1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

How/When to use 4H

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by tranceporter, Mar 14, 2012.

  1. Mar 14, 2012 at 6:45 AM
    #1
    tranceporter

    tranceporter [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2012
    Member:
    #73539
    Messages:
    125
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rishi
    Atlanta, GA
    Vehicle:
    4x4, DCSB, Off Road, V6 Tow
    Hi All, Sorry this may be a noob question. I searched the forum, read the owners manual and am a little confused due to the conflicting information I got so I figured I'll just ask. Keep in mind this is my first truck/4x4/4wd vehicle ever so I'm very new to all of this.

    I was reading through the owners manual about the 4x4 system, the locking diff's 4H, 4L, climb/descent assist etc etc and 1 thing was clear, most of the features are low speed off road types only. Same as what I discovered reading on the forum. The part that confused me and maybe I'm not understanding whats said properly is using the 4X4 (4H) function.

    Per the owners manual I should drive the truck for about 10 miles in 4H to keep the front differential/drive mechanism lubricated and working. I've read mixed things on here. Can someone clear things up for me in regards to that. I've only done city driving with the truck thus far, commute to work and back.

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
     
  2. Mar 14, 2012 at 6:46 AM
    #2
    YNOT2K

    YNOT2K Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2011
    Member:
    #66694
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeff
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Access TRD Offroad
  3. Mar 14, 2012 at 6:49 AM
    #3
    TnRedNeck721

    TnRedNeck721 Nick Namer

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2011
    Member:
    #52731
    Messages:
    23,846
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Zach
    TN
    Vehicle:
    07 TRD off road 4WD
    No mud flaps, plasti dipped emblems, and rear bumper, Weather tech digital fit, Bed mat from tractor supply. Pioneer 4400BH head unit. B.A.M.F bed rail tie downs. AVS vent visors.
    don’t ever drive on dry roads. also i think think it has to be done for 10 miles a month. i have gone a month or 2 with out using it even for 10 feet. works fine.
     
  4. Mar 14, 2012 at 6:52 AM
    #4
    feldman28

    feldman28 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2011
    Member:
    #61989
    Messages:
    400
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    chris
    batavia
    Vehicle:
    09 sr5 stick
    I use it if in the yard and its soft don't want to spin. Or while wheeling
     
  5. Mar 14, 2012 at 6:53 AM
    #5
    tranceporter

    tranceporter [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2012
    Member:
    #73539
    Messages:
    125
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rishi
    Atlanta, GA
    Vehicle:
    4x4, DCSB, Off Road, V6 Tow
    hahaha I was expecting this. I've seen so many people get reamed for asking this question.

    Blonde moment.... When you say dry you mean normal roads or is rain ok?

    It really bothers me that the owners manual is this ambiguous about how/when to use it.
     
  6. Mar 14, 2012 at 7:06 AM
    #6
    DEEVON911

    DEEVON911 Semi-Pro

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2010
    Member:
    #35030
    Messages:
    15,187
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dave
    Bethel Park, PA. Burb of da Burgh.
    Vehicle:
    2010 MGM Mostly Stock Off-Road 4x4
    TRD Cat-back Exhaust. Semi-Debadged. Trimmed down stock Antenna. Weathertech vent visors. TRD FJ Cruiser Center Cap Wheel Mod. 265/75/16 Firestone Destination A/T,s . Inverter tapped into for outlet in cab. Tacomaworld sticker which adds 5 hp.
    Its a good question, if you don't know, its better to ask than to screw something up.

    By dry, they mean any road that your wheels can't slip. Rain, there is not enough slip to keep you from binding, so I still wouldn't use it in rain. Its ok to do the 10 mins on "dry" or asphalt roads as long as you are not making any turns. If you have ever had 4wd on and tried to make a turn, you will notice a hesitation, and its hard to move, specially a hard turn, that is binding. You don't won't binding, because that is potential damage.

    And as far as when you use 4lo, well it all depends on the situation, people use it off road, for that lower gear and more power to pull the truck up and over obsticles, also say for maybe a pulling/towing situation, you may need the extra power to pull.

