What gear should I drive in on normal day?

Just use normal Drive selection if the roads are safe. If your transfer case has the Auto mode then use that too.

If you're not sideways you're just not trying

Don't listen to Ed, it's nonsense GMT360 platform is very good, and the recalls are minor, like a relay or switches and such, nothing catastrophic. Many of us get 300k+ on these. Use D for snow and use the auto or 4 high. If you wreck, no worries, YOU will be safe. I've lost count on the amount of accidents I've seen pictures of, even rollovers and headon's in these. You will walk out alive. Nothing wrong with a Toyota at all, but to say there's nothing safe about these is not accurate at all.