2024 4WD Off Road (4WDemand) vs Snow

My 2006 4WD Off Road is getting longish in the tooth, wear more than the 230,000mi.
So, I’m thinking about a replacement. Jonesing for the rear coil springs so 2024+
Off road is limited to forest service utility roads and trails.
The big 4WD need is for snow capability…

1) Anyone have snow experience this year?

2) Any thoughts on 2024 vs 2025 4WD Off Road (not Pro) models re snow?

3) I’m not clear about 4WDemand nor apparently is google. I tried! Is there the option for 4WD /only/ with the 4WDemand system?

Thanks!

 

It looks like 4wdemand is just standard part time 4wd. It is not AWD

I just had to look this up since the term was new to me

 

yes its not going to be any better than any other partime 4wd system in the snow. unless you buy a limited which has different transfer case.

 

Toyota's build page calls the part time, manually selected 4WD system "4WDemand":


If you're willing to buy up to a Limited i-FORCE MAX, you can get AWD:


Here's their comparison matrix thingy:

 

Meh. Don’t want the 2024 hybrid nor cost.

So back to my other question, any snow experience out there for the Off Road???

 

The non-hybrid is a selectable 4WD with traction control. When you put it in 4Hi you have full 4WD with Toyota traction control, which in my experience is very good. I haven't had my new Taco in the snow yet, but my other Toyotas have been great.

 

I like the Limited, I don't like the cameras and extra sensors. That's the idea of the Limited loaded up with options.

 

One first storm was premature to make a lot of judgements but my '24 TRD OR long bed handled it just like the part-time 4x4 it is. All that's new for me is a dial replacing the mechanical lever my 4x4s had, and the electronics suite has some options.

For sure the coil springs model has some civility and comfort my leaf spring pickups or 4x4s did not have but it is still a solid axle full frame type. For light unpaved use as you describe it is not a jump or improvement with comfort, control and traction like our AWD wagons. My using a Subaru Outback with 3PMSF tires and my wife's German car with Haldex AWD and 3PMSF tires were and are far superior for most snow traction and comfort matters.

Your use might not call for the locker rear axle as I know is appropriate for me so that means a Sport with different wheels and tires might be more civil if you don't go to a Limited.

We spent a long time trying lots of vehicles. In my case the Tacoma was chosen for true light truck needs. It's my 5th pickup over decades but I much preferred wagons, SUV and minivan for most driving when I did not need a pickup, and renting one was easy when that was the case. I probably differ from many here but I would not chose a light truck without how it serves my business and our redeveloping a property. Heck, my Outback spent many years in ski area crew and operations and drove all over the trails and service roads. Many times it was superior to part-time 4x4s and drove around them when they slipped sideways. Now there are hybrid and hybrid/turbo alternatives that I consider much nicer to drive if you do not really need a pickup.

My other observation in the time without a pickup truck was how limited the 5 and 5.5 ft bed pickups are. If you put a ladder or something longer in sideways you lose a lot of space.

If the mandate was a Toyota and my business didn't need the long bed pickup, my trail building and ski area crew didn't need a locker and the tow capacity, I'd probably have bought a different model with high mileage hybrid and turbo. As a light truck though my gen 4 is a really great improvement over past models I've had.

 

From Google AI....


Toyota 4WDemand is a part-time 4-wheel drive (4WD) system that sends power to the front wheels by default, but can send power to the rear wheels when needed based on road conditions. 4WD vehicles are designed to provide maximum power and traction when needed, and are typically used for truck-based platforms or trail running vehicles.

Here are some things to know about Toyota 4WD systems:

• How to operate
  For most situations, you should leave the control switch in 2-wheel drive (2WD). You can shift into 4-wheel high for slippery conditions or light off-road driving.
  
  
• Differences between 4WD and AWD
  All-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles send torque to all four tires simultaneously, while 4WD vehicles lock the front and rear driveshafts together to send torque to at least one front and one rear wheel.
  
  
• Full-time 4WD
  Some vehicles have a full-time 4WD powertrain that can shift to the best drive mode for the current terrain without driver input.
  
  
• Crawl Mode
  Some Toyota 4WD vehicles have a Crawl Mode that can help you avoid getting stuck in situations with near-zero traction.

 

The googler is giving you bad info.

 

I know, I just love AI!

 

Hmm, interesting viewpoint. "I know it's wrong, but I continue to use it and share incorrect information deliberately."

 

Would have been nice if you could get the all wheel drive on the limited without the hybrid. And on other trims, I know wishful thinking.