    Main thing is, you only want to use 4hi/4lo as long as you are on a surface that you wheels can slip, if not, you have to much traction and you don't need it, and if left on it can cause damage. Rare, but it can.
     
    burntcremebrulee likes this.
  7. Mar 14, 2012 at 7:31 AM
    #7
    Fightnfire

    Fightnfire Recklessly tired

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2011
    Member:
    #58178
    Messages:
    6,007
    Gender:
    Male
    Marysville, WA
    Vehicle:
    2021 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 (Prev 09 Access Cab V6 4X4)
    Starting over with a new GMC AT4 Satin Steel Metallic Softopper, Bilstein 5100's @ 1.75 in the front, TSB Rear, 17x8.5 Lvl 8 Guardians, 265/70-17 Falken Wildpeak AT3W, Scooped, Anytime fog mod, Osram Nightbreakers, LED Interior lights, Debadged, Painted valance, Removed rear head rests, De-flapped, Hidden Hitch installed, Weather Techs, Flyzeye'd A/W/A, Cover Kings.
    Did someone ask what happens when you flip the switch to 4WD?

    nm ..

    I got all excited for a moment.
     
  8. Mar 14, 2012 at 7:35 AM
    #8
    DEEVON911

    DEEVON911 Semi-Pro

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2010
    Member:
    #35030
    Messages:
    15,187
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dave
    Bethel Park, PA. Burb of da Burgh.
    Vehicle:
    2010 MGM Mostly Stock Off-Road 4x4
    TRD Cat-back Exhaust. Semi-Debadged. Trimmed down stock Antenna. Weathertech vent visors. TRD FJ Cruiser Center Cap Wheel Mod. 265/75/16 Firestone Destination A/T,s . Inverter tapped into for outlet in cab. Tacomaworld sticker which adds 5 hp.
    LOL, you should repost that here anyway, just because it was so epic!
     
  9. Mar 14, 2012 at 7:39 AM
    #9
    JLee

    JLee The Man! Vendor

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2010
    Member:
    #40461
    Messages:
    19,557
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jerry
    Benicia, CA
    Vehicle:
    02 Extra cab SAS Linked front and rear
    I lost track thousands of dollars ago.
    Who told you that :confused: I know for a fact my drive line does not move wile in 2wd. Your front diff is always turning (unless you manual hubs) but I'm pretty sure the 2nd Gen front drive lines do not move in 2wd.
     
  10. Mar 14, 2012 at 7:56 AM
    #10
    Thighmaster

    Thighmaster Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2012
    Member:
    #74493
    Messages:
    124
    Gender:
    Male
    Ward, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Red TRD Off-Road
    June 2016 OME Dakars + 3" ToyTec Boss Lift
    My 2£ worth: I flip on the 4WD as soon as I hit the dirt road to our place to get the 10 miles/month lube job. Hadn't thought to add 4lo on occasion.
     
  11. Mar 14, 2012 at 7:59 AM
    #11
    tranceporter

    tranceporter [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2012
    Member:
    #73539
    Messages:
    125
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rishi
    Atlanta, GA
    Vehicle:
    4x4, DCSB, Off Road, V6 Tow
    So at a high level to summarize, user 4H/L only on pavement where traction is sketchy. Only drive straight with it, no big turns. All other times use 2H

    This is clearly too complicated for the owners manual lol... Thanks for helping out a noob and being gentle about it. Much appreciated.
     
  12. Mar 14, 2012 at 8:06 AM
    #12
    SnowroxKT

    SnowroxKT Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2011
    Member:
    #68604
    Messages:
    5,312
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kyle
    Anchorage Alaska
    Vehicle:
    '18 T4R & '06 F250
    6" lift 40s
    :thumbsup:

    In Alaska we keep vehicles in 4H for October-March normally, so there is some dry pavement turning involved, never had anything break because of it. Definitely do not engage 4H or 4L while turning though.
     
