4WD Requirements

Well...

 

I live off the perfect 2 mile dirt road for using 4wd a few times a month. Its got a big 1/4 mile hill right in the middle. In the winter, and spring the town puts up saw horses across the road with using it at your own risk. Really need 4wd, AWD, or get stuck.

 

I've had 4X4 fail to work on other vehicles years ago due to months of non-use. Seen it happen to others too, so shifting into 4X4 regularly is just as important as changing your oil regularly.

I may not get 10 miles/month each and every month. And nothing says the 10 miles have to be all at once. But I make a habit of shifting into 4X4 anytime I'm on a dirt or gravel road even if it is only for a mile or 2. I'm in a situation like that most months. If I skip a month don't worry about it, but I won't skip 2 months. Some months my 4X4 usage may only be 2-3 miles other months 200-300 miles.

Deer Archery season opens here today and turkey season ends in mid May. Between now and mid-May I'll be on a dirt/gravel road hunting several times/month. June, July, and August are the only months I have to make it a point shift into 4X4.

During those summer months I don't take the time to use lo range or lock the rear diff. But the rest of the year I'll spend some time working out those features while driving home after a hunt.

Some guys will advise that it is OK to get your miles in on pavement. I strongly advise against it. Technically as long as you're driving in a straight line it's OK. But if you get distracted and forget you're in 4X4 and make a sharp turn into a business or at an intersection you could break expensive parts. While taking minor curves you may not feel anything nor break anything, but you are over stressing internal parts that will wear out sooner than normal. Doing this on a regular basis will mean broken stuff down the road. It's just not worth the risk.

 

Don't over think it the drive line is a lot tougher than you think. You will know right away if the turn you made is too sharp but it is a lot stronger then the tires have traction.

 

Good idea to shift it back and forth regularly. I knew a guy with a F150. Never used his 4WD and got on the beach at Fort Fisher on the NC coast. Ran the truck in 4Hi until he started smelling the transmission and then switched it to 4Lo. Next time that truck came out of 4Lo was at the dealership when they rebuilt the transmission and transfer case.

 

All are much too anal about the 4WD. These trucks are not made from eggshells.

I engage 4H on the 1st of each month. Take a 10 mile ride, generally to the Big Box store, on pavement. I do avoid the SHARP 90* turns. Been doing this since I got the truck. Nothing in the drive train has broken or had other failures. Truck has 115,xxx miles.......

 

@Marshall R
So yea, I got access to some dirt - this stretch goes for miles and is hard-packed - was driving 2WD zero problem you could drive a cadillac down this
thing no problem. Saw a RoadRunner and a Coyote running out there too. Just wondered if that was suitable to engage the 4WD. You can see from the
images what it looks like - I believe it's reservation land so I won't cut-up on it and I leave the S&W at home. Map labels it as BIA ( bureau of indian affairs ).

 

I'm sure that tire shops would LOVE to sell you 4 new tires if you damage one of your current tires beyond repair.

If you ever need a single tire to replace a damaged one, TireRack offers a "tire shaving" service (basically they stick a new tire on a lathe & turn down the tread so the "new" tire has the same tread depth to your remaining 3 tires). I've done this once, for one of our Subaru vehicles. See: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=259


...and also, see: https://tires.tirerack.com/tires/Tire Lathe

 

Rainy day? Go out in 4wd. Every once in awhile, i'll Throw on my rear locker. I've thrown on my Crawl Control about once a year now.

 

I currently live in Seattle but hugely important to shift it in here and there. Luckily my truck leaves the parking lots here and there

 

Hmmm...that's pretty cool to know. I "had to" buy a new set for the Outback some years ago.

 

Well we don't get too much rain here in Phoenix, got a few downpours this year I actually considered doing some fly-fishing as water was
racing down the street curb-level (ha ha).. no snow unless you get into the hills. I'll find some decent dirt to play in.

 

When I was living/working in Phoenix ~4 years ago I didn't like being on the Rez. For me it felt like stepping-back in time 100 years and I just felt uneasy out there. I was based in Surprise and found lots of great trails just outside of town up there. I-17 North of Phoenix also has some great roads to explore. I also took a fun day trip to Tortilla Flats which had some great single-lane bridges and miles of dirt roads. All the exploring I did back then was in a 2wd F-450 Bucket Truck, though I've since done some trails in the Sedona area in my Taco and my Dune Buggy.

Bottom-line; you live in a great area which is ripe with off-roading options; get out there and explore!

 

I lived in rural northern VT for 10 years. Between the snow and going to visit my friend who lived on 89 acres and had a 500' long dirt driveway on a grade, I never had to worry about working out the 4WD. Here in south FL if I ever buy a 4x4 again I'd have to put engaging the system on my reminder list weekly to do a mile or 2. I do NOT miss mud season though, not one bit

 

Even if you're engaging it and disengaging it on the regular you should be ok. Dowant have to be for prolonged periods. It's the actuator lock and unlock where there's the issue, sticking. Even straight roads for a little bit are fine.

 

This is so funny because I moved from South Florida to New Hampshire to get away from the oppressive heat & humidity, LOL.

It's good that we all like something different, or else we would all be living in one place.

 

Is there any concern about the ADD not getting to stretch its legs with 2LO? Obviously it'll work the t-case actuator, is that enough?

 

I'm glad you're happy For me, I wouldn't be able to take those stretches of days where the temperature never gets above zero. Plus I can remember going on a trip for work for 3-4 days and having to shovel my way into the house when I got home. As an added bonus, it's about 30% cheaper to live here than in was in VT. I'll deal with the heat LOL.

To the OP: don't be afraid to engage your 4hi on a paved road for a few miles. Just don't go pulling any U-turns and you'll be fine.

 

Does Toyota require intermittent use of 4WD when not needed? I have a Sport that I occasionally get off the road use 4WD, and I used 4WD often in Winter. Did not know I should be using it once a month.

 

Toyota recommends using 4wd at least 10 miles a month. I doubt if i use it that much myself. I recently tried 4lo after a year...no issues, it worked slicker than goose poop on a wet lawn.