How do I use 4WD and not destroy my truck?

Yeah there was, pretty epic. That kind of stress is so much worse than anything they see if the sizes are alright.

 

Then again, downtown LA is very different from Wyoming. If it's a strictly city surbanite taco, its going to see much less need for 4WD.

 

Yea I threw that in for the OP’s sake as I don’t think they’d be asking this question if they were regularly wheeling or using 4wd. I find myself going a couple months here and there between letting the taco eat up some trails, so I apply the 10 mile a month rule that’s straight out of the owner’s manual. I’ve got an Auto with the Electric button on the j shifter so I like knowing that everything connects and the servos/solenoids are working etc. Look at me getting all defensive… It is depressing how little I take her off road since moving out of California.

 

if you have an electric 4wd button you dont have a j shift. But now we're getting down to semantics with the terminology here

 

Actually and I can't cite specifics but there are Jshift tcases out there with the button. I *think* it was the locking center diff tcases (?)
Have seen them though. I'll see if I can dig up more info/pics

 

Most AWD vehicles have a differential after the transmission for exactly the reason covered above- That in AWD the front/back would bind. That obviously doesn't work when the AWD isn't selectable like 2wd/4wd transfer cases. Some of those AWD do have the ability to lock the center diff, but typically they are closer in function to a Limited Slip Diff in that some power is routed to both. The fancier ones let you dial that in, 60% rear, 40% front, etc... I don't know what Tacoma would have that though.

 

Here is what I remember seeing. It wasn't a 2-4 button but the 4WD button.

 

yeah I think those are the somewhat uncommon shifters off the full time 4wd 3rd gen 4runners with center diffs. Some people have talked about doing that swap on their 1st gens.

 

Oh. shit ya that checks out. the 4R had a selectable center diff.

 

I think it was just some of the Limited models? Definitely not all of them, most were just part time 4wd like ours. Or maybe it was a model year thing. @Kwikvette probably knows

 

Only for 2001 and 2002 models.

When you put it in 4WD/4HI it's basically AWD. Again only for 2001-02 4Runners regardless of trim as it was standard equipment.

Once you push that center Lock button (where the rear diff lock sits on older 4Runners or TRD Tacomas), it locks the center and now it runs as any actual 4WD truck does.

Multimode had the same concept, but those transfer cases were an 'option' and not standard equipment by any means. They were also found only in 1999-00 models.

 

4Runner Multimode.

 

My Tacoma is already slow enough, it being in AWD would be terrible. Would be a cool swap for 5 lugs

 

It can still be driven in 2wd, it's not AWD in the sense that it's constantly powering all 4 wheels. I think it's more like a full time 4wd option, especially since you can put it in 4lo

 

You have a Tacoma, not a 4Runner.

 

Oh I thought it was like the newer Limited 4runners/GX that come in AWD with a low gear TC.

 

Never said I had a 4runner.

 

No but the recent discussion above regarding the center lock (and even the picture of the shift knob) is specific to the 3rd Gen 4Runner.

Not available in a Tacoma.

Sucks the 4Runner did away with the rear locker for the last 2 years of the 3rd Gen.

 

Oh I didn't click the link. I thought some Limited 3rd gen 4runners had the same AWD system as the newer Limited 4R/GX and assumed you guys were talking about swapping that system into the Tacoma.

 

I didn't click a link either, just got roped into this mid-discussion

Would definitely be a cool swap in a Tacoma, but throw in a crawl box while you're at it!