4 H or 4 L

You bet, the answers are in the post above and some below. Quite simply, you’ll bind up. On slippery surfaces, the wheel slip prevents this from happening.

 

Imo as long as you run straight in 4wd h on asphalt keeping speeds under 50 you won't have an issue. Its the slower sharp corners that cause the front differential wheels to crow hop on pavement. Thats when chit happens.

 

Never understood this it’s like the new kid in class gotta bully him to see if he is worthy of the cool kids? Atleast that’s what happened to me all my life. Even tho I was never new...

 

It’s possible some thought he was joking, others, just harmless fun as long as we eventually give good answers I guess

 

A member with 8 posts is probably not joking---some members here have been around so long that they've seen every post 800 times and get this feeling like they own the place so they like to push new people around...am I close here?

 

I'm no expert on drivetrains and suspension. Probably fine unless you heard or felt something break. Get it checked if you're unsure.

 

Perhaps. We didn’t get any. “Use the search function idiot”.....yet

 

Arriving in 3, 2, 1...

 

Nah, don't worry about it, it'll be fine, just don't make a habit of it.
As mentioned, when turning, the tires are traveling a different distance, so they travel at different speeds.
Not being a wise guy, and I haven't personally read through it all- but, I think the owner's manual does a good job describing. If you don't have a printed version, you can DL from Toyota. Also, check YouTube, I'm sure there's some good videos.

 

there's good youtube vids that help explain, and also i can't pinpoint exactly but there was a HUGE thread here discussing all the 4x4 modes, functions and such as well that im sure would help OP out in the long run

 

4X4 is intended for extreme off road use or deep snow only. It should never be used on a surface where traction is good. And that includes wet rainy pavement and even light patchy snow. Use 4X2 for that. For a short distance in a straight line, such as pulling a boat out of the water on a wet slippery boat ramp all is good, but shift out of 4X4 before turning the wheels.

LO range reduces the gear ratios almost 3X. It is used to pull heavy loads, or for going very slowly in rugged terrain. It doesn't provide any more traction and won't help if you're already stuck. In fact most of the time it makes things worse in low traction situations.

 

Here is the deal it will tell you right away you don't want to do that. When you make a turn the outside rear wheel will try to drive the inside front wheel faster because of the radius of the turn the steering wheel will turn towards the faster wheel and you will know right away. More than likely the tire will slip but it does put undue stress on all parts involved leave it for the mud and snow.

 

OP, you just made a big ,well at least for most folks, very big purchase.

Please read https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM04025U/pdf/OM04025U.pdf

Start at page one, but for 4wd, pg. 297. It will answer your questions

 

you can 4hi on the fly and maintain up to 60mph. 4lo you need to be completely stopped. i like 4hi better. for my application ill probably never use 4lo. also, just because you can 4hi on the fly dont get it twisted for all wheel drive because its not. if you wanted a taste of toyotas legendary all-time-4wd you need to buy a limited t4r.

 

This should be a sticky !!!

 

essentially what you are hearing is the wheels turning at different speeds and actually tweaking the frame a small amount, and the frame snaps back in to position. It will not harm the truck. Yes you shouldn’t drive 4H or 4L on the highway just because, but your trucks gears and parts are strong enough to handle it once in a blue moon if it happens by accident. People might disagree with me there but your friends truck is ok.

4H is good for snow covered roads, and off-road. 4L is designed for sketchy and steep situations, or things like pulling your buddy’s stuck truck out of the mud. Basically, the difference in 4H and 4L is the power division between the front and rear and the gear reduction.

 

4lo /does/ provide more traction on certain surfaces by reducing minimum wheel speed. This aids movement on sheer ice, as well as technical, slow off-roading such as rock-climbing. 4lo also gives more torque for slogging through deep mud or thick snow. It aids in steep downhill descents as well by allowing more engine braking for each wheel revolution

 

4h when it’s really slick

4l when you have to go super slow in slick, rough or steep terrain (Rock gardens and boat ramps)

2h the other 99.5% of the time.

 

I sort of disagree with some of that. I've use 4wd H for hundreds of miles on the interstate highways when on slippery icy/slushy roads to dry pavement sections for miles during the winter in my toyota pickups, and never had an issue. As far as pulling the boat up a ramp with a steep incline 4wdL has worked for me. I guess it depends how heavy the boat is.

 

One thing here. You cannot engage the rear locker unless you are in 4Lo, so this may not be 100% true.