Heck yeah...stay home.

I find this thread entertaining, especially coming from the land cruiser world. Why does that matter, you ask?

In 1987 you could buy a landcruiser with a manual transmission and a 4wd selectable transfercase. In 1988 that option was partially gone - being automatic only and a high/low with 4wd button. In 1991 this changed to 4wd with a selectable high/low transfercase (full time 4wd)), as they called it) and a CDL switch o the dash. The CDL became integrated in 1993 when shifting to low and did away with the switch.

Why does this all matter?

A transfercase (ignoring when the front axles are or aren't locked in) that is like a J shift - has 2wd, 4hi, and 4lo. When you shift from 2wd into 4wd, you're making a mechanical connection front and rear. There's no "locker" needed.

In the full time 4wd Landcruisers that don't have ATRAC in hi, there is a viscous coupler that helps (some remove it) transfer power front to rear but act like an open differential. If you have 1 wheel on ice you may end up driving all power to the 1 wheel, even if in "4wd". Thisnis because like an open differential, power gets transferred to the wheel with the least traction. The locker in the transfercase is akin to putting a J shift into 4wd.


As for driving in the snow... our 3rd gen is good fun. MY 97 limited is slightly more fun than the 97 sr5 manual we had... simply because the rear locker on the limited is nice (but my limited is a 5sp with a J shift). If I want to go toss the truck around, which is well balanced and easily controlled in a slower 4wd drift, the 4Runner is great.

It doesn't hold a candle in confidence and simplicity that our old 2001 LX had (even with questionable Cooper tires) or our current 2011 LX on BFG A/T. This is only because in tricky spots I can use 4lo, high suspension (if needed) or even crawl control, and "manual" shifting. However once I get through the tricky spot 4hi and ATRAC just make it all too easy - especially when moving from well plowed to not well plowed roads. The only concern this has is it's weight...

I found with center diff locked it slid more, although more predictable when breaking traction. The AWD mode with VSC on was the safest mode for getting around. Would have been perfect with a rear LSD.

The real fun is in an icy parking lot in 2H with VSC off!

With appropriate tires and a little experience the 3rd Gen is amazingly good in snow.

This is news to me! Do you have more info or a link?

I don't have any technical data, but confirmed it with ice this past week. Rear axle was spinning on ice and wouldn't gain traction so put it in 4HI (not locked) and was able to move forward. Rear tires still spun, but the front axle had enough traction to pull me off the ice.

Interesting; I did find this documentation on the multi-mode for those interested.

Attached Images

vf3am Transfer Case 1.pdf (944.6 KB, 100 views)

On the road, in terrible weather, the AWD is really nice to have. Where I live we pretty much only get nice weather, so I use it mostly on trips or mountain passes. Of course, I decided to undo the advantages the AWD gives me several years ago by putting on aggressive mud tires. It's still better then not having it though.

Is there anything wrong with staying in AWD (button pressed on 99 Limited) full-time throughout the winter? I started by turning it on and off as needed, but wonder if the engage/disengage might be wearing on the vehicle more than the full-time engagement. Thoughts?

I would leave it on all winter especially if you have snow or some other slippery conditions.
I leave mine in 4wd all winter except if the streets get dry which is rare.

You want to 'exercise' the actuators at least once a month (through the whole range, though you don't need to do a Hi-Lo shift - just 2WD, 4WDu, 4WDL).

Shifting isn't wearing anything, and leaving it in "AWD" mode is fine too - you will lose a bit of MPG, but that doesn't matter so much in the winter...

-Charlie

when I lived in the lower 48, I would totaly agree that you need to "exercise" the system....turning it on and off and I did that often.. Now that I live not far from the north pole, not so far from santa.. I will leave them on till I can see the bare roads....until then...she's not coming out of 4wd. I WONT exercise the system. I want to make it home at night. Funny....for me...now....it might be I cant get it out of 4wd this spring....while you guys are complaing you cant get it into 4wd.

I think the problem here is that people think the center locker is something that part time 4wd systems do not have.

Let's make it clear, part time systems do not have a center locker because they do not have a center diff. Does this mean that all 4wd systems with a center diff have lockers? NO! The part time system is naturally locked in the same way that your femur bone cannot bend in the middle of it. It isn't possible, and trying to make it do the opposite is outside its realm of operation.

Ummmm... What?... 2000 Limited so I have a center diff locker and it's part time 4wd.

Lmao this is fantastic.