Full time 4wd option?

Nothing wrong with AWD, even on a truck. Other than more expense and reduced fuel mileage there are no downsides and a lot of upsides. Between the mid 1970's and through most of the 1980's it was near impossible to buy a truck that wasn't AWD with the option to lock into true 4X4. There was no 4X2 option on most American made trucks at that time. It wasn't even an option on GM, Dodge or Jeep. Ford still offered a version that could be run in 4X4 or 4x2, but they didn't sell many.

MOST AWD vehicles today are the mid size and compact SUV's. They have no option for true 4X4 and no low range. I wouldn't be interested in those options on a truck. But you can buy a Ford or GM truck with AWD and the option for true 4X4 and lo range. You get the best of both, but that option is only on the most expensive trim packages and I'm not willing to pay $70K for a new truck. You can still find a conventional 4X4 truck for around $40K if you don't want all the bells and whistles.

 

My Tacoma is capable of this because any 4wd locked front and rear can do this.

 

Most guys with Land Cruisers like the 4WD system with a lockable center diff, but it does increase wear and tear on front driveline components. I bought a part time kit for my triple locked 100. Helps keep the stress off the CVs when lifted with 35s, changes driving dynamics (RWD instead of AWD obviously) and helps a tiny bit with gas mileage. Of course then you have to get out and lock the hubs when you want 4WD, and hit the center diff lock and you're set up about the same as a Tacoma.

 

It can’t send 100% of the power to the front, it is always 50/50. Systems on those SUVs can vary the power going to each axel anywhere between 0 and 100%. Some can send 100% to a single wheel. Also a shorter drive line would be advantageous.

 

Nope. Search posts by me with the word torque in them.

 

Agreed.
AND, the demand has be strong enough to justify it in the eyes of Toyota Corporate.

 

Just an opinion here, but I don't consider the 4Runner a soccer mom vehicle. I'd tag the Highlander with that moniker. I had a 4Runner and I'm not a mom nor do I drive kids to soccer games. I liked it and never got cat calls when driving it. I wouldn't mind another 4Runner down the road, , with the main objection at this point being lack of modern tec, dated interior and an old, albeit, very reliable, gas guzzling 4L engine. It really needs a refresh, but I'm leery as the direction Toyota will go...hybrid, plug in, tiny 4 cylinder etc.

 

I am actually excited for the hybrid, plug in, tiny 4 cylinder 4runner. Hybrid, plug in, tiny 4 cylinder wrangler has a combined power rating of 375HP and gets 50mpg.

 

I assumed it had something to do with payload, having part time 4wd allows for bigger rear end? I might have just made that up tho.

 

You did.

 

Fastest correction in the west lol. Yeah I don’t know why I thought that.

 

Probably the same reason I thought drum brakes were upgrades

 

A few things:
- Fulltime 4WD on Toyota's is a Torsen center diff, it isn't the Sienna's AWD
- Has 4LO
- Same physical size as part-time Tcases, same gear oil, same drain/fill plugs
- Has Center Differential Lock button so just like part-time 4WD you have front/rear diffs locked together if you choose
- Very reliable, never heard of a failure
- CDL can be locked/unlocked while driving and in 4HI and 4LO
- Some models like my V8 Limited 4Runners are ALWAYS in fulltime 4WD, no 2WD. CDL to lock the Torsen and 4LO
- Sequoia 4WD has 2WD, then 4HI with Torsen, then CDL to lock the Torsen, then 4LO, so four drive modes

Don't know why Toyota doesn't offer the Torsen on Tacoma and Tundra. Doesn't detract from offroad capability, doesn't affect towability. Everything is the same with the other driveline components, just a limited slip Tcase.

Probably they want model differentiation, get people to buy the higher end models? Never compared the price of buying only the Torsen Tcase vs part-time but it can't be a huge difference.

 

I had a 2014 Ram Bighorn with the Auto 4WD system...the system used a wet clutch that would overheat and burn out if you spun the front wheels too much in deep snow or sand.

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/anyone-happy-with-borg-warner-44-44-auto-4wd.94636/page-13

I'll stick with my conventional system thanks.

 

I would rather see a manual transfer case stanard across the Tacoma line. The Tacoma TRD OR should atleast have a manual transfer case like the OR 4Runner. I like the front end of the Limited over the other 5th gen 4Runners.

 

Do you think these HP and TQ ratings will drop when EV EV/Hybrids hit the road?

 

If Honda built a tank this would be it.

 

Toyota used to make a Land Cruiser with a proper bed... and the 79 series is till around elsewhere. - In any case, the Taco should tide me over until there is an actual, respectable electric truck with a motor at each wheel...

 

I don't think so. Electric engines can produce a lot more hp and torque compared to a gas engines, and they are extremely easy to scale the performance up or down. You can make an electric motor anywhere between 100 to 2000 hp using the almost exact design but just making it bigger or smaller. Design is also a lot easier, you can have one 400 hp electric motor, two 200 hp motors for each axel, or four 100 hp motors at each wheel. Electric motors can also deliver 100% of the power in an instant, which no ICE can do.

 

I'm just wondering if real world conditions will bring the nubers down.

I would think there would be some discrepancies between each ICE unit's HP rating if only by a small margin.

I also wonder what happens as you drive a EV does the electric mottor lose some of it's power generating capability as the inuse hours go up, and as the motor ages.