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4x4 Snow Question

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by S1njin, Sep 26, 2012.

  1. Sep 28, 2012 at 9:38 AM
    #161
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    I don't stop but I slow way down. When stopped, I've found it has a hard time engaging. At slow speeds it'll engage just fine but when stopped the ADD won't slide in place.
     
  2. Sep 28, 2012 at 9:44 AM
    #162
    XXXX

    XXXX Well-Known Member

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    Thanks. Ill stick to what I know works. I guess you missed the part where I said guys I wheel with have had major issues?

    I also don't ever wheel with it on unless it's absolutely necessary.

    I have zero issues with this. Once again maybe that's why 1/2 the guys I know have issues engaging their 4x4. From day one I never hit 4x4 on the fly and I have never had any issues engaging it while stopped.
     
  3. Sep 28, 2012 at 9:48 AM
    #163
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    I always try to do this because I grew up with the floor shifters so it was easier to stop to make it engage. A few times I was sitting in a parking spot and trying to engage 4wd but it would just sit and blink on the dash, once I put it in drive or inched ahead a little or backwards a little, it'd finally engage, like it was just a little out of alignment and that slight movement helped it out.

    I have engaged on the fly a few times though, foot off the gas and coasting. Whatever works, I just hope my ADD actuator hangs in there for a while!
     
  4. Sep 28, 2012 at 10:00 AM
    #164
    XXXX

    XXXX Well-Known Member

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    I actually put it in reverse for a couple yards when I'm done with it :eek:

    It may be right, it may be wrong. All I know is mine still works and I beat the piss out of it.

    I don't take it out of gear...just stop. Most times I use it so little when wheeling I actually have to force myself to hit up a fire road so I can engage it for a mile and start out locked in 1st then 2nd then 3rd and so on for a couple hundred yards per. I also do the same for 4L.

    My transfer case fluid is also spotless along with my front diff. Wish I could say the same for my rear, but thats the only one I'm not running synthetic in.
     
  5. Sep 28, 2012 at 10:10 AM
    #165
    IDtrucks

    IDtrucks Unhinged and Fluid

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    Yes. It has to be moving for the add to slot and enguage the 4x4. When driving up in the mountains or going to the ski hill as soon as the road gets bad, goin about 35 let off gas, in my case throw back shifter, step back on gas. 4wd grabs and I continue. Zero issues with my truck or my dads f150 with an electronic 4x shift knob, which has had a couple hundred 4x4 shifts on it.
    If it was such an issue wouldn't the toyo engineers have noticed it and mentioned it in the manual by now? I never really understood goin off tossing and not using it. It's not a fragile butterfly, if you got it use it. Also since you have to be moving to engage 4wd I assumed if you got stuck in 2wd you would be sol when you can't get the front to lock in
     
  6. Sep 28, 2012 at 10:11 AM
    #166
    badger

    badger Well-Known Member

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    I've never liked the idea of engaging the tacoma 4wd on the fly even though the manual says you can. You are instantly coupling parts running at speed to parts that are not. Pugga is right that the ADD often needs movement to engage. The function of my ADD and the Tcase are separated so I can see this clearly. On my truck I can engage the ADD at a slow speed/stop and then shift the Tcase on the fly as needed. That is a much better situation IMO. When I push the ADD button at a stop, it most often doesn't engage until somethng rotates.
     
  7. Sep 28, 2012 at 10:12 AM
    #167
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    Creature of habit, I do the same thing... :anonymous:
     
  8. Sep 28, 2012 at 10:14 AM
    #168
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    As long as your back tires are spinning and you're front tires aren't, everything should be spinning at the same speed if you shift on the fly. You can have the debate about whether it's good or not but you're certainly not slamming things together by shifting on the fly, everything is spinning to begin with.
     
  9. Sep 28, 2012 at 10:20 AM
    #169
    XXXX

    XXXX Well-Known Member

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    95% of people with 4x4 never use it and I am one of the 5% that when I do use it, I use it hard, so no. We/I are the exception.

    Whats the challenge in that? I like going up stuff in 2wd that others struggle with in 4X. In snow hill climbs offroad I never engage 4X unless I get stopped or loose total traction or I know Ill need it.

    I have a CV finally getting ready to implode after 86k. I know it's not a fragile butterfly and I know it's not unbreakable. If I have a feeling in my gut that I won't make it in 2wd I put it in 4wd. 90% of the time I'm wheeling I'm alone in the woods.

    I also hold a separate opinion and it's based on my personal experiences. You like 4X then by all means use it. I like using it when it's needed. No right - no wrong.

    LOL...you are not talking to an idiot, but for some reason you are not reading what I am telling you. If I was a total moron and didn't engage my 4x4 until I was stuck wouldn't the front wheels still spin and engage?
     
  10. Sep 28, 2012 at 10:21 AM
    #170
    rbishopp

    rbishopp Well-Known Member

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    So far I've added an Advance folding bed cover and since removed it. Gave it to my son in Maine, he has an 05 2wd. GT perfect fit seat covers. Weathertech floor mats and window vent visors. Waag center brush/grill guard. Hose clamp tailgate mod. Turned off the seat belt chime. Added Ultra-Gauge. Trailer hitch. Softopper. Replaced sun visors with slide out style. Toyota bed extender. Had Firestone Destinations and now Michelin LTX AT2 in stock size. More mods to come; Fog lights, locking storage in bed, intermittent wipers. Now looking for Radio/HU upgrade. and maybe a lift way down the road.
    Wow. Flash back to getting out and locking the hubs. I've never had a 4x4 failure. Only a light that stopped working on my Dakota. Still plowed through everything without the light telling me I was in 4 wheel drive.
     
