4WD Question

We've had a lot of snow here the past few days so I've been using 4WD to get to work (28 miles each way) on the two lane roads I have to take. Can driving in 4WD (High) for that distance at as much as 60 mph do any harm to the transfer case or drive system?

 

You're fine

 

There's a slew of misinformation on when it's ok to use 4x4. I've heard several times that using it on dry pavement is bad, yet on snow and ice it's ok. Someone explain mechanically why the hell it makes a difference? I've heard you will bind the drivetrain if you drive it too fast on the highway. I've heard it doesn't help to use 4x4 on the highway. Most of them are Ford owners though..

 

Not that I drive in snow, but I thought 62 mph was stated in the manual, or was that the max speed to engage 4wheel drive.

 

Yeah. But that means engaging the 4wd not to not exceed that speed in 4wd. It's just saying don't be going 60mph then slam it into 4HI.

 

You shouldn't be using 4WD on dry pavement mainly because when you take turns or turn the wheel, your tires are rotating at different speeds, or have different revolutions rather, and it will bind your drivetrain if you do that.

I am not the best at explaining or the expert so maybe someone else will chime in.

You should be able to shift into 4HI up to that speed (although I'm not sure if that is great for the truck). "Shifting on the fly"

Matt

 

Seems kinda useless if you can't take corners in 4x4 does it not? Switching in and out of 4x4 is probably hard on it right?

 

Using it on dry pavement is bad. You can damage you drivetrain. There is too much traction on dry pavement. In snow or ice your tires can spin freely during a turn. Then a 4x4 is engaged all tires are moving together at the same speed. While in a turn on dry pavement it will start grinding the gears do to traction. On ice and snow you don't have so much traction so on a turn a tire can spin which won't damage your drivetrain. That's why in 4x4 your turn radius suck

 

I never noticed a suck turning radius while in 4WD?

 

Put it in 4wd and drive the snot out of it.

 

It's not as good as it is in 2wd. I live in the mts where it snows and when our trucks are in 4x4 the turning radius isn't the same.

 

I'm in the same boat. Been driving from Ann Arbor to Detroit in 4HI all week. This is my first winter with this truck but I have owned other 4x4s over the years.

I hear what your saying, I read and re-read that stupid placard on the visor. I read some posts on here and found myself "cautious" to actually USE the system.

Well after convincing myself I could get by in 2HI and barely making it out of my subdivision. I have been using 4HI and not thinking twice about that other stuff. Driving in 2HI was downright scary and impractical.

If I need to switch back and forth, I do it at stops when possible or at below 40mph while off the accelerator. If I find road conditions permit traveling more than 60 mph I switch out of 4HI. But this week I rarely hit 60 mph on the freeway. With all the other Toyota models that are designed to be used more frequently(AWD/passive 4wd), I think the Gen2 system is more than capable of this type of usage. Lastly I figure might as well tax the system now while I still have a warranty.

On a side note: What has been fun and intriguing in a geeky was is experimenting with the "VSC" system. I like it best to motor with the system deactivated in 4HI mode and do some power sliding! However the passive traction control(VSC) is awesome for actual safe and controlled snow/ice driving.

 

I know for my truck, even in snow if I have to park and turn the wheel about 1/2 capacity, it jerks every couple of inches. I think it's because like what Richard said, the wheels aren't turning at equal speeds when the wheel is cranked. I hope this isn't hard on it. I think I will put it in 2wd if I have to corner or park from now on.

 

You can take corners as long as the turn radius is sufficient and / or there is enough slippage on the traction surface to prevent binding

 

Only if you really need to crank it. If you don't 4wd will be fine. Me I don't have much of a option my drive way is steep and we have three cars so where I park I have to crank it bit it never caused any problem before

 

I think the bind in 4WD, low speed steering is due to the CV joints. The front differential should be able to ration power according to traction.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to drive(these trucks) at freeway speeds in 4HI on dry pavement, for an extended period of time. I would think occasional use would do no harm(below 60mph of course..lol).

 

If traction conditions are poor enough that you want the 4wd, use it and don't worry about it. Hundreds of people from this site alone drive to Moab on a routine basis and drive 100's of miles in 4lo w/ lockers engaged on surfaces with a lot more traction than your average dry street and I never hear anyone mention how concerned they are with the wear and tear on the drive train.

David

 

Sounds good.

 

^^ I second it. These trucks are well built. And do great in snow. It's the most popular truck where I live.

 

Just lift a wheel in the air, that reduces the bind to nill. Just like slipping a tire on the ice.