Switching FWD modes when stuck

I'm completely new to part-time 4x4, so bear with me here. I'm interested in doing some off-roading and such, so I'm trying to make sure I understand all the drive modes.

From what I understand, you often cannot switch to 4Lo without driving a foot or two to let the gears mesh. But the manual also states in no uncertain terms, to never ever switch to 4Lo when a wheel is slipping. (Presumably differences in wheel speed when 4Lo is trying to engage is bad ju-ju)

Now, I think I have it figured for 4Hi- because you are supposed to run it in 4Hi regularly to keep the front drive lubricated, I'll be preemptively throwing it in 4Hi every chance I get. But what about 4Lo? What if I'm buzzing down some dirt road in 4Hi, and I slide off the road and find myself stuck and wanting 4Lo, either for the gear ratio or perhaps for the A-TRAC and/or rear locker? What do I do?

Thanks!

 

I think it means stop the wheels from spinning before you switch to 4lo. If your wheels are "slipping" your gears are still moving. stop the wheels (break), select 4lo, then try to move again.

 

If the wheels are stopped, you can switch between lo & hi as much as you want. These trucks are smart enough that they won't engage 4lo if they sense any wheels moving.
2hi to 4hi can be done while the truck is moving as long as you're going straight & below 50mph, with no wheels slipping. Hint- put it in neutral to release any tension on driveline before engaging 4hi. 4hi to 2hi can be done at any speed, but if there's tension it may take a moment to release

 

It sounds like you guys are telling me that, if the truck is stopped, I shouldn't ever have to roll the truck to allow 4Lo to finish engaging?

To try and be super clear, I have been testing the system out and how it usually goes is:

1) I stop the truck

2) I press the clutch

3) I switch to 4Lo, it blinks

4) I drive forward a few feet slowly, it stops blinking

Am I being impatient, and it would have engaged 4Lo without moving the truck if I just waited longer? Or is the rolling forward important?

 

as long as your wheels aren't moving your good. I shift to neutral. Just for piece of mind, if you try to do it at a bad time your truck will start beeping and won't let you. lol .


Edit: your doing it right. the slipping language in the manual is just so you make sure your wheels aren't still moving when the truck is stuck and you select 4lo.

 

Ah! Didn't realize you rowed your own as well.
My truck has to be totally stopped to engage 4lo. And at first, it was really finicky because of how tight everything was. Sometimes it won't go if the gearset in the transfer case is off a bit, in which case I just roll the clutch out a little in forward or reverse (enough to slip the tires about one treadblock).
For 2-4hi, I just press the clutch briefly until it's in if I'm rolling down tbe highway

 

Also, the clutch safety switch for the 4wd is firewall side. You need to push it to the oil pan to make the system happy

 

Of course I row! Is there any other way!?!

The clutch is what got me at first, as I didn't realize neutral wasn't good enough. Thankfully it beeps at you when you didn't satisfy the clutch bit, so I know when I've f*cked that part up.

I developed good clutch discipline from my days in sports cars, so fully depressing the clutch is second nature. Once I figured out what I actually needed to do, the clutch wasn't an issue any more

 

Switching to 4LO can be a pain in the ass, sure was when I got my truck brand new. I had to fool around with it, flipping the switch back and forth, clutch in clutch out.

Now I've done it a bunch of times it clicks in fine at a dead stop without blinking. Naturally one would not expect an electronic system to need exercise in order to work properly but that seems to be the case.

I think your truck will react as mine and other folks have, just keep exercising the system. Also, I think you should go to synthetic gear lube in the drive line.

 

Yeah, the clutch has to be pushed in deep. I hear there is a way to put the FJ manual transfer case into the Tacoma. I'd much prefer a manual transfer case and manual lockers.

 

Good gawd, I'm glad I have a 1st Gen.

And I'm hanging on to it for as long as I can.

Silly engineers trying to tell me how to drive my vee-hickle.