How to maintain 4WD in good shape periodically?

I use the periodic table to help maintain periodically.

 

How do you know when it’s needed? Toyota says they will only inspect the transfer case and differential oil if it’s damaged or leaking. That’s what they told me at 45k miles

 

If the only time you use 4hi or 4lo is when you maintain it, why didn’t you just get a 4x2?

 

The owners manual says to use 4wd once a month (the manual for my previous 4wd said the same thing) so I use that as my excuse to go play in the dirt once a month

I also generally use 4WD when I move my trailers in or out of my backyard since my Taco can't get enough traction in 2WD to push them into the yard while driving in gravel.

 

Just like all toyota 4x4's i've had in the past, i just run it in 4wd down my dirt road a couple times a month till ready when its needed in the winter, or other applications like yanking my boat out. As far as maintenance, i change the front/rear differential gear oils, and transfer oil every 30k miles.

 

just throw it in 4hi and do a quick 1/4mi run. thatll keep the juices(fluids) flowing lol.

 

With our trucks 4 wheel drive system my understanding is that you need to be on snow covered roads, sand dirt, or gravel, not pavement to use 4hi. It is not like the select track system in my old Liberty that let you drive even on dry pavement in 4hi because it worked like all wheel drive. The Toyota system is more like the Jeep Command track system. Can't use it on dry or wet roads with out risk of binding or premature wear.

Find yourself a dirt or gravel road to excersise the actuator motors.