4x4 newbie question

The only thing the manual said was to engage the 4x4 at least 1 time a month. not sure why but it's in the owners manual

 

easier said than done. I live in metro areas of New Jersey so trails or off road trails are hard to come by.

 

If you don't periodically use the actuator, it can freeze up. It's a use it or lose it kinda thing. If going long periods of time without going offroad, I usually just turn it on and off a few times on the freeway on a straight stretch. I seldom remember to do it monthly, but it gets enough use it's still going strong on my 14 year old truck. BUT, my e-locker actuator I pretty much forgot I have as I've only needed it like 4 times. And that 4th time it decided to die in the locked position. That was a fun drive home.

 

There's off road trails in New jersey...

https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/new-jersey
https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/whartonstateforest.html


It's also completely possible to go out of state too (NJ isn't a huge state)...

https://www.alltrails.com/us/pennsylvania/off-road-driving
https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/new-york
https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/maryland
https://www.rc4x4.org/

Even more can be had if you simply jump on your favorite internet Search Engine (Google, Duck Duck Go, etc.) and take a quick moment to research other areas around you.

 

You could drive at highway speeds, make turns, etc.

4H is usually only rated for a maximum of 55-60 MPH, but regardless you most likely don't need 4x4 just to drive in the rain - 4,500 lbs should have no problem staying in control on a wet road, and it would just add unnecessary wear to your system.

 

Well I need a reason to use it once a month as the manual says without having to go find some forest to drive on.

 

A lap or two around the block will do just fine if you feel the need.

Finding a beach or forest road never hurt either, that's what the warranty is for right?

 

I'm new at 4x4 as well (just bought my 2023 AC 4x4 on 04-01-2025) and am learning this stuff, too. Anyone that says that you don't ever need 4WD in the rain doesn't drive in the rain in TX. I have already been on I45 twice in central TX where it rained so hard there was 4-5 inches of rain on the highway and I couldn't see five feet in front of me. Driving like 20 mph. The only time I've heard WAZE say "flooded highway ahead". I would have survived, I think, with 2WD, but I sure felt better engaging all four wheels. When it rains here, it seems like the end of the world sometimes. Just my opinion.

 

4X4 is designed to be used on slippery ground surfaces. Technically if driven short distances in a straight line dry pavement is OK, but I'd advise not doing so. When you corner each of the 4 wheels take a different track and need to turn at different speeds. The inside front wheel has the least distance to travel so it needs to turn slower. The outside rear wheel the greatest distance and needs to turn faster. When driving in reverse this is the opposite. In 2wd this isn't a problem as all of the wheels are free to turn at different speeds.

In 4X4 all 4 wheels are locked together and the drivetrain tries to make them turn at the same speed. When cornering that inside front wheel needs to be able to spin slightly on the ground since it's now turning at the same speed as the others but has much less distance to travel. On mud, snow, ice, loose dirt, or gravel this doesn't hurt anything. On dry hard surfaces with good traction it puts the entire driveline in a bind. You rarely have a catastrophic failure but it's possible. Most likely things like the front CV Axles, U-Joints, and the transfer case will wear out much sooner than they should. You can probably get away with doing this a few times, but the more you do it, the sooner you break stuff.

A lot of people confuse 4X4 with All Wheel Drive. AWD is a newer, more hi-tech system that sends power to all 4 wheels but allows them to turn at different speeds. It's fine on any road surface. In fact better on wet or lightly snow covered roads. True 4x4 is best in harsh off road driving but is pretty good in deep snow too.

Low range doesn't give you more traction. It just reduces the gearing. I think Toyota uses a 2.5:1 reduction ratio. It varies by manufacturer with some having as much as 4:1 reduction. This makes it easier to pull heavy loads, and creep slowly up or down steep inclines or drive very slowly over rugged terrain without using the brakes as much.

4X4 in reverse is fine. Wet pavement from rain is SLIGHTLY less damaging than dry pavement. If you're spinning wheels like on a wet boat ramp then 4X4 is OK. I don't advise using it just because it's raining. It's still causing excessive wear. Just not as much as on dry pavement.

You need to drive in 4X4 occasionally in order to keep internal 4X4 parts lubricated. It also helps keep electrical components in working order. If you don't use 4x4 for months at a time parts don't get lubricated, and the truck may not engage into 4x4 when needed. A few miles/month is recommended but I don't worry if I miss a month occasionally. I find myself on a dirt or gravel road for a couple of miles almost every month and always engage 4X4 when I do. Some months I may only get in 2-3 miles in 4X4, I may skip a month occasionally and other months may see 200-300 miles in 4X4. The key is to use it regularly.

Some guys get in their 4X4 use while driving on pavement in straight lines. Technically, and if you're very careful it can work but I don't advise it. Have a Brainfart, forget you're in 4X4 and make a 90* turn into a business or intersection and you could do some serious damage especially if that turn is made at some speed. It's not hard to find a dirt or gravel road to get in a little 4X4 usage to keep things lubricated.