  13. Mar 14, 2012 at 8:14 AM
    #13
    OZ-T

    OZ-T You are going backwards

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Member:
    #27584
    Messages:
    50,399
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Peter North
    British Columbia
    Vehicle:
    Mag Grey 09 Trd Sport DCLB 4x4
    OME 885x , OME shocks and Dakars , Wheelers SuperBumps front and rear , 275/70/17 Hankook ATm , OEM bed mat , Weathertech digifit floor liners , Weathertech in-channel vents , headache rack , Leer 100RCC commercial canopy , TRD bedside decals removed , Devil Horns by Andres , HomerTaco Satoshi
    Not very often you will use 4L on a road , but you seem to have the general idea figured out OP
     
  14. Mar 14, 2012 at 8:18 AM
    #14
    tacoman15

    tacoman15 Boobies

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2011
    Member:
    #62001
    Messages:
    3,567
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Northeast Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tacoma TRD OR & 1985 SR5 4Runner
    Why are you being helpful? Are you sick?
     
  15. Mar 14, 2012 at 8:24 AM
    #15
    tacoman15

    tacoman15 Boobies

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2011
    Member:
    #62001
    Messages:
    3,567
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Northeast Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tacoma TRD OR & 1985 SR5 4Runner
    Lol. But OP you've got the idea. Although being in Atlanta I don't know if you will be able to find a long stretch of road and not have to turn. Never know when somebody is gonna pull right out in front of you.
     
  16. Mar 14, 2012 at 8:29 AM
    #16
    scocar

    scocar hypotenoper

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2009
    Member:
    #25814
    Messages:
    39,396
    OP, tha main idea I haven't seen anyone quite hit on here yet (although there is plenty of good advice) is that 4wd will cause gear binding if you turn on a surface that does not allow the wheels to slip and turn at different speeds (and therefore not bind up). So, dirt roads are good for this. Rain, however, does not qaulify, because your tires are designed to maintian traction on wet paved surface. Otherwise, finding straight stretches of pavement in areas where there are little to no chance of having to perfrom sudden evasive maneuvers (other than stopping in a straight line) are an option.

    4H is usually suited to slippery snowy highway or higher speed dirt or muddy or sandy roads where additional traction and control is needed, but conditions still allow you to go fairly quickly.
     
  17. Mar 14, 2012 at 8:36 AM
    #17
    DEEVON911

    DEEVON911 Semi-Pro

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2010
    Member:
    #35030
    Messages:
    15,187
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dave
    Bethel Park, PA. Burb of da Burgh.
    Vehicle:
    2010 MGM Mostly Stock Off-Road 4x4
    TRD Cat-back Exhaust. Semi-Debadged. Trimmed down stock Antenna. Weathertech vent visors. TRD FJ Cruiser Center Cap Wheel Mod. 265/75/16 Firestone Destination A/T,s . Inverter tapped into for outlet in cab. Tacomaworld sticker which adds 5 hp.
    I did. :D:p
     
  18. Mar 14, 2012 at 9:00 AM
    #18
    tranceporter

    tranceporter [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2012
    Member:
    #73539
    Messages:
    125
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rishi
    Atlanta, GA
    Vehicle:
    4x4, DCSB, Off Road, V6 Tow
    I actually bought the truck to do a road trip to Alaska. Otherwise being in Atlanta I could have done with a 2WD truck.

    This is so true. I should just throw on 4H and start rampaging through all my neighbors back yards lol

    Thankyou for the 2nd paragraph. Thats what I was thinking as well.
     
  19. Mar 14, 2012 at 11:49 AM
    #19
    scocar

    scocar hypotenoper

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2009
    Member:
    #25814
    Messages:
    39,396
    I knew that would happen. :homer:
     
  20. Mar 15, 2012 at 1:14 AM
    #20
    SnowroxKT

    SnowroxKT Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2011
    Member:
    #68604
    Messages:
    5,312
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kyle
    Anchorage Alaska
    Vehicle:
    '18 T4R & '06 F250
    6" lift 40s
    Nice! :D :cool: :D
     

Products Discussed in

To Top