4x4 configuration for different countries

Hi,
I have had my Taco 4x4 2012, since 2015. Early when I got it, I did some off road, fully using the 4x4. I don't do it any more, just to get the truck in my garage, that has a steep inclination angle.
Having in mind that car manufacturers, may provide different default configurations for different countries, I realized that in the US, 2nd generation Tacoma 4x4 has this locker button, to lock the axle (don't recall if it's the front or the rear one).
The one I got, has no locker buttons, yet turning on the 4 hi, actually locks both axles. Not being a 4x4 professional, what are to pros and cons of having this configuration by default, with no option to unlock any of the axles? One con I think about, is that having front lock all the time on hard floor, will wear out the tires faster....

 

4H does not lock the axles, it locks the front and rear drivelines together which will naturally cause binding when turning on a hard surface.
The only models that have a locking axle from the factory are TRD OffRoads and it only locks the rear axle, also it only works in 4lo on 4wd trucks.

 

4x4 simply engages and supplies power to the front (and already driven, rear) wheels.

This does not mean you have any axles locked, cause you don't. For starters, Tacoma's are not available with a front locker.

Power is delivered via the transfer case, which is connected to the driveshaft (going towards the front), and to the front differential. Now, yes you now have power applied to both front wheels but the second one of those wheels is say..."free" of any resistance, it will spin freely while the tire that is planted (and has traction) will remain stationary. This is the downfall of having an open differential; power is diverted to the wheel with least resistance.

A locker, if you got one installed, 'locks' the front end essentially acting as if your cv axles (you have two, one on each end) act as one and spin together at the same speed. In a situation where one wheel is "free" of any resistance, the wheel with traction as well as the wheel in the air (or mud, etc) will both spin at the same speed.

Tacoma's do have an optional rear locker available, but you'd know if you have it as it'll have a button to engage/disengage it with.

 

The explanations above cover the info that you need. Si quieres más info mándame Dm y te ayudo. Saludos!

 

A true 4X4 works the same today that it did over 100 years ago. It is an old school, simple, relatively inexpensive way to get power to the front axle. If you have open diffs, (as most 4X4's do) and traction is poor enough you'll eventually get to the point where power is only getting to one wheel on the front, and one on the rear.

Some vehicles offer the option of locking the rear axle for additional traction. Very few have the option to lock the front axle from the factory. Some guys who are into extreme off-road driving like rock crawling will add it aftermarket. For most of us locking both will do more damage than it will help.

Even with open diff's in the front and rear you will get binding if you corner in 4X4 on a surface with good traction. You'll eventually break something, not just wear out tires. When cornering each of the 4 wheels takes a different path and need to turn at different speeds. In 4X4 you are forcing them to turn at the same speed. At least one wheel needs to spin slightly because it is moving at the same speed as the others but traveling less distance. That is fine on slippery surfaces, but not if traction is good.

In recent years other systems have been developed that will power all 4 wheels yet allow them to turn at different speeds. These are various forms of All Wheel Drive (AWD). They use computers, and wheel speed sensors as well as the vehicles anti-lock brake systems figure out where traction is needed and will send power to where it is needed. There are several different systems that work slightly different. Tacoma doesn't offer this. It is seen more often on smaller crossover SUV's like the Rav-4. Some vehicles offer the option of AWD and the ability to lock into true 4X4. Both Ford and GM offer this on their full-size trucks.

AWD is a more expensive system that works great on wet or dry pavement. It is better than 4x4 on wet pavement, light snow, light mud and even for light duty off road driving. But it isn't nearly as good in really harsh conditions. Most AWD systems don't have a low range either.