were you and the pickup able to pull them out? the road looks pretty slick I'm guessing probably not

I've been thinking about this a lot, digging up as much as I can on this system.
Toyota calls it full-time 4wd, and I believe this is very deliberate. Maybe you'll disagree, but hear me out. An AWD system sends power not only to each axel but each wheel via limited slip differentials/traction control of some kind. Our limited's have open diffs on each axel with the torsen t3 at the center, dynamically sending power to either axel (distribution ratios change). Having open diffs on each axel suggests to me our drive systems behave more like an sr5, or traditional 4wd in 4hi, than something like an asymmetric AWD system from suby or audi. Meaning power is still going to go to the wheel with the least traction. Ive encountered situations in which ATRAC has engaged while going around a snowy corner going faster than 5MPH, but it would be generous to say it helped me in my cornering. There is no question ATRAC can help in low traction situations at low speeds, but my own experience with it a higher speeds did not inspire confidence in atrac. Having said all that, our vehicles are essentially an sr5, or any other unlocked 4wd 4runner with the flexibility to be engaged at all times, in all conditions, for better and worse, and the torsen will send power to the axel with more grip, so its better than a kick in the pants. In summary, people who describe it as an AWD system may be somewhat overselling it. People espousing the benefits of their part time are ignoring that ours is pretty much the same with the flexibility of always being engaged (and adjust power to each axel). Thoughts?


Bad drivers gonna be bad drivers everywhere. I still blame them for over-confidence, not the vehicle for falsely enhancing confidence. In any case, your limited distaste is certainly noted, haha! I think theyre all great vehicles, and there's very little difference between them all. Important, but small differences. I hope you enjoy your new ride! I still love my limited, I think its every bit as incredible as the other 4rs, and maybe one day I'll even get you to do something that resembles an agreement

Leather does require more maintenance, but will last much longer than cloth if cared for, dogs notwithstanding of course. They can ruin anything. With proper care, my assless chaps can be handed down to my children, and then to theirs.

The 4runners AWD system is a true AWD meaning it can send (I think) as much as 60% of the power to the front if needed. It's rear biased I think 60/40 or 80/20 in normal driving. with AWD the computer will instantly move power where needed depending on traction. Without traction control, the wheel with the least traction will receive all the power in the front and rear, but that's why there's traction control. the computer is smart enough to know when there's wheel spin and can adjust on the fly. If you were to put the AWD 4runner on a roller test where one or opposite wheels were off the ground and be in AWD, it would roll off, I'm very confident of that. If you did that in 4HI with traction on, it would also roll off. 4LO disables traction control and you would likely be stuck in that same situation - but that's what ATRAC is for (which can only be used in 4LO - so were you in 4LO when using ATRAC or was the standard traction control kicking in?). ATRAC doesn't auto engage unless the button is pushed, only TRAC does. if you didn't hit the ATRAC button or weren't in 4LO, ATRAC wasn't on. ATRAC is a more aggressive TRAC and also won't moderate throttle like TRAC will. the wheel braking is also aggressive

4HI in the limited will distribute 50/50 power to front and rear all the time. and is equivalent of the SR5 in 4HI. AWD is more for higher speed, everyday driving but 4HI to me is tougher stuff, slower speed, offroading or very deep, heavy snow, towing a boat up the ramp etc. 4HI guarantees power at all times be sent to at least one front and one rear wheel. AWD would need to detect wheel spin before doing so. with that being said, the AWD system is a true AWD system. calling it an AWD system is not overselling by any means and it is not the same as being in 4HI in the SR5

there's a lot of confusion with what fulltime 4WD or AWD or 4x4 is in marketing materials. 4WD and 4x4 were always used to mean 5050 power to front and rear but auto makers seem to be using the terms interchangeably and it confuses people lol. yes technically, the AWD limited can send 5050 power to front and rear, just like a 4WD or 4x4, but it isn't locking that 5050 split all the time and that split varies

the toyota manual calls is full time 4WD which really is the AWD setting without locking the centre diff

This is incorrect. The 4WD system in the 4Runner (5th gen limited, 4th gens, Land Cruisers) is purely mechanical, it is not "computer controlled". It uses a torsen differential and planetary gears with the transfer case to allow the front and rear differential to rotate at different speeds and with variable power to the front/rear axles. Land Cruisers, the Toyota flagship vehicle, have been manufactured using this type of Full time 4WD (not part time) for the last 33 years (since the J80 in 1990). The main reason for the part time 4WD in most 4Runners, is well, that it's cheaper make than the full time 4WD.

