Exercising 4WD

Will driving 10 miles on pavement in a straight line in 4hi at 45mph once a month properly exercise my transfer case?.
My only other alternative is to go to the beach but there are issues at times doing that. Dirt roads here are on private land secured with a gate

 

No problem.

Would be better (IMHO) if you shifted to 4WD more often and run it a couple of miles. Exercising the actuators and forks keeps them happy..

 

If yours is an off road as listed (?), then you should also exercise the rear locker actuator too. This can be done easily in a short parking lot or similar slow speed area without having to drive far.

 

What’s the manual say?

 

I believe that there was a similar post on this in the not to distant past. What I took away from it was that you could utilize the 4WD system on dry pavement so long as you did not make sharp turns. If you did make sharp turns, then you would feel the system seem to "jerk". Ask me how I know. I don't have my manual handy, but you may wish to check that section as it mentions engaging the system periodically. I normally engage the system at lower speeds, i.e., 35-50 mph. I have also done so on the interstate, but kept speeds at less than 60 mph. I did this on my 2005 Tacoma, 2011 Tundra, 2012 Tundra, and 2022 Tacoma, with no ill effects.

 

Don't recommend using 4wd on dry pavement. The manual doesn't recommend doing that. Especially for 10miles at a time.

 

I like to put it in 4 Hi after a first rain (when roads tend to be slick) on a straight road.

I also switch my Combo meter to a blank screen to remind me I'm in 4 Hi. Normally, I leave it showing MPG

 

This^^^^ .The OM says 10 miles a month in 4wd but slipping it into 4wd on a straight stretch a couple times a month for a couple miles is easier and probably better.

 

Works fine on pavement, its not made of pasta. Just use straight lines.

If you're really worried find a gravel road or alley, no big deal.

 

Switch to 4 hi when there’s slack in the drive line. Let off the gas or switch to neutral. With all four wheels pointed straight, there’s nothing to worry about. It’s when you start making tight turns and the wheels rotate at different speeds while being unable to slip (like on gravel or ice) that strain is put on the drivetrain.

 

I run mine maybe 2 miles a month on a dirt road and lock the rear locker every third time and everything works every time. Seems the thing I always forget is the secret combination to put it in 4Lo and then lock the locker.

 

I have binded the drivetrain numerous times coming off the street to my driveway. Drove dry freeways in 4hi. It wont grenade.

 

As an additional alternative to driving it in a straight line on pavement: Just engage 4WD right in your driveway a few times a month or even once a week. Switch it through 2H to 4H and 4L and back a couple of times to engage the actuators. Sometimes I switch the transmission into Neutral as well. I usually don't even move the truck during this exercise unless 4L gets cranky and won't let go back to 4H; a move of a few inches back or forward has always remedied it with nice clunk. The switch into and out of 4L always seems and sounds smoother after a couple of cycles like this.

 

In theory no. But I don't advise it. Where are you going to find 10 miles of straight road? The problem is getting distracted. forgetting, and making a right angle turn at an intersection, gas station or other location. Even if that happens, you're not going to have a catastrophic failure. Everyone I know has pulled off of a dirt road onto pavement and forgotten to disengage 4X4 and has driven a few miles before realizing it. Even driving off road you will find places where traction is good enough that you'll put the drivetrain in a bind.

The transfer case is not really the problem. The part most likely to fail from non-use is the locking hubs. The lubricant on the hubs gets hard over time from non-use and won't allow the hubs to engage. You can give them a workout in your driveway by engaging and disengaging without even moving. Or just moving back and forth a few feet in a straight line. This also helps keep electrical connections from corroding. I think you'd be better off doing something like this but make it a point to get it out for a good workout every few months.

The damage is cumulative. The more miles you put on the 4X4 system in high traction areas the sooner you're going to wear out parts. It may be years down the road and it may be the next owner who pays for the damage. But parts will wear out sooner. You're going to get the drivetrain in a bind using it correctly and by mistake enough. I just don't advise taking unnecessary chances doing it by design.

It doesn't have to be 10 miles, it doesn't have to be EVERY month and nobody said the 10 miles have to be all at once. The idea is to use it regularly. I've had 4X4 fail to engage a couple of times after not using it regularly back in the 1980's and 90's. But not since making a point to use it regularly. The shooting club that I belong to is about 1 mile down a gravel road. I engage 4X4 on my way in and out every time I go there. That gets me about 2 miles every couple of weeks most months. I may skip a month occasionally but make it a point not to skip 2 months. Other months I may get in 200-300 miles. Going archery hunting tomorrow. It's almost 20 miles down a Forest service road to where I park. I won't NEED 4x4 to get there but will get in 15ish miles tomorrow.

 

I concur, just driving one mile or so every now and then will do the trick. If you are hell bent on being literal and doing 10 miles all at once, then find a dirt roads somewhere.

 

Locking hubs??

 

I've had various 4x4 since 1992. Always exercised the drive train a couple times a year.

Rolling in a straight line (even slight curves).
Winter time they got used a few times a season.

But I would engage 4Hi, 4Lo. Axle lockers in 4Lo exercised too.

Kept everything working like new!

 

Luckily I drive a mile and a half down one street to get to the freeway every morning. As soon as I turn onto that street, I click it into four high. I’m going to have to read up about the rear locker!

 

my 4x4 needs some exercise. eeeesh

 

Oh how I wish we had locking hubs. Sadly this entire paragraph is from the 80's and 90's. No way to unlock the hubs on these trucks...and no grease to worry about getting hard. Just a couple actuators that are internally lubricated.