4x4 Low question

Never had a 4x4 before. Have a 1996 and when I put it in low she moves slow and tachs high so I have to shift to 2nd quickly if I want to go faster. I have a manual BTW. Is this normal?

 

Yes, very normal.

 

Yup, lower gear range.

 

think of it like the granny chainring on a 10 speed bike.

 

Thanks. I guess if I was going up the side of a mountain, she would need that engine power

 

Yep. You'll never use it on a paved road.

(At this point some pedant will jump in about how useful the "2 -low" modification is for backing up while towing heavy trailers or driving in extreme stop-and-go traffic. I stick with my statement: YOU will never use it on a paved road.)

 

This!

 

Low range should only be used in 4wd mode off-road. I own several 4wd automatic Toyotas which can't even be put into Low Range in 2wd but from this post it looks like it's possible with a manual. It was also possible when I used to drive Jeep CJ's and people would snap their u-joints using Low Range in 2wd. Just too much torque for one axle.

 

Welcome to the forums, noob.

 

Yeah, probably won't be hanging out in this forum much since my daughter officially highjacked my 2001 SR5 4x4 Doublecab with 145K that I've let her drive for the past 3 years. I bought that one new but since she now refers to it as her "L'il Truck" and plans to drive it forever, I was forced to buy a new 2016 4x4 Limited. It's fun to drive them back-to-back to compare what Toyota's changed (and hasn't changed) on the Tacoma in 15 years.