 

Part time 4WD works good in the snow. I didn't realize how much better and more utility full time 4WD is until I owned a vehicle with it. I mainly use my 4WD for treks into the PNW mountains exploring forest service roads or just going to play in the snow. The roads on the way to the deep stuff are usually a mix of wet, slushy and icy. 4WD auto works wonders there. Once I'm actually in the deeper stuff I usually go into 4HI or 4LO depending on conditions. I'm amazed at how little rear tire slip it takes to engage the AWD in 4 auto. On full ice it's not perceivable. This is in my GMC AT4 so I can't speak to how well the Toyota full time 4WD system works but I would assume it's also great.

 

Other than the light weight in the rear of a pickup, wouldn't the Tacoma in 4WD with traction control off, handle the same as an AWD vehicle? In other words, all wheels getting the same amount of power?

 

TL;DR: It’s complicated, but it matters more about planning.

That heavily depends on the particular implementation of AWD. Some are mostly or even entirely FWD until they’re not. Some are the other way around. There are various mixes. My last AWD car was 35/65 F/R normally but could do something like 80/20 in either direction. It usually maintained a rearward bias and could be throttle steered. The AWD car I had before that was 50/50 with a Torsen center differential and all the interesting — though lag free — characteristics that come with it. There exist AWD systems with complex, electronically controlled front, rear, and center differentials that can send nearly all available power to one wheel if they decide to.

As a general case answer, I’d say that a part-time 4WD system would drive mostly the same as a typical AWD system in a straight line, though without the “squidgyness” you get as an AWD system makes the car squirm while it shifts power around on uneven traction surfaces. 4WD, being much simpler, would be more predictable, though I won’t go as far as to call it “better.” If we’re talking about just clawing your way forward through heavy snow on a crappy day, they’re going to be largely the same.

In corners, it’ll be completely different. 4WD having no center differential, the front is going to want to push. If you’re at low speeds like you really should be, you’ll likely naturally manage it without much thinking about what’s actually happening. Practically, it’s not going to matter much. If you’re worried about at-speed dynamics in bad weather, you brought the wrong monkeys to the wrong circus.

Here’s where the rubber really meets the road, though. The main problem is that it’s going to have to occur to you to switch to 4WD. This isn’t to say it’s a problem so much that it’s to say that if you’re in a situation where that really matters, the ship has already sailed on your having been proactive about where you put the vehicle and when. I grew up in the snow belt and used to daily a RWD sport coupe with a manual, an open differential, and fairly rudimentary traction control and stability management software. I never got stuck or had an off mostly because I was taught to have the presence of mind to plan out where the car needed to be and how I was going to get it there rather than just letting it happen. I also always ran dedicated snow tires on that car. It was proof positive that presence of mind and proper footwear always trumped fancy drive systems used without a care.

 

Not that I'm familiar with GM's 4wd system, I belive they all have auto 4wd. I know it's not Awd but I think it acts in a similar manor. 2.7 turbomax RC with auto 4x4 for the price of a TRD prerunner sounds like a better buy. I'd never get the resale value the Tacoma would bring.

 

Every GM SUV my mom has had it essentially just turns it on if it notices some type of slippage but otherwise you’re in rear wheel drive. It is a super brainless system and it sucks that they replaced their very good all-wheel-drive for fuel efficiency reasons.

 

“If we're talking about just clawing your way forward through heavy snow on a crappy day, they’re going to be largely the same.”
Yeah, I forgot to say that I was talking about mainly snowy conditions, where dry pavement wheel hop wouldn’t be an issue.

 

What I’m reading is that the GM’s with auto 4WD have an electronic clutch between the transfer case and the PTO for the front axle that varies torque transmission as needed when in “4AUTO.” It more or less acts like a “center” differential. That way, it can both moderate torque output to the front axle — or from the rear axle — to regulate slip and to handle speed differentials between the axles. I suppose it really only differs from your typical AWD system in its packaging and that it has a mode where it disengages all the front drivetrain hardware when you set it to 2HI like the Tacoma’s does. On paper, it sounds like it’s probably a more capable system, though you trade complexity for it. GM doesn’t exactly have a solid track record making transmissions, so I’m not sure I’m willing to risk it even if it’s objectively better.

As for actually working, my dad has a ‘24 Colorado with it. He’s said he used 4AUTO when it got crappy out last winter. Mentioned that he didn’t really notice it working beyond the lights on the dashboard. He’s got plenty of experience handling 2WD trucks in the snow belt and has had a few AWD cars, so he does know the difference. Sounds like it works fairly well when it’s working.

I haven’t driven his truck, but it seems to ride a little nicer than the Tacoma as I’ve been ferried about in it. It’s more car-ish. I guess that’s nice if that’s what you’re looking for, though I’d question why you’d buy a truck if you want to drive a car. I don’t care for the looks of the front end, but that’s me.

I will volunteer that the thing has been in the shop several times for electrical issues with the dealer just firing the parts cannon at it, which definitely makes me think it’s a GM product.