Tacoma Off-Road 4x4

Hey guys!

Apologies in advance as this question has been asked multiple times by other posters over the years, but having gone through most of those posts, those threads raised more questions than answers for me.

I would like to purchase a new Tacoma Off-Road 4x4. I live in a dry climate, where it never snows, and I personally do not go off-road, at all. I'm not sure how long I'll be living here, and in fact, I have lived in a cold, snowy climate, most of my life. The Tacoma OM recommends switching to 4x4, and driving 10 miles, at least once a month. As mentioned, where, I live, the climate is dry year round, it never snows, and I don't go off-road. So, why buy a 4x4? Because I'm not sure how long I'll live here, and I tend to buy cars and intend to keep them for the next 15-20 years. So, in 2 or 3 years, if I move, I want to have the 4x4 capability.
Here's my question: What are my options to maintain the 4x4 in the meantime? The verdict seems to be split on going in a straight line on dry pavement. I see a lot of Tacoma off-roads on the free way, and I highly doubt all these Taco owners go off road, or are even aware of the 10 mile recommended 4x4 drive by Toyota. So, how big of a deal is it? What would be the ideal solution? One person even recommended jacking up the truck and running it on 4x4 so the driveshaft doesn't bind. Is that a viable solution? I just want to make sure the 4x4 system is maintained properly given my scenario.

Thanks in advance!

 

Surely you can find some beat up dirt/gravel road to drive on. Find yourself inclining and declining not-so-steep ditch lines. That's what I do.

I live in a very metro area and there are plenty of off-road opportunities an hour+ drive in any direction but I don't make hour+ drives just to
engage the 4WD now and again. Lucky for me there are a few suitable dirt/gravel roads I can go out on now and again, even drive into fields
and over slight inclines etc. I don't intend to do any serious off-roading until I get some A.T. tires but I can't justify that until the decent stock
tires wear out.... forest service roads and places with minimal effort sure but nothing serious.

Surely you can find places like this - just look for 'em.

 

I appreciate your suggestions, and sharing your experience. I am open to finding these pockets of gravel and/or dirt roads to engage the 4wd, but does it really have to be every month? And 10 miles? Like, if it's something where I can just treat it like an oil change, where every 4-5 months I get one done, then sure, I have no problem going out of my way to find a place every 4-5 months. But every month, seems like it would become a bit of a hassle over time.

Edit: Also meant to ask, what about jacking up the truck and engaging 4x4? I do my own oil changes, every 4-5 months, and I'm wondering if I can just pop it up, do the oil change, engage the 4x4, and call it a day. Or would that cause other problems?

 

There are A LOT of 4x4 owners out there who have put their truck in 4x4 maybe once, if ever. I have read of people on here who waited years to engage 4x4. When they finally did, might take a little bit to engage, but then it works just fine.

Engaging 4hi while on jack stands might work. But I think it’s a waste of effort. Make an effort twice a year or so to engage 4hi on a dirt road or straight highway, drive a few miles.

 

Just switch it in when on a relatively straight stretch of road for a couple miles. Tight turns like in a parking lot or manovering down town can create binding but most places where the speed limit is 45ish is going to be straight enough not to cause a problem.

 

Thank you for your reply. You are correct, some people do that, but that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. Even if it does engage, I can't imagine it working as intended. Even if it does, who knows what that does to the expected life span of the 4wd system. I guess I'm wondering if your suggestion of driving it on a straight, paved road, without turns, is the happy medium?

 

I appreciate your response. I guess that's one of my questions. On the forums, this same question was asked, and half the crowd is saying yeah, straight, paved, roads are fine, while the other half is saying it's not. Any current developments, and/or finding on this front that I may have missed?

 

The issue with 4wd on pavement is the front and rear axle travel different distances in a turn. In 4wd the front and rear axles are locked going the same speed. If a ldifference in distance traveled builds up without being relieved things can brake or be worn prematurely.

A small turn at speed there's lots of opertunuty for a little bit of slip (imperceptible) to relieve any strain that builds up.

In a low speed tight turn with good traction you can feel the drivetrain binding. As there isn't opertunuty for the strain to be relieved as the tires roll along.

I think the crowd running in circles waving their arms about how damaging it is to put it in 4wd on any pavement are over reacting and fail to understand what forces are building up and how durable a drivetrain needs to be to survive driving off-road at all.

 

Thank you for the explanation. Admittedly, my understanding of the system is not as strong as yours, or most others on this forum. I just want to make sure I don't add the 4x4 to a new vehicle, and have it break as a result of me being ill informed.

 

Every month? 10 miles or so? I believe that's more of a suggestion than a hard-and-fast-rule. I certainly don't do it. I've owned the Truck just about 11 months now and I've done this 3-4 times and I'm not worried about it at all. There are some here and there who never do it.

I wouldn't sweat it.

