When is it OK to use 4wd?

Simple, not even gonna read previous post.

If you wonder if you should engage four wheel drive? Engage four wheel drive.

 

Thanks all -

Yes re: dumb questions - there really aren't any - only the ones not asked!

My main concern was about damage to the transfer case. I've lived my entire life in the Northeast and am familiar with winter driving but this is my first truck, and aside from a few subarus, all my vehicles have been front wheel drive.

I think it handles much better with the 4wd, especially taking (not so tight) corners - the back end doesn't seem to swing out.

 

The amount of misinformation in this thread is ridiculous.

The drivetrain in the Tacoma is very robust, and can easily handle some slight binding from driving in 4wd. Wet roads, icy roads, snow, dirt, mud, whatever - not a problem. It is advised to not make very sharp turns unless traction is reduced to the point that the outside tires can easily slip, but you'll definitely feel if it starts to bind up.

4wd will absolutely give you additional traction in all conditions, unless perhaps you're driving on an ice skating rink

 

Agreed, sometimes when it's raining really bad I'll engage 4x4 on storrow drive because there is basically no traction on that road and my rear end always wants to break loose. Actually I had a broken (right) ankle recently and was driving left footed when the rear end broke traction on storrow - luckily I've done enough donuts and driven a taco long enough I was able to counter steer and maintain the drift until it corrected itself (and there was a car in the lane next to me )

 

Ugh where'd you find the shifting gears dude am I blind or is it not on mobile

Nevermind I'm blind

 

That was for you. Second row down third from the left when you click the emoticon icon in the formatting bar

 

Agree. If your drivetrain is as fragile as some here are saying, there's no point to it. I switch back into 2 wheel when I'm approaching a parking lot because I will be turning tight, but on the roads you're fine.

 

is there a speed limit to how fast u can go in 4wd?like a certain speed u should stay under while engaged in 4wd

 

The guys talking mad ish about running 4wd on pavement are the same suckas who will chew you out for doing mods.

If you have never had a 4x4, this is a good question and can help others who might have a similar question but are afraid to ask (per the negative responses here) or someone who may not know to ask and could prevent damage down the road. I think if you apply common sense to engagement then you should be fine. As many have stated, no super tight turns as the outside wheel travels at a different rate and can cause damage in some cases. All vehicles need respect and as long as you are careful you should be ok. I try to engage/disengage 4wd on sand/dirt ect but I have no issue on pavement. No highway speeds....

 

is there such thing as an AWD tacoma?

 

also cars that are AWD can go highway speeds and take sharp turns, why cant 4wd ? ps. i have no knowledge of this stuff. but curious

 

No, however shifting into 4wd should be done under a certain speed.

 

Not sure about ever having a AWD truck in the toyota line up, maybe the hilux but not to my knowledge in a tacoma. only 2wd and 4wd.

The way in which power is sent to the AWD is different and has built in safety measures to allow for the power to be sent/stoped from going to each wheel. This is different from your 4wd


All-Wheel Drive (AWD): A drivetrain that employs a front, rear and center differential to provide power to all four wheels of a vehicle. Four-Wheel Drive (4WD): A drivetrain that employs two differentials and a transfer case to provide power to all four wheels of a vehicle.

 

Someone for the love of god get your owners manual and look this shit up. It comes with the truck for a reason

 

thank you for the response! that makes sense. you would think an AWD truck would be a good option. IMO

 

All wheel drive vehicles, like Subaru and Land Cruisers tend to use what they call a 'center differential'. This acts exactly like a front or rear differential in the sense that it allows the front and rear driveshafts to spin at different speeds. You don't get the driveline bind. The Cruisers have the ability to 'lock' this center diff and it then acts like a transfer case like the tacos have, an equal 50/50 split to the driveline from the transfer case or center diff.

 

Here does this help!? Sheesh

 

No, but generally speaking if you're in conditions that warrant the use of 4wd then you probably shouldn't be going very fast anyway...

To engage 4hi you should be going under 55(?) I might be off a little on that one.

To engage 4lo you want to be at a complete stop and in neutral (or clutch in if you're manual).

 

Omg! So I can drive on wet roads in 4H?

 

There is nothing in the manual that says you have to drive under X speed in 4wd. Nothing. Again, there is a ton of useful and cool shit in the owners manual. It's online for free. Check it out

http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM35814U/pdf/OM35814U.pdf