Switching from 4L to 2H

Hey guys,

Ive been reading and there are plenty of threads for switching from 2wheel to 4. However Im going to have to tow a car pretty soon with my 2.7 on 33" tires with manual trans, last time i towed a car, i had to burn my clutch to get going without stalling. I was thinking if i could put it into 4L to use lower gearing to get momentum going off the light and then shift to 2H once i get moving. I have manual hubs so front tires would never actually engage. Would doing this damage my T case? Manual shifting Tcase also, All mechanical

 

I'm not positive, but I think you have to be stopped to switch from 4L to 2H. I think it's only "on the fly" for 4H. I have an '04, so it might be different.

 

Per the manual. (lever type/j-shift 4wd -manual transmission)


To shift from “L4” to “H4”, depress the

clutch pedal and move the front drive control

lever.

This can be done at any vehicle speed.

 

Thanks thunder! ill try it with no weight to see how it feels before i hook up the 4,000 lbs to my poor taco.

 

You're welcome, you'll probably have to keep in mind what gear you're in when you shift from low to high..

last thing you want to do is switch to high, then realize you're in 3rd gear and lug along or stall. So you'll probably have to get up to speed, switch to high, then downshift back to 2nd or so to get you moving at a decent RPM.

Hope you have Tundra brakes!!

 

I agree. It would be just to get off the line. So 4L in 1st gear. Start moving then shift to 2L still in first gear. Sadly no tundra brakes. That's what engine braking is for

 

I should be fine though. Not many stops. I have new rotors up front. Went well last week when I towed my sisters 3500 Camry

 

Well as long as you have an easy, traffic free road I suppose you'll be okay. I towed my friends salt boat once in traffic, the brakes were terrifying. Engine braking was all I could do.

 

Isn't the towing limit on the 4 cylinders 3,500 pounds?

 

Sometimes I wish my truck was a manual. I can only go from H4 to H2 at any speed. To shift from L4 to H2/H4, I have to stop, put the transmission in neutral, shift the front drive lever back to "H", then put the transmission in drive. I guess it's a good thing I never tow heavy loads.

 

you also have push button no? or do you have the j-shift?

 

Right. Button for H4. On the fly under 65. Have to stop for L4.

 

Yes, However the manual trans allows me to stay in lower gear and engine break. The total weight i was towing was in the ballpark of 4,100lbs and the 4cyl handled it alright. For being a 2.7 It has balls for sure. Only part i hated was getting off the line. To not stall i had to feather and burn the clutch back and forth a bit.

 

Update: I tried shifting from 4L to 2H at low speeds with no weight. No unusual noises, isn't super quick as J shifter isn't really meant to go through 4L-N-4H-2H in one go. But felt no resistance and clunking. So hopefully this means no burning the clutch. Which by the way is a 6 month old marlin clutch & Flywheel. Love it

 

ive done 4L to 2H plenty of times, does nothing. just make sure to push in the clutch AND have the trans in neutral when shifting around the 4X while moving. Just make sure you're doing it while youre going in a straight line though. don't turn while in 4X unless you're on slippery turf.

 

Makes sense. However i'm never never truly in 4wd because i'm leaving the manual hubs unlocked. So turning is not an issue

 

Christ that can't be good for the transmission... lol.