  11. Sep 28, 2012 at 10:29 AM
    #171
    Cmurder

    Cmurder 2011 TX TRD Offroad

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    nothing cool
    damn this is a long thread about driving in the snow. i read the first 4 pages yesterday and today it's up to 11 pages. not gonna read them all.

    Snow;
    rule #1: drive slow
    rule #2: add sandbags in truck bed
    rule #3: refer back to rule #1 if in doubt
     
  12. Sep 28, 2012 at 10:51 AM
    #172
    XXXX

    XXXX Well-Known Member

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    I wish I still had them. I'd rather lock them and know they are locking then leave it up to electronics. I can service parts, but I'm electronically retarded so.........
     
  13. Sep 28, 2012 at 11:07 AM
    #173
    NvrSumR

    NvrSumR Well-Known Member

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    In Colorado there's nothing more dangerous than a guy driving a lifted 4x4 driving in snow. They think they can drive 65+ in packed snow and the truck will act the same as when it's on dry pavement.
     
  14. Sep 28, 2012 at 11:15 AM
    #174
    cbreze

    cbreze Well-Known Member

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    I shifted in to 4hi once when on snow and went into a slide at about fifty. Thought I was ok in normal mode until the slide started. Pulled out like nobody's business. Saved me from a guard rail scraping. I generally go in and out of 4hi a lot when road conditions are sloppy and slick. More so now ;)
     
  15. Sep 28, 2012 at 11:49 AM
    #175
    S1njin

    S1njin [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I guess its the nature of the vehicle, but feelings about driving one of these in snowy conditions is not as cut/dry as some other vehicle's forums would lead you to believe.

    Subaru - They're great in all weather conditions, including snow. Just don't drive like a moron. No learning curve.

    Ridgeline - see Subaru above

    Taco - lots and lots of qualifiers, many of which revolve around actual skill of the driver over the vehicle taking care of the driver.

    ****************************
    So I'm going to call it as I see it: The Tacoma is one helluva reliable truck that will take good care of me most of the time, haul whatever I need to, etc. However, don't even pretend that all the systems or 4x4 are going to buy me a whole lot in the snow. Driving skill/experience trumps all here.

    I've been driving Subarus for close to 15 years, been on the road for 20. In this particular case, my driving experience and body of work willl probably go against me while driving a Taco in the snow.

    At least its something to consider hard. I appreciate all the feedback everyone - worse thing anybody can do is go into a 30k purchase blind, or even worse, buy a 30k vehicle and get yourself all screwed up b/c you assumed it would behave a certain way.
     
  16. Sep 28, 2012 at 3:40 PM
    #176
    Janster

    Janster Old & Forgetful

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    Since this turned into a 'how to drive in the snow' kinda thread.....

    Some things people never think about - is 'checking your mood at the door'
    If you're amped up on caffeine, in a pissy mood, or otherwise - NOT RELAXED, you will have a bad day driving on the snow. You really need to be relaxed and calm when driving in ice/snow. Giving yourself plenty of time to get there in a relaxed & safe manner. All too often....you're 'hyped up' mood gets you in trouble.

    And.....If you want to get some practice in.... Go to an empty parking lot (with snow/ice on the ground - of course) ...No light poles, nothing...
    Start driving around...stomp on gas, slam on brakes.... try to get yourself in a fishtail. My dad did this to me when I was 16 and its the best damn thing you could do to 'not be afraid' of driving in the snow and at least having some sense & FEEL for the conditions.

    FEEL THE TRUCK ....It's the SEAT of your pants kinda FEEL that you know if the ass-end is too light and you need to slow down. And since you're used to driving Subaru's.... It's NOT gonna be the same feel. You should go to a parking lot and do some loops... We used to own a Subaru also. A truck is a completely different ball game.

    Driving like Grandma is Ok......but....you can be smart about it and pass those other grannies on the road.
     
  17. Sep 29, 2012 at 12:06 AM
    #177
    stewartx

    stewartx Well-Known Member

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    It's not quite that bad, S1nyin. Most of what you've learned applies to the Tacoma as well.

    Perhaps the most significant difference in this regard is the tendency for the relatively lightweight rear end to slide. Some add weight (sandbags, etc) while others just deal with it (a bit more conservative when braking on curves, etc). The Tacoma is rock steady (and feels it) otherwise.

    Of course, as with all vehicles (no more or less with the Tacoma), you should apply a good bit of caution in bad road conditions.

    In other words, once you get used to the vehicle, you'll have no problems.
     
  18. Sep 29, 2012 at 11:24 PM
    #178
    monkeyface

    monkeyface Douchebag, or just douche if we're friends

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    Yep, the tires are the key.
     
  19. Sep 30, 2012 at 1:15 AM
    #179
    landphil

    landphil Fish are FOOD, not friends!

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    Taking the bus in snowy weather........$3

    Winter boots to walk to from bus........$90


















    Taking the bus wheeling in snowy weather.... Priceless:cool:
     
  20. Sep 30, 2012 at 1:39 AM
    #180
    IDtrucks

    IDtrucks Unhinged and Fluid

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    And what does that mean lol
     

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