2016 4WD set up

When I lived in a place that had pretty harsh winters I'd just lock the hubs in November and pretty much leave them there until late March or April. There's a fuel economy hit doing that but it makes life a whole lot easier.

 

Longer than that. MY '91 4Runner was shift on the fly. You don't have to come to a full stop to engage 4L as another poster suggested either. Not sure where some folks get their ideas from. Oh I know...the internet.

 

I just go slow to go into low. If your going to fast it won't go in anyway till you slow down.

Never once had an issue

 

For the thread win.

 

Got a chance (!) to experience some black ice this morning on the way to the mountains. Literally could not see it coming, but many people were suddenly pulling off the road or slowing significantly. Felt slightly loose, but not as bad as usual, and was fine once I switched to 4H at about 50mph. Re: the earlier mentioned "clunk" on engaging 4H, you want to ease up on the accelerator slightly to avoid this...if you don't on black ice you will regret it. With my previous full-sized trucks, all the ones since 1990 had shift-on-the-fly, the older ones we'd engage the hubs in the winter and then they were shift on the fly as well

 

Highly likely, but I wanted to get answers from owners before I went out and possibly damaged a 35k+ truck. No way a warranty would cover something like that.

 

OP, read the manual

 

Unfortunately, I haven't received mine yet and after delays, it will be another month. I had just read some contradictory points about the system online and wanted clarification.

 

You like apples?

Do You Like Apples?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2016-tacoma-owners-manual-pdf.389711/

HOW ABOUT THEM APPLES?

 

I prefer strawberries, but apples aren't bad.

 

Oh, then you'll prefer this one



"My boy's wicked smaat."

 

unless your going downhill.

 

I got a chance to give my new truck (SR5 AC 4x4 MGM) a real test this weekend. I took it up to Willamette Pass here in Oregon. It was with the stock tires and it drove fantastic. The 4WD Hi worked flawlessly. Didn't use any weights in the back, but 4-6 inches of heavy wet snow in the bed may have helped (I am waiting on getting a canopy in 2016).

Coming from a Subaru, I was a bit anxious, since the Outback had been the best vehicle I had ever owned for snow driving. But the higher clearance of the Tacoma and it's surefotedness in 4WD have changed my mind.


In addition to the canopy, I'll be getting snow tires and mud flaps

 

Drove my '08 from K-falls to the valley several times when I used to live there. I was shocked at how good the stock tires were in snow. Nice peaceful drive if it isn't icy.

 

For snow/ice my Nitto Terra Grapplers literally saved the day. I live in So Cal, and frequently visit Big Bear during the winter. I have had a descent amount of snow/ice driving experience, however the rest of the people that try to get up the hill in the snow/ice didn't fair so well. This was Dec 30, 2014, there were cars littered in EVERY turn of the 38, some abandoned, some sleeping inside. We saw numerous disabled delivery trucks, tow truck and tractor trailers. We were literally watching cars slide off the road in front of us our group of cars was shrinking as we moved slowly up the hill (Butthole puckered). But we never lost traction in my 2014 4WD Crewmax Tundra. Myself and the guy behind me were the only two vehicles that were able to navigate our way through the mine field of disabled vehicles (some of which were Land Rovers....WHAT!) and make it into the city. He was driving a 4WD Excursion chained up on all 4. So moral of the story was those tires kicked some ass. The guy behind me said he was watching for slip the whole time and never saw me break traction. He was impressed. To give you an example of how icy it was, i got out of the truck at one point walked 2 feet before I fell flat on my back. For the descent, I put it in low and let the gears do the work, never touched the brake. I was always taught on ice, imagine your brake pedal isn't even there. You can have the greatest 4WD system on the planet, but with out the proper tires, it's useless.

 

With the 2015 4R Trail this passed weekend with yhe snow coming down/sticking, been putting it in H4/H2 frequently just fine, i expect same for Tacoma. Of course gotta follow the direction.

From H2 to H4: below 50 mph
H4 to H2: at ang speed but i do it as above

 

A lot of good information for me here. Glad I did a search since I am relatively new to 4WD outside of the army and I rarely had to engage 4WD there and when I did it was 4 Low to get up some of the hills at Fort Hood. Most of the time 2WD is all I needed, even in Baghdad during the rainy season when everything was caked in mud. I was worried about engaging 4 High on a dirt road headed out to the local gun range.

 

Same here. Fords and Toyotas are both shift on the fly

 

Something to remember.

 

Hey guys just used 4L for the first time every. There's a constant beep when I switch it to 4L. Is this normal for 2016 Tacoma? Thanks.