First time in the snow with my Taco...Yikes!!!

Backwards
Part-time 4wd WILL bind because the transfer is direct: that is, your front is going to rotate exactly as your rear
Full-time 4wd WON'T bind because the transfer has a differential that allows the front to rotate differently than the rear... that's the very reason it can drive in 4wd full-time, without binding

You're right about the Tacoma being part-time 4wd; that's why it WILL bind, which is exactly what's happening when you feel "the front jump"; which will happen at any speed, if your wheels are turned enough on a surface that doesn't allow slippage, not just when going slow
That's also why it'll plow through and crawl out of the mud, sand, and snow way more competently than a full-time 4wd

 

I agree with engaging your 4WD once a month.

I have been doing it for many years on all 3 of my toyota's with NO PROBLEMS !

And being a part time system it will jump on tight turns on dry pavement.

Soooo, on dry pavement i just pick a long straight away to run it. Even if you only get a few miles, its better than nothing.

If for some reason you cant seem to find a straight road, wait for a good rain. It will give you enough slip to complete this.

Doing this once a month not only lubricates the system, it gets you used to how it should sound and feel. That way you will know when something actually doesn't sound or feel right.

hows this for a closing thought, we all have heard and seen internet stories about the binding.

Does anyone here know anyone personally that binded there truck up doing the monthly 4WD engagement and broke the drivetrain? I dont.

Did i mention doing this for 25 years on 3 trucks - 88,92,09

 

I, thankfully, have enough dirt roads and such around that I rarely go even a week without throwing it in 4wd

I, personally, have been in the passenger seat when my friend was test driving a TRD
He put it in 4 low and locked the rear in a parking lot and started driving... it actually didn't bind; it spun the tires - but, that's in low range, I don't know if 4 high has enough torque to spin them

oh, and I'm talking about a 1st Gen... I know this is a 2nd Gen section

 

Sorry, I ment binded where the system was broken and had to be repaired.

these trucks are tough, and when your binding all your doing is skipping the tires.

Im sure we put alot more stress on the drivetrain 4-wheeling than a tight turn on drive payment.

Like when you do a good burn out ?? still not broken

 

binding does not = skipping/burning out tires
binding is... binding... gears
... which will happen if your tires don't skip in 4wd (that is, when you're making hard steers)

 

I guess what im trying to say is the trucks drivetrain is strong enough

to handle the tight turn on dry pavement while doing the monthly 4WD runs.

The binding is what causes the tires to skip while turning.

and so far nothing broken

 

ok
yeah, I don't know... I haven't ventured to find out
like i said, I know that with the rear locked and in 4 low it spun the tires (didn't cause catastrophic binding issues) on dry pavement
that experience probably sold me on the Tacoma, actually: to have enough torque and a strong enough drivetrain to do that
I was pretty impressed

still, personally, I won't engage 4wd on a surface that doesn't allow slippage, unless I'm going straight; I don't care to be the one to find out for sure. haha

Edit: I'm sure a lot of it depends on the speed your going to; most people don't go over a certain speed in a parking lot in 4wd (especially 4 low) - let's say slow enough to stop or drastrically hinder the vehicles momentum
Now... if you're doing 35-55mph in 4wd out on a dry paved road and you try to take a sharp turn: things may not stop... they may snap

 

agree. I dont run it on dry pavement on purpose.

Binding is never a good thing, but it has happened once or twice.

Just find it funny how some never put it into 4WD untill its too late - haha

 

Hey guys, I just moved to Kansas City from California...I've never driven in snow and I unfortunately have a 2wd. Any tips? I have sand in my bed but how much should I have? I already lost traction going uphill from a stop my first time driving so I'm a bit nervous. Any help would be appreciated

 

Yikes! Ever think about where those concrete pavers might end up if you are in an accident? I hope you have them fastened down securely! Even a bag of frozen sand sounds scary to me!

That is why I'm looking for a topper for my Taco. The weight of a fiberglass topper plus the junk I tend to haul around should be plenty. Note: the junk I'm talking about is in a tool box that I have ratchet strapped to the bed...not rattling around loose. I've gotten through some fairly hairy situations with that in/on the back of my 4x2, peg leg, Ranger. That and knowing how to drive according to the conditions. We do get snow here in Iowa...along with sleet, freezing rain, hail, fog, mist, cats, dogs, etc. If it comes out of the sky, we get it here...sometimes all in the same day!

I guess 14 years of driving RWD police cars around here has probably helped me stay shiny side up for a lot of years. Hopefully, I'll be able to do so with my Taco as well.

Cement pavers...

 

Buy some big bags of kitty litter and put in the bed of truck.

The extra weight will help with your traction

and if you get stuck you can open a bag and throw under the tires

for some added traction. ex. 4-6 50lb bags

plus these would be safer than concrete.

Otherwise going slow is your best defence, very slow starts, very long stopping distance.

If you can find a empty icy parking lot, do some driving in there to get used to how it feels

to have the back end break loss on you, and how to steer into the skid to regain control.

Just did this last year with my son while on his drivers permit.

 

yup. avoid tire spin. spinning tires mean no more traction and you just slide. Very light on the gas and brake for everything. The biggest no no, if you start to slide out, or lose control for the love of god dont just mash the brakes, it will just slide worse. You need to keep a level head and try to regain control of the vehicle, not necessarily stop it. That is what an empty snow covered parking lot is for. Practice kicking out the back end and recovering by steering opposite of the slide, see what happens when you just slam on the brakes and skid. Depending on snow conditions stopping could be your enemy. So stopping at every light and stop sign might give you head ache going again, so slowly coast to stop lights so when you get there it turns green and you can go again. might very well have to California stop at stop signs to keep your momentum up. also remember, in snow you have traction. on ice you do not. if you are trying to get going up a hill and it has become a sheet of ice in the lane and there is snow to the side, get in the snow and see if that helps.

 

Dude Ive had this experience several times in my truck. A few next to semi trucks. Any snow or ice and I'm in 4 wd. I've been burned too many times.

 

You seem to preach about catastrophic failure as if it happens on a regular basis. I've personally never had or met anyone that has broken anything using 4 wheel drive in wet/snowy conditions. I've been driving 4 wheel drives for 20+ years and never had a problem. I prefer to not put myself and others at risk and use 4 wheel drive when in doubt. Not using it due to worrying about breaking something on my truck seems kind of dumb to be honest. I understand your caution but the likely hood of anything breaking just doesn't exist.
Just to be clear. I'm talking about snowy/icy conditions. Or when in doubt. Feel free to use it.

 

Thank you guys! That really helpful! I'm definitely going to find somewhere to practice next time it snows, I'm hoping I'll be fine once I get used to it

 

Can't watch it on mobile

 

Me too plz.

 

It didn't, but just went into my settings on phone and unchecked mobile view. Works that way. Cool video.

 

My vid!