Would this be smart? Adding a switch to the 4WD actuator.

Today I saw someone stuck on the down grade of a bridge on my way home from work. The hitch on this guy's Chevy seemed to have snapped off while he was carrying a pretty big trailer. Ouch! Anyways, it got me thinking.

My Taco would be too small to handle something that big in 2WD, but I'd be pretty confident in 4Lo. Problem is I couldn't turn without everything binding. I was curious if it would be smart, or if it's even recommended, to add a switch that controls my actuator. That way I can do 2Lo without having to worry about my tires binding when making turns on concrete and then be able to easily turn it back on once I'm out of turns. I figure 4 wheel traction would help greatly in stopping a hulking trailer that needs to be moved in an emergency.

Thoughts?

 

Just let them call Mohica Towing

 

Lots of people do it, one of my buddies has a switch in his 3rd gen 4runner to disengage the front diff to get 2 low.

 

If you have push button 4wd (or any 1st Gen w/ADD), all you have to do is unplug some wire and you can shift to Low and will be in 2low as long as you don't push the 4wd button. If I remember right @JLee did a write-up on it on here.

 

That's the "Blue plug mod". Back on 12/14/2014 (30,187 miles ago) I did it on my 2003 with the "2-4 Select" transfer case. Works great. Transfer case stick then only does High & low. 4WD ONLY happens when you press the button with the transfer stick on either high or low.

Make sure you tape off both ends of the plugs you unplug to keep them from corroding if you ever want to undo this.

 

Awesome! Yeah, my 2k Taco doesn't have a push button, but if there's a wire I can splice in to to create that "feature", I'd be very interested. Thank you, gentlemen!

 

**EDIT** Since you don't have a "2-4 SELECT" transfer case, I make no claims to what else it would affect since I have not studied the wiring diagram for your truck.

 

Screw the binding in an emergency. Skinny pedal ftw.

 

I think in the same situation there would be a dead guy in a tacoma at the botom of the hill because he drastically overestimated what his truck can safely tow. I also think you don't understand how brakes work.

Beyond that 2wd lo has its uses., including moving heavier than normal stuff short distances.

 

I did the 2lo mod on my truck. Works great for tight corners on trails going downhill where the tires would otherwise bind quite a bit. I havent had any negative issues yet. And haven't heard of anyome having bad expetiences or problems.

I don't tow with my tacoma. No feedback there

 

Does this have any downsides? I thought I read somewhere it would mess with ABS working properly but I might be thinking of something else...

 

Well abs works in 2wd and 4wd, so I wouldn't see any issues there.

 

No, the ABS is only disabled when you engage the rear locker. I was reminded in the blue plug thread that you ALSO need to perform the "grey wire mod" to be able to engage the rear diff locker after you do this. That's the only "downside" - but if you are doing the blue plug, you should do the grey wire.

 

Maybe that’s what I was thinking of... I knew there was some catch. Grey wire mod is easy to do though.

 

In my mind, 99.8% of towing capacity is about the stopping. I'm sure with enough skinny pedal, my taco could pull my dad's heavy ass ski boat, but that bitch ain't stopping when the light goes red.

 

I can't imagine any type of "emergency" that would require trying to tow an oversized trailer with a Tacoma. An emergency is danger of life or limb, not getting a trailer to the top of a hill.

Rule #1 in an emergency situation is don't make more victims. Overtaxing a vehicle is a good way to do that AND ruin your truck. Just wait for a proper tow vehicle...

Besides, it doesn't really matter what gearing you're using anyway, you shouldn't be exceeding the tow capacity of the vehicle. Same thing with airbags. People think throwing airbags on increases your load capacity, but all it does is make your truck squat less over the same load. Your GVWR is still the same.

If you want to be the kind of person that can swoop in and save the day in situations like this, a Tacoma probably isn't the best choice of vehicle. Get a Diesel 3500.

 

Im sure we could dream up a few "emergency" situations where 2low would be beneficial but those situations would be rare for most folks. Like the commercial, a pickup truck can pull a train if the need be but you're going to break stuff pulling such things.

As for me the option of 2Low is not about Towing Capacity or emergencies... I like to play off-road. Some things work better or are just more fun in 2wd so having the option is nice.

 

I don't remember a commercial where a Tacoma pulls a train, but I did see the episode of the Diesel Brothers pulling a train with their redonk 6 door redneck-mobile (*slightly* more power than a 3.4L). I also remember the Tundra pulling the Space Shuttle, for like 50 feet, and at impractically slow speed.


also: grey wire mod = donut button

 

Well first off your right, I wasn't referring to a Tacoma (note that I said "pickup"). I was talking about the Tundra commercial and some how confused it with an episode of Grand Tour when when they pull a train... Anyway, Ford & GM also have had commercials where their trucks pull something ridiculously massive. Being able to move something slowly over short distances is one thing. Being able to safely tow something down the road is another.

 

Oh you guys... I was just wondering off a whim. I wasn't serious about actually towing a trailer that's 3 times the size of my truck. I was just wondering in an emergency situation if I needed to tow something really big if I could somehow utilize low range without having to worry about the wheels binding during turns......