SnowRunner Upgrade Locations: Michigan, Alaska & Taymyr

A stock truck in this game can struggle on ground that a properly kitted rig drives straight through. Collecting engines, gearboxes, and suspension upgrades gives you more options for tackling difficult routes. This guide covers the SnowRunner upgrade locations that matter most in Michigan, collection routes through the base regions, and the truck-specific parts worth going after.

How Upgrades Work and How to Find Them

Discoverable upgrades are physical pickups placed around the maps. Check your truck's customization menu before heading out so you know which parts you want to collect.

• Watchtowers come first. Activating a watchtower reveals surrounding terrain and nearby upgrade locations. Scout the towers and collect upgrades along the way.
• Use the map list. The column on the left of the map screen lists upgrades you have revealed, so you can plot a route to them.
• One pickup can unlock a part for several trucks. Engines and gearboxes can fit multiple vehicles. The off-road gearbox on Drummond Island fits the Fleetstar and several other compatible trucks.
• Prioritize gearbox, engine and raised suspension. Upgraded gearboxes offer different speed and low-gear options. Stronger engines provide more pulling power, while raised suspension improves clearance. Skip the lift on trucks that become tippy with it.
• Sell what you don't use. The number next to an upgrade shows how many spares you own. In Normal mode, selling returns the full price. In Hard mode, trucks and upgrades sell for half.

Official page: SnowRunner (focus-entmt.com)

Michigan Upgrade Locations

Start your collection loop in Black River, then combine trips into Smithville Dam and Drummond Island with watchtower visits and road repairs.

Image: Steam / Saber Interactive

Black River

• GMC MH9500 raised suspension: on the route toward the GMC during the opening exploration run. Grab it on the way.
• Chevrolet CK1500 engine and raised suspension: both on the western side of the map. Use the Scout 800 to combine these pickups with western exploration.
• Fleetstar raised suspension: near the Black River fuel station.
• Fleetstar engine: the watchtower by the logging station reveals it. Collect it while exploring toward the Chevrolet Kodiak C70.
• SnowRunner gearbox: include this pickup in the scouting loop around the King of the Hill task. Approach steep terrain carefully and use low gear to control your descent.

Smithville Dam

• Freeway gearbox: collect it during the return route along the main road. It fits the Scout 800 and other compatible vehicles.
• White Western Star 4964 raised suspension: in the muddy swamp areas. Winch your way through.
• White Western Star 4964 engageable AWD: directly across from the Smithville Dam warehouse.
• Scout 800 raised suspension: in the swamp south of the quarry. Bring the Pacific P16 for support through the mud.
• Scout 800 engine: near the Smithville Dam garage. Keep the stock engine installed if you want to avoid the upgraded engine's extra wheelspin and fuel use.

Drummond Island

• Off-road gearbox: near the southwestern watchtower. It fits the Fleetstar and several other trucks, adding useful low-speed control.
• Heavy truck engine: collect this upgrade for the Pacific P16 and other compatible heavy trucks while exploring the island.

Repair the bridges during your collection trip. The Of Bridges and Men task takes two loads of wooden planks and restores a main road connection, reducing the need to use the submerged route.

In Hard mode, collect replacement components before spending repair resources on a damaged truck. Install the Fleetstar's recovered suspension and engine before repairing those components to reduce the remaining restoration work.

Alaska and Taymyr Upgrade Routes

In Alaska, combine watchtower visits and upgrade pickups across North Port, Mountain River, White Valley, and Pedro Bay. Plan around icy roads, and fit chained tires when those surfaces are the obstacle stopping your truck.

Image: Steam / Saber Interactive

In Taymyr, start by exploring Drowned Lands and collecting upgrades revealed by its watchtowers. Continue your scouting through Quarry and Zimnegorsk as routes become available.

The Tayga 6436 is recoverable in Drowned Lands through repairs and refueling. Bring a truck with a repair add-on and enough fuel for the recovery, then use the Tayga for further exploration. Upgrade its tires as your driver rank allows.

Check your player profile when cleaning up either region. It tracks regional exploration progress, including upgrades, watchtowers, and trucks.

Truck-Specific Upgrades Worth the Trip

Some trucks gain useful capabilities from a particular upgrade. Check these targets before committing to a collection run:

Image: Steam / Saber Interactive

Truck	Upgrade	Where or how
Azov 67096 "Atom"	Additional engine	Amur
White Western Star 4964	Raised suspension and engageable AWD	Smithville Dam

Consider stability before installing the tallest suspension available. Raised trucks can become easier to tip, especially with a crane or roof-mounted supplies. Use low gears on steep approaches and avoid sharp steering across slopes.

Rank-Locked and DLC-Locked Parts

Not every locked part is out on the map.

• Rank gates: mud tires on trucks like the Tayga require a minimum driver rank. In Normal mode, repeat timed contests near a garage to earn more experience.
• Truck-specific restrictions: the GMC Brigadier 8000 has most of its upgrades locked by driver level. Check individual trucks instead of assuming every DLC vehicle needs a map collection run.
• Preview first: use the truck store's preview button to see which add-ons a truck supports.

Hard Mode Upgrade Strategy

In Hard mode, every free pickup is money you keep. Fuel, recoveries and auto-loading all cost cash, and DLC trucks have to be bought.

• Combine upgrade runs with tasks along the same route instead of making separate trips.
• Tow your scout behind a heavy truck, and detach it to grab a tower or upgrade.
• Park fuel trailers near gateways as forward refueling points for long collection loops.
• Pick up upgrades for trucks you haven't unlocked yet, such as the White Western Star parts. Collecting them during an existing trip avoids another journey later.

Keep an eye on your fuel before leaving the main road for a pickup. Bring repair supplies when your route includes rocks, steep descents, or long stretches away from support.

FAQ

Do DLC map upgrades count toward the hunt achievements?

Deer Hunt, Moose Hunt, and Bear Hunt cover upgrade collection in the base-game regions of Michigan, Alaska, and Taymyr.

Why is an upgrade grayed out in my garage?

Check whether it requires exploration, a higher driver rank, or DLC. For map pickups, visit watchtowers and use the upgrade entries on your map to plan the trip.

Can I get money back for upgrades I replace?

Yes. You can sell unused upgrades from the customization menu. Normal mode refunds the full price, and Hard mode pays half.