunner has its forgiving side but not when you tip over. Once the engine stalls, there’s no power to use the winch. No winch, no recovery without the help of another vehicle. Good job, then, you can spend around 10,000 on the autonomous (not automated as I said in the video) winch that works even in the most pickley of pickles.

23) And so is the crane

Also useful for more than just picking things up is the crane attachment you can have on certain trucks. Basically, you end up using it like a ski pole or crutch. So if you nearly tip over, use the crane to put you back on all fours, sixes or eights.  Or use it to keep you upright in the first place.

24) Use the Diff Lock, AWD and low and Hi-gears wisely

Sometimes you will need to come out of the automatic gear setting. Diff-lock makes all wheels spin at the same speed, which can help with traction on difficult terrain or for ascents and descents.

The low gears can also help with poor surfaces where maximum traction is needed and help you use engine braking to stop you and your heavy trailer from losing control.

Hi-gear, meanwhile, can be great for deep mud or slippery uphill stuff as it holds a constant speed without changing gear. It can also be useful on the road if you find your vehicle loses control when it changes up a gear.

25) Flashing lights make all the difference

Last but not least in my SnowRunner tips guide is perhaps the ultimate advice. If your vehicle can have flashing lights, fit them. Not just for aesthetics, but because you’ll never get stuck again. Probably.

And on that rubbish last point, what do you mean I was trying to reach a round number?, I hope you found the video/article useful. It’s a cool game so maybe now you’ll enjoy it more. Take care, subscribe, like and leave your own tips and questions in the comments. Until next time, farewell.