 

Id say make a point to hit the dirt/gravel once a month, might find some new places you’d enjoy

 

I wouldn’t worry about it too much, just cycle it through the hi lo and diff loc in your driveway. No need to really drive it, just make sure it goes completely in each range.

 

The reason the OWNER'S MANUAL says to do it is to keep the solenoids and shifting rods from sticking due to lack of use.
The people who say never do it on dry roads do not know what they are talking about.
Those who say it's fine to put it in 4wd on dry paved roads do know what they are talking about.
I probably don't do 10 miles a month but I do engage 4wd on dry pavement for a mile or so at a time and I do it one a week or so. It is no big deal. Just don't forget and leave it in 4wd.

Now... do you have to do it? No. Is it a good idea from a maintenance point of view? Yes.
No component works well if it has not been used in months or years.
If you follow the owner's manual chances are that it will still work well in three years when you need it. If you don't do it.. chances are a solenoid will stick from disuse and burn up when it's energized.
Good luck.

 

Yeah, the people saying it's not fine are wrong.

Flipping to 4h while driving relatively straight is fine.

 

I wouldn’t worry about it. But use Gaia maps to find some fire roads in your area. Go explore.

 

If you don't use it, you'll lose it. BTDT and paid to get it fixed years ago with a 4X4 SUV my wife drove. I used 4X4 enough in my truck that it never had any issues.

Don't stress about getting in exactly 10 miles each and every month. I've been driving 4X4's since the mid-70's and only had the one problem from non-use. Technically, as long as you're driving in a relatively straight line on a dry hard surface you won't damage anything. But I advise against it. If you get distracted or have a brain fart and forget you're in 4X4 and make a sudden sharp turn at an intersection, or into a business then you're putting the transfer case, U-joints, and front driveshaft in a pretty good bind.

It would be possible to have a catastrophic failure at that time, but even that is rare. The damage is cumulative. You can get away with a few brain farts without any known damage. But you are overstressing components that will fail sooner than they should by doing this. Sooner or later, everyone has a brain fart and messes up. I just don't advise doing it by design.

BTDT and paid to have 2 transfer cases rebuilt too. Long story, but I had a truck that used vacuum hoses to engage 4X4. At some point the hoses got reversed going into the transfer case. I was in 4X4 when the switch said 4X2. I was smart enough to know better than to be driving on pavement in 4X4. Just too young at 19 to recognize the problem.

There are dirt or gravel roads virtually everywhere. I'd advise finding where some are locally and drive a short distance in 4X4 occasionally. I may skip a month with no 4X4 usage occasionally, and some months I may only get in 2-3 miles. Other months, (during hunting season) I may get in 200-300 miles. I will always shift to 4X4 anytime I'm on a gravel road, even if it is only for 1/2 mile. No one said the 10 miles had to be done at the same time.

Actually, driving some distance is best to get the internal gears lubricated. But just sitting in the driveway and shifting in and out of 4x4 as well as low range helps keep moisture at bay inside electrical connections. Better than nothing.

 

Bingo!
Great answer...
My response is being an owner of three 4x4 Off Road Tacomas (2001, 2005, 2010), is to pop it in 4WD-HI anytime you think of it on a straight road before you get close to 55 mph. Popping it in and out will keep things working. I would also find a dirt lot or dry riverbed (arroyo) and put it in Low Range as well as lock the rear differential. Of course, the locker may never be used, especially with MTS and Crawl. But, best to make sure everything works or you experience activating them every so often.
Some years, like 2017, I drive in 4WD a lot or monthly (deserts of Baja California), and others only once or twice a year... and no trips to Baja in my truck since 2018 (damn Covid closures or canceled business/TV show trips).
Just do it whenever you think of it... Go out to the desert and learn to love four-wheeling in other situations than snow.
The Tacoma is a blast to drive and the Off Road TRD 4x4 can't be stopped!
PS for soft sand, you may need to deflate the tires to around 15psi (+/- 5) to be unstoppable in that situation. A good electric air pump is essential when off-roading in the desert or on a beach, to reinflate the tires. Have a tire plug kit too, to fix flats.

 

Short and sweet just put it in 4h once a month on straight road and don't worry about it. just saying.

 

Have you considered a RWD Toyota truck? If you don't need 4wd you could save some money. In my region I see quite a few new RWD trucks listed. Or a FWD Maverick, or AWD. You could also go with an AWD Ridgeline. Nissan, Ford, and GM also offer their midsize trucks in RWD. There are a lot of options in the midsize truck market that won't leave you wondering if and when you should exercise your 4WD system.

 

The OP said this in his post: "So, why buy a 4x4? Because I'm not sure how long I'll live here, and I tend to buy cars and intend to keep them for the next 15-20 years. So, in 2 or 3 years, if I move, I want to have the 4x4 capability."