For those interested in the internals and the differences of the Toyota part-time 4wd and full-time 4wd, this video has a good breakdown of the two systems and the internal gearing. The full-time portion starts at around 19:40.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESm0PPBkAQQ&t=1187s

I have never had leather last more than 10 years in any car. Honda’s leather is especially poor. Mercedes leather was better.

I don’t have assless chaps, never will. Not a member of the Brokeback Mountain Club.

We let the guy in the truck handle it. In the past, I have pulled out a full sized school bus with my 4WD diesel Suburban.

However, I put in a new transmission and transfer case in the Suburban last spring and I am having issues with the NVG-246 autotrac transfer case. I can get it into verified 4Hi, but the button stays flashing. 4Lo and AWD are not working and the buttons just flash. I was trouble shooting the electrical as much as I could in the cold weather. Did find an issue on one circuit. I was working off excerpts from the shop manual. A guy will be sending me a CD which allows you to access GM shop manuals online. My employer has me back in the office two days a week in LA, so I am at our home in Fullerton, CA while the Suburban is at our place in Montana. I get to miss forecasted snow and sub-zero temps next week.

Beat me to it. While the torsen (literally short for torque-sensing) can adapt very quickly to adjust from 40:60, 30:70, to even 53:47 front: rear distribution, its still mechanical, and its still sending this to open diffs on each axel. Dont get me wrong, the shifting in power is hugely beneficial for traction in adverse conditions, but it is inferior to a true AWD system.

does the computer not moderate the throttle and apply the brakes though? maybe computer isn't the right word, but something is making those communications with the brakes and throttle, no ?

is it the 6.5L turbo diesel? I've never seen one in person. I don't know how much I'd drive my 4runner if I had one of those big diesel engine rigs lol

4Rums, yes that is the best and most detailed explanation of the Toyota transfer case with CDL that you can find, I believe. I have watched it several times and still find it difficult to grasp how it (center diff) works. What kind of mind came up with and was able to actually produce such a device? Far beyond my imagineering!

its rear biased, 40:60 under normal conditions, can go 30:70, or 53:47, but its all mechanical. no computer at all, but again, this is to each axel, not each wheel. All 5th gen 4wd runners have open diffs on each axel. I want to be very clear in this next part: Im not disputing that traction control can mimic some behaviors of an AWD system, IE, apply brakes to a slipping wheel to send power to the other wheel with traction, but this is not the same as a limited slip diff or locker. This does NOT make our system an AWD system though.


We do agree on one point you've raised: there is much confusion surrounding this system. I think its great. Its why I bought the limited. IMO, its not a "true" AWD system in the sense that not all wheels are receiving power at all times. simply both axels in our case, just like any traditional 4WD system, hence why I'm suggesting Toyota has been very deliberate in calling it "Full-time 4wd," and it is only we Limited owners that have been using the term interchangeably.

If we still disagree, it may be best for me to better understand how you define an AWD system vs 4wd. I hope ive been pretty clear in how id describe them, but its worth repeating: AWD: power goes to all wheels, all the time. Part-time 4WD: power goes to a single axel at all times, unless placed into 4WD, in which case power goes to both axels (how each axel behaves is up to the differential or lack thereof). Full-Time 4WD: Just 4WD, but "full time." Both axels get power at all times with the caveat of it being capable of changing dynamically when traction is compromised. Again, both axels still have open diffs.

For traction control, ONLY brakes are applied to modify power distribution. Application of the throttle is still up to the driver, and in many cases they immediately let off the gas when these implements fire off. its not the same as the functionality afforded by a limited slip, especially when cornering in low-grip situations.

Yes it's the 6.5 turbo diesel in a 1999 K2500 Suburban.

School bus rescue - YouTube

to me 4WD and 4x4 are the same, meaning 50% front to rear. To my simple brain AWD means all 4wheels can receive power when needed in various proportions. I've seen so many articles and reviews when buying my 4runner that used fulltime 4WD, AWD and full time AWD in the description of the truck, even dealer websites, that I just grouped them all together as AWD lol. for the most part though, in general conversation I think you can say the limited has an AWD system. while sure technically it might not be 100% true, it's true enough to help people understand how it works that don't care about differentials or lockers or LSDs etc.

We do agree on 4wd and 4x4 being interchangeable, and we also agree that this is made possible by the transfer case binding it all up (50/50). Its certainly possible to describe something in any manner you choose. Calling a 4WD system an AWