2021 TRD Off-Road 4WD System Finicky

So this is my 2nd Tacoma, the 1st was an 06 TRD Off Road as well. With the 06 I occasionally had trouble getting it to shift into 4WD Low Range and even more difficulty getting it into and out of Locked Differential mode. So, now I've got a 2021 and decided to see if it's any better or easier....

Yesterday, I decided to see how the new truck's 4WD system works. I ended up stuck in a parking lot for 10 minutes trying to get my truck out of low range. I tried neutral, I tried shifting into park, I tried backing up, I tried creeping forward, always in a straight line. Nothing worked; it just kept giving me a flashing Low Range light but would not shift out of Low Range. The locker was also very finicky to get engaged/disengaged. I am hoping this will get better with use but it has me concerned. I will try it again on dirt when I get a chance.

Any tips are appreciated.

 

I would just wait til you get a chance to try it on loose terrain. It doesn't take much to bind them up.

 

My experience is that as you use it more, it becomes a bit easier to get in and out. Also, it gets binded up really damn easy, so be careful where you're doing it.

 

You do need to turn a little bit to get things to line up. Not a lot, but if you don't turn, the gears just stay in their current position. Just a wiggle is usually all that is needed and shouldn't hurt anything.

 

Slight turn with a 1-3mph speed in either direction should help. Mine seems to have gotten quite a bit easier lately. Use 4LO a few times a month on a sandy incline (boat ramp)

 

Did you try reading the sunvisor?

 

Interesting.

I never have to turn to get in and out of 4x4/low range. It engages pretty much instantly. I had one occasion when I was driving in 4hi then switched to 2hi and it took about 10-15 seconds to disengage, other than that it’s been great.

 

I had that issue in a parking lot once as well. Pain in the butt. Every time I have been off road where there is a little give to the terrain (rocks, gravel, mud, snow) it has worked flawlessly. I attribute the truck just fighting a hard asphalt surface.

 

Yeah, going in and out of low range is usually instant, but both my '12 and my '18 would sometimes not want to engage or disengage LO and beep at me. I always try rolling a little first, and if that doesn't do it, turn a little side-to-side while creeping. I'm assuming that if there is some tension/binding, it can help relieve that and then it will disengage.

Going from 2WD to 4WD and back, and engaging and disengaging the locker, is what usually requires the wheels to turn at different rates to get things to line up if they aren't already lined up. The locker for sure, but I usually wait to engage that until I have a wheel spinning in the air and it lines up quickly, lol.

 

Same here. Wife was shopping and I figured I would try to familiarize myself with he controls. Got stuck in low. Never had this issue with either my 3rd or 5th gen 4Runners. It was annoying. I do use 4WD every couple weeks on the road to the cabin but I rarely use low. Based on this, I would hate to ever actually need it.