4lo question.

From my understanding… you should at least engage all the setting, from time to time so the actuators don’t freeze up

 

More so on April 1st

 

Yes it's bad. The portion of the transfer case actuator travel used to engage 4lo may bind up due to lack of lubrication. Removing the actuator for cleaning or repair is a big job, requiring the whole transfer case to be removed and the case split open to get at the mounting bolts.

 

Not good, it’s also suggested in the owner’s manual.

 

Use it or loose it. Frankly I hate the electric one but that's what we got. Despite what some will tell you, you can engage it on the dry road just no sharp turns. Shift it in, drive for awhile shift it out.

 

Idk what you plow, but toyota doesn't recommend their tacomas for it.

 

Fisher does, they make a very nice plow kit. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that think it is a battering ram, go slow in low range push snow don't try to launch it into you neighbors yard. My drive way is over a 1/4 of a mile I not going to shovel it. I think you'll find that to be an old statement. They are perfectly capable couldn't be worse than taking one off road to see if you can get it stuck.

 

I've wondered about that.
I pushed a shit ton of snow with my '87 with a 6' Fisher. I worry about the IFS on the Taco.

 

Don't know why. People brutalize them far worse off road than pushing snow.

 

Curious about this, what does your fisher weigh compared to a steel bumper and 10k winch? Probably less is my guess.

 

Yup!
My neighbor has a 4R and her attitude was "well if I need 4wd I'll call my husband" [who will tell her to flip the switch and probably roll his eyes] and then all will be good - I just shut my mouth b/c she won't listen to me anyways..

Whenever it rains around here, I take the opportunity to exercise my 4WD system. I have done it when it is dry w/o an issue but the rain seems to help remind me to do it.
First time I tried 4Lo, it wouldn't engage - had to come on TW to sort out why - apparently the clutch has to be fully depressed when you flip the switch; owner/s manual omitted this part of the instructions.

I wish I had a manual transfer case too

 

I suppose you're right.
I just worry about all that weight hanging out front.
The leaf springs on my '87 handled the plow with no problems and the pump and valve were under the hood, not hanging off the front as they do on a "Minute Mount"

 

Maybe fisher makes a plow for a tacoma, but it doesn't mean a tacoma should plow with it. Snow can be very heavy, and put a tremendous strain on any mid size truck. Imo, use full size trucks to handle most plow duties. Heck you can buy a large heavy trailer to fit you tacoma's tow hitch, but it doesn't meant you should use your tacoma to pull it.

 

We don't do snow here in North Carolina. I think the DOT has trucks with snow plows . . . not sure.
When there is snow in the forecast everyone runs out and buys toilet paper, they close all the schools and everyone stays home.
And if there is more than .01 inch accumulation the crazies get out on the roads and crash into each other and slide into any ditch they can find.
OK . . . I might be exaggerating - but not by much.

 

My '87 22RE would push all the snow I needed to move here in NH. Did they pussify the Taco that much?

 

Small threadjack ... when it starts raining even slightly hard in NC people reduce speed by 20 MPH and turn on emergency flashers while still driving on the freeway.

 

I live in snow country been plowing snow for a long time, the Tacoma does an excellent job with little effort. You just got to be smarter than the truck. I don't need a bigger truck the Tacoma works just fine and has for the last 5-6 years. Fisher had enough sense to use a fiber glass plow to reduce the weight. Fisher is a Maine company they know what it takes to plow snow. Any one plowing snow with any thing need to learn to push snow instead of trying to launch it at 30
+ MPH.

 

As long as I can stack it, I'm in!
I plowed for well over 10 years with a '93 F150 after I sold my '87 Toy. Not too excited about a plastic plow though.

 

4LO is preferred for long, steep climbs up rugged terrain. It's much kinder to the engine and drivetrain versus lugging it uphill the whole way.

 

Plow is fine, a very nice super structure behind it all the plow face does is direct it. The cutting edge is bolted to the frame work not the plow face. My drive way to the road is over a 1/4 of a mile so the plow is a luxury, did it for many years with a tractor in full snowmobile gear that sucked at -20.