I've read how the limited's 4wd and center diff lock sucks. Read many stories on here.

Well this day I got to try out my 01' 4wd locked and unlocked in snow. About 6-8 inches, yeah I know just baby stuff but once we central texans run over it plenty it turns into hard packed ice, not too much fun but doable for sure.

I noticed if I used only 4wd the vehicle might start to slip sideways with power gently applied, depress center diff lock and Instantly, it straightens up and continues perfectly straight, so locked is the way to go in snow, here anyway.

I could easily pass all the 5mph boneheads safely in another lane, maintaining now more than 25-30 tops, drove perfectly no matter what the surface and how the surfaced changed or even if partial surfaces on one side vs the other.

I rate it Superb in our version of snow, well done Toyota!

Here is it before our drive today. With 220,000 without power in austin, i had to drive across town, about 40 miles round trip, to pickup my son and bring him home (no power or water for 2 days makes mom want him home).

I was worried before hand, but once i got the hang of pumping the brakes over ice to slow down, the rest was easy peasy Toyota 4wd sense, nice.

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Whoever said the center diff lock sucks is an idiot who doesn't know how drivetrains work. 4HI unlocked is the ideal mode for those conditions. Lock the center diff for the trickier stuff and you are golden.

Right? I only go 4HL when I wanna have fun in the snow. Actual driving? I keep it open.

OP, tapping the button makes you AWD. You're in 2H until you hit the button. Pull back on the lever and you get 4H locked. This is a common misconception that we're somehow double locked. That isn't the case.

the 5mph people make my blood BOIL, lemme tell ya
I also agree with above. Really I've yet to see any complaint about it whatsoever

I went out into the snow and mud this weekend also. Center diff lock was the champion of the day. I went all day without going into 4L. When I first bought the T4R it took me a minute to figure the different drive modes compared to my Tacoma that only had 4H/4L and a rear locker. The T4R has yet to get me to where I want to go!!

And that was their top speed! It was actually a lifted jeep with large/wide tires, then they slowed down to 2-3 mph, so i passed them (lets hope it was an old lady), easy peasy straight ahead and steered where I wanted it to.

Funny part was the vehicles standed/abandoned or in process of being abandoned, where either 2wd pickups (makes sense with the super low rear weight) and several jeeps, older and newer ones, haha.

Not one runner stranded of any generation. Even an old 4wd taco was puttzing right along.

It is amazing how many people don't know how to drive in snow. Dealt with it a few times up in the high desert to/from snow trips or non-locals in Southern California mountains.

I normally saw the blow-by at 40-50mph, then spin and into the ditch thing happen... I'd rather the idiots go 5mph and not risk them crashing into me going too fast - though then they get stuck in the worst places and block traffic.

Still haven't taken the 4Runner through snow yet - my history is all AWD cars (WRX and Alltrac Camry). Center+Rear LSD = tons of fun controllable drifting... Just don't try it on summer tires!

-Charlie

the 2001-2002 Limited has a separate switch to lock/unlock the center diff for both 4H and 4L. the normal mode is the transfer lever is in H, either 2WD or 4H. To shift to 4HLc, you need to push in the CDL button.

The functionality is exactly the same. They moved the button. My point is, this is how it's designed. It's not some additional feature that makes the truck special.

"OH MY 3rd Gen has the suuuuuper rare Locking Center Diff!"

No you dodo, they all have that!

The point is that in the 2001-2002 models, shifting the transfer lever doesn't automatically lock the center diff. This is unlike the earlier versions wherein shifting the transfer lever to H4L or L4L automatically locks the center diff.

The easiest way to tell snow virgin drivers is when going up hill they loose momentum then step on gas and go side ways or when going down hill step on the brakes and go ino a skid.

All they did was move the switch. The transfer cases from 99 to 02 were VF3AM's.

I'm pretty sure shifting into low range in an 01-02 will cause 4wd to engage automatically and the center diff lock to engage automatically.

I'm very confused by all these descriptions. Anyone have a primer on all the different options and what they mean? I have a '97 SR5 which just has the J-shift transfer case. I'm familiar with differential locks on rears and fronts from my Jeep days, but a center differential lock is a new concept to me.

I'm assuming the later gen 4wd systems with the button on the shifter is what we're talking about. So they essentially have a center differential which acts as an "AWD" system that distributes power between front and rear based on which wheels are slipping? The "center diff lock" basically means traditional 4wd mode where front and rear are getting equal distribution of power at all times which is what the J-shift transfer case does in any 4wd mode?

You're pretty close. When in 4HI (not locked) the transfer case acts like a limited slip differential and allows the front and rear driveshaft to spin at different rates while still applying torque to the front and rear driveshafts. I haven't found any technical data from toyota on what the torque split is, but my guess is 30/70 front/rear split.

When 4HI Locked is engaged it locks the front and rear driveshafts together forcing them to spin at the same speed regardless of traction. Essentially the same as when 4wd is engaged in a normal j shift transfer case.