4x4 Newbie Question

Can anybody give me the down low on 4x4. I know not to use it on dry roads. Thats about it.

I don't know how to engage 4 low or high. I'd like to try it on my way home today as the manual is not with me. Thanks

 

Thanks!

 

Don't engage 4x4 (hi or low) on paved, dry roads. It can cause binding that could potentially damage the components. If you have to for some reason, make sure you stay in a straight line and don't turn at all. When I got my first 4x4, I took it out to a little gravel lot off the side of the road to test it out.

4hi you can engage "on the fly" meaning you can put it into 4hi while moving (I think 55mph is the maximum speed?). To engage 4lo, you must be at a complete stop and in neutral, or in gear as long as the clutch is in if you have a manual trans.

 

it's completely backwards of that

 

I think the OP got the i-deer. You can drive on dry roads in 4W-hi just don't over do it and take-er easy. 4W-LO - dirt roads and careful on a full turn you need to be on snow/gravel/sand/mud/grass .. something that tires can't grab on to. You will understand your first try turning in LO.

 

So I'm new to the 4x4 scene as well and since we are asking newbie questions...

So for us automatic guys. When we are in 4HI/LO should we slap into to the "manual/slap stick" mode and shift ourselves? Also, I noticed in 4HI, it doesn't turn off traction control. Should traction control be left on or off when in 4HI?

Sorry if this was covered in the video, I'm at work and big brother wont let me watch it. Thanks.

 

I leave mine in auto usually. Turn traction control off if it isn't already when you're off road because it does funny things on dirt/gravel.

 

Pull out the card on your driver's side visor. Stop and read it completely at least twice until you understand what it is telling you to do. Its confusing at first if you have never used 4wd before. Then follow the instructions step by step. If the 4wd indicator on your dash is flashing you have turned on 4wd but it isnt fully engauged. It is fully engaged when the indicator is solid and not flashing. Don't go bouncing down the trail until the 4x4 indicator is on a solid display or off. Sometimes it takes some fiddling before it settles in place.

 

Yeah I usually have to drive forward a few feet for everything to sync up and engage. Completely normal, you'll know when it does as the green light goes solid. It also makes a bit of a 'clunk' feel and sound, nothing loud or bad-sounding...just the sound of the system engaging.

 

Wait ..what? There's a card on my visor??

 

I thought the same thing. There sure is.

 

On a different but related not, I'm not a fan of how they positioned the 4x4 selector switch in these trucks. It's the same size as the climate control knobs and located right next to them. I almost switched into 4HI while trying to turn down the air conditioner fan speed while rolling down the highway the other day. I'm sure there is an electronic gizmo that would have prevented 4HI from engaging at 70mph, but I'd have preferred that they put the selector switch somewhere else or at least shape it differently than the climate control knobs.

 

There usually is, had a visor info sticker on my '09 Tundra, and my '04 Tundra. So they've been putting them there for a while now. I think my friends 2000 had one too.

This! I still hit the 4x4 knob instead of the push to start every once in a while if I'm not looking close enough. Or put my hand on it and about flip it to change the temp.

I much preferred my old knob:

 

There's some good info in here! For me, what really solidified all of the modes and how to use them was actually going out and off roading. That's when you learn how your truck responds to different things, and which mode is best to use. If that's an option, I recommend it! Doesn't have to be anything crazy.

 

Mine was removed at some point because I don't have one, nor do I have the RR Diff Lock sticker on the door either

 

I'm going to have to try that on my next dealer test drive.

 

Also an off road newbie. To make sure, only engage rear diff lock when in four lo, correct ?
Still trying to understand when to turn off traction control.
Thanks guys

 

Ooops, I hope I didn't ruin something! I bought mine slightly used (5K) so aforementioned card in the visor not present. Also, I thought to myself it couldn't hurt to drive it to work and back ONE day in 4H after an oil change just to keep all the seals and bearings lubed up. Maybe only 20 miles on dry paved road condition, before I was like...meh, and put it back in 2H

 

Diff Lock is only available on the Off-Road Edition