Rarely used 4WD

I have a 17 TRDOR auto trans. I only use 4WD during hunting season, thus I haven't turned it on in about 11 months. Also, I've never used 4 Lo or any of the crawl control stuff. My question is, should I periodically turn these features on (like in a parking lot), or is there no harm in letting them set dormant for long periods of time?

 

I think the manual recommends driving it in 4WD 10 miles a month or something like that. I live in Austin where there isn't much public land or even random dirt roads to get the 4WD going so I've just accepted the fact I'll have an expensive fix at some point in the future because I don't use it enough.

 

They should be exercised monthly to prevent the actuators from locking up. When I first bought my 4Runner (used) it wouldn't go into 4LO because the prior owner never used it. Luckily it started working after months of trying unsuccessfully to get into 4LO.

 

Can I just turn it on 4HI, 4LO, Craw Control, locking diff in a parking lot and slowly drive with it on for a few seconds?

 

On straight aways on the highway, simply put it to 4hi, after a few miles and before a turn, go back to 2hi. Do that one or twice a month and you’ll be fine.

 

There's nothing magical about the 10 mile figure. Driving it a certain number of miles isn't necessary. It's really only the engagement and disengagement that needs to happen. I usually just do mine in the neighborhood on paved roads. The key is to do it in a straight line. I go into 4HI drive 100 feet or so, put it in 4Lo drive another hundred feet, then back to 4HI, then 2HI. It only takes a minute or two.

 

I don't think you need to do it every month, necessarily. I would just try to do it every now and then. I probably do it every other month on the off-seasons. If you don't have a dirt road nearby, just drive straight with 4WD engaged.

 

^^^^^This.

G.

 

Running it in 4Hi on paved roads will not cause immediate destruction, just don’t make tight turns, you will feel it fighting you when you turn too sharply. I switch in 4 low once in a blue moon going up my driveway.

 

Good questions and answers... no one addressed the crawl features. I assume they just control 4lo and the braking system for traction. They must be electronic so need to use those specifically as long as you are using 4 high and 4 low?

 

Sounds like a good reason for a road trip to find some dirt!

 

Part of my commute is about 14 miles of straight interstate. Every once in a while I’ll put it in 4WD for that stretch.

 

The important stuff was already covered I think. Just to mention, OP asked about crawl control as well. I don't believe there is any advantage to exercising crawl control. The truck electronically manipulates the throttle (already drive by wire), and independently operates the brakes. The brake master cylinder hydraulic pump is already exercised by driving, so it would just be additional exercise of solenoids in the brake circuit. I wouldn't bother.

Also, there may be some value in exercising the rear diff, but it will be much less than the old 2nd gen and previous design. I wouldn't bother with exercising the rear diff as often as the rest of the 4wd system...

 

IN Texas!!!!??? I find that hard to believe -- just drive farther out of town --Lordy --Texas is a BIG state. I remember it well from 6 weeks in San Antonio and another 9 months in San Angelo

 

16 years of driving my old tundra and I only locked it in a few times during hunting season and never had a problem.

 

Agreed.


No room in Texas? You’re doing it wrong.

 

Easy solution, plan a wheeling trip every month!