technical info on 1st Gen 4wheel drive?

With just four days of ownership, I'm still learning a lot - my searches didn't come up with what I'm looking for, hopefully someone can point me in the right direction…

I picked up a 2000 Xtra cab 4x4 V6 SR5 (no rear locker unfortunately), and because of the multitude of differences offered as "4WD", I'd like to know more about the 4WD I've got before I get in over my head off-road.

Is there a technical writeup describing the 1st Gen 4wd system somewhere?

For example (apologies in advance if I use the wrong terminology) - in 2WD it feels like the passenger side rear wheel spins in the slick stuff - power going to the wheel with least resistance, while the driver side is not spinning. (This is just by feel from the driver seat).

In 4WD Hi then do I have all four driving unless I lose traction and then one wheel per axle with least resistance spins? Any difference in 4WD LO?

Toyota's site had good information about the FJ's 4WD system, due to the age of the 2000, not sure if they ever provided similar information 15 years ago.

I do have a 2000 Tacoma brochure being sent to me - might be something in there I hope, while I'm waiting for it to arrive, I thought I'd ask.

Thanks for your input.

 

http://web.archive.org/web/20101127014333/http://ncttora.com/fsm/1996/96_repair_searchable.pdf

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/faq/parts/

 

Unless you have differential lockers then yes, no matter whether in 4 hi or low the power will go to the wheel with the least amount of traction on each axle. So say you go diagonally through a dip and it lifts the right front and left rear off the ground all the power will go to those two tires with no traction and you will be fubar'd.

 

Thanks guys - that's what I expected and wanted to verify.