Low Gear / Range without 4wheel drive

Hoping someone with more knowledge than me can answer, thought this might be interesting topic.

Is there a way to mod a 3rd gen to be able to use low range without being in 4 wheel drive. I ask because its way easier to back up a heavy trailer in low range but on pavement i'd rather not put the wear on the front end.

Just a thought I had, and I dont know enough about where the low gear engages to know if this may be possible, perhaps with a simple splice and a toggle switch?

 

How heavy is the trailer. Should not need low range just for backing.

 

You've obviously never backed a 5k pound trailer with this puny truck

 

Would not own a puny truck.

 

You could remove your front driveshaft or fit lockable front hubs.

 

Don't need low range, just dont like heating and surging the torque converter when there is no reason to. Crawls so nice and smooth in 4 low makes everything easier when backing.

Also i'm sure it burns less fuel when backing in low. That extra heat and RPM's gotta come from somewhere. And I'm often reversing up driveway inclines.

I'm putting 4.88 gearing in it soon so that should definitely help.

Definitely want to keep the front driveshaft though....

Lockable hubs that is an interesting idea, are there a set that fit on our trucks fairly easily?

 

What you want is the 2lo mod. Not sure if anyone's done it on a 3rd gen yet. I did it on my 1st gen, and will likely do it to my FJ this summer.

I believe 2nd gens can do it iirc, so no reason 3rd gens can't either.

 

What is this mod? Shift transfer case but not lock front axle shaft? Would be tough on 3rd gen with the fancy canbus system.

 

Here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2wd-lo-mod.195424/

You basically fool the computer thinking you've engaged 4wd, which allows you to switch to low range without engaging the front diff.

 

My thought if you try to change the transfer case electronicly to fool it your asking for trouble, and it the happens you would void the warranty, and would be stuck with the bill. If the trailer is to large for the truck to handle, maybe you should go with a 3/4 ton full size truck which has a lower/slower reverse. If it's to fast to be able to follow the trailer while backing, (not being sarcastic) i suggest you practice backing in a flat parking lot, set up some cones. Also if the trailer is to small to see over the tailgate, get used to using the mirrors while backing. It's like learning to drive, backing a trailer takes practice JMHO.

 

Put it in S1, hover the brake pedal, and back up.

 

All of the other 4x4's I have owned have been manuals and had lockable front hubs. And if they didn't have hubs when I bought it, like my 97 Mazda B-4000, then I installed an after market hub setup. Would love it if someone made a kit or was able to Mod/Fool the puter. With a Slush Bucket it is not really needed. But in the Standard truck it makes life so much nicer when backing a trailer up slowly, without having to smoke the shit out of your clutch.

 

Theoretically, the reason that Low range is only available in 4WD is that you could possibly put too much torque through the rear axle in a very high traction situation. That is the reason 2wd Low is not a typical option for part time 4WD. As long as you are careful it shouldn't be a problem, and in reverse, the front diff is stressed more in 4WD. A mod would be nice, looks like someone needs to be the guinea pig.

To bad Toyota screwed up the reverse gear ratios. The one in the 6MT is particularly bad for backing up anything other than the trucks own weight up hill. The 5MT is much better, and the AT is slightly better due to the TC.

 

See my post above. 2nd and 3rd gens are basically the same. Get a FSM/ wiring diagram for the 3rd gen and go to town

 

[QUOTE="mark1285, post: 14455452,

I'm putting 4.88 gearing in it soon so that should definitely help.

[/QUOTE]

If you're talking about regearing. Did you already put on bigger tires?

 

The trailer is not to big for the truck. I've been pulling trailers for years and have no issues backing them up at all. Not sure how @schwiner read the OP and determined that I need practice turning and backing a trailer, but to each their own.

I put my trailers in some very tight areas at times, and anyone who has ever reversed a trailer in low knows how much easier the process feels on the vehicle, it just glides along as opposed to needing to raise the RPM's and continually slip the torque converter while backing.

As far as over-torque, I thought of that, it would have to be a really really high traction situation, and with the 8.75 rear diff, 4.88 gears (coming soon) I'd have to believe you'd pull the tires off the beads before you snapped the axle. Anyone want to set up an experiment and find out?,Not with my truck.

 

I have 285/70/17's so yes 2" taller.

 

It's possible, you'd need to interupt the front differential disconnect, it will go into 4lo without the front axle locking.

I don't think it would be wise, its immense torque and it would be trying to split it to the front with no load being taken.

 

Mark SORRY I misread the op didn't mean to offend you. Didn't know your back ground.