When and when not to engage 4x4

are you sure you're not kevinz girlfriend?! kidding. dry or wet pavement is a no no, snow/ice covered is a yes, dirt is a yes. pretty simple, over thinking of this is not required.

 

I've been through a few snow season up in Nebraska. Put sandbags or something heavy in the back of the truck. Most likely you will not need to engage the 4x4 even though you think you do. Just go slow and steady.

 

Only on the weekends.

 

I turn it on and off depending on how slick the roads are with rain. It really does help with rear wheel slippage when accelerating off from a stop sign.

I'll probably turn it on if we get some ice on the roads this season like we did last year (I'm in Texas).

 

oh yeah this one. in rain, straight, and in bu*llsh*t traffic at a light, I'll sometimes have it in 4wd for reliable take-off to get around 'insert d-bag driver here' or otherwise avoid a squeeze by numb drivers

 

You guys/gals have no faith in these Toyota's..... You bought a $30,000+ truck with a 4WD system. USE IT!!! Just don't be ignorant or stupid about how you use it.

My Toyota frame will be long rotted before these drive trains give up.

 

!!!

 

Many different reasons why....
Here's a lengthy & interesting article.
http://www.trucktrend.com/features/consumer/163_1108_4wd_vs_awd/

Toyota already has AWD technology in some of their 'light duty' vehicles. However - I don't think that same technology can handle the heavy duty (towing/hauling) aspect that we love about our trucks.

You won't see too many AWD with 4lo. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a sweet AWD system with 4Lo...but...(like a jeep) it doesn't last. I owned a Grand Cherokee and we sold it ..just in time!

I'd rather see toyota stay away from the AWD market (in trucks) to keep things reliable.

 

If you are worried about slipping put it in 4wd.

And for those that say 4WD does nothing except getting you going..

If you are in a turn and the rear end slips in 2WD vs 4WD you will have very different results.

Keep it in 4WD if you are worried about it. My Dad does in his Tundra and at 70,000 miles he has had 0 issues.

 

Perhaps, but really those of us with 4WD trucks vs. 4WD/AWD family SUVs want the most rock crawling, mud bogging, sand flinging possible. That comes from a true 50/50 front & rear drive split. All Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle with the center differential do not get equal power split between the front and rear (unless there is a center differential lockout to make it a true 4WD vs. Awd).

We with TRUCKS, know 4WD is for the rough stuff and not just slippery roads and 2 inches of snow, so we want true 50/50 power split, not 60/40.

The answer to you first question, when to use 4WD? When 2WD no longer MOVES you!

(I used to say any slippery road, as 4WD makes the truck safer to drive... but the VSC system is pretty darn good on wet roads). Never have it in 4WD when turning sharp or parking, etc. on dry, hard surfaces.

 

haha well everybody needs a little fun here and there..

 

Remember while engaging or disengage 4x4, make sure your wheels are straight, you don't want to engage or disengage it while they are turned. I also try not to engage it or take it out at speeds above 45. And never exceed 55 when using 4x4.

 

That last part isn't true

 

X2

 

Maybe so, but if you need 4x4, you probably shouldn't be going faster than 55 anyway. I just get a bad gut feeling going faster than 55 with it engaged, it doesn't feel right or set well with me is all.

 

Then it's beautiful when we see these guys hauling ass down the highway covered in ice, thinking they are unstoppable because 4x4 is engaged. Ten miles down the road they are flipped over in a ditch.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SX3MTYrvQDY

Pretty sure he runs it in 4hi

 

You can go faster than 55 in 4x4

 

rabble rabble rabble , fact is you can go faster than 55 in 4x4

 

depends which unit of measurement is being used. pretty sure he means 55 MPH, not 55 KPH.

IIRC the card in the visor says do not exceed 100 KPH with 4x4 engaged.