Can I Make My Tacoma 4x4 Front Wheel Drive?

Wha.....????

Don't ask why, but hypothetically speaking, is it possible to alter an electric T-case to run the front wheels in 2H rather than the rear wheels... and still have 4wd when needed?

I know this has been done on older "manual" rigs, but how would you do it on a Tacoma?

 

Just pull the rear driveshaft and run it it 4x4. I have done it when I candy caned my rear driveshaft I drove home about 100 miles

 

I knew this would be the 1st response so I amended my post to include still having 4wd.

 

Well when you need 4x4 put the drive shaft back in

 

But to answer your real question. No thats not how the Tacoma transfer case works

 

Thanks. I suppose if it could be done it would take an extensive mod to do it.

 

Yes if you had a very large budget!

It would take a new design of the drive train.

I venture for about $50,000.00 it might be possible considering much research would be involved a polite way to say much breaking of parts

 

Hypothetically, yes it can be done pretty easily with one of these: https://www.remcodsc.com/coupling/
However, it would be a really stupid thing to do due to front wheel drive being basically really bad for everything. The reason why most 2wd cars are front wheel drive, is because its CHEAP.

 

Thanks. That's funny & interesting at the same time.

 

Why is this being hypothesized? Lol sorry i'm just really curious as to why this thought crossed your mind...

 

This was done by a mechanic some years ago to a full sized Ford Bronco 4x4. Claimed he got better traction and MPG than RWD in winter. 'Course he had to leave the hubs locked in or he wasn't going anywhere.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think those things didn't even have a lever in the cab to engage or disengage the transfer case, right? Which means that the only way to switch between 2 and 4wd was to stop, get out, and wrench the front hubs.
I imagine, therefore, that he achieved improved fuel efficiency as compared to being locked into 4WD all the time (it certainly wouldn't be more efficient than RWD).

And as far as traction, the engine on that thing probably weighed as much as an ocean liner. You can get better results with a dozen sand bags, and turning the "more wheels" knob when you're getting stuck.

 

I never saw the rig so I can neither confirm nor deny anything.

Capability to do anything is possible. Tacoma's would need a different T-case to pull this off.



interesting link 1

interesting link 2

 

I suppose you could. Don’t know how good it would be for the driveline long term, though.

 

Not possible with the stock Tacoma case. But get an adapter and run a Dana 300 and you can do it very easily. Google ”front dig” and you can see the benefits of disconnecting the rear output while still being in high gear on the trails.

http://www.4x4wire.com/tech/dana300/#FWDHi

 

My old M38A1 Jeep had a Advance adapters Dana 18 t/case with 2wd low/ high ( front) or 2wd low /high (rear) capability . Made for much easier technical Rock crawling with locked axles

 

I figured it could be done with the right setup.

(edited for clarity)

 

It takes more parts and materials to make a back wheel drive. That costs more. Front wheel drive is also fragile, because it puts your drive shaft in through your steering. And finally, it yields poor traction because under forward acceleration, weight transfers to the back wheels.

 

Can't I technically do this if I want to confirm/eliminate the cause of some vibrations? Remove the rear ds, drive around a little in 4wd/Fwd and see if the vibes are gone?

 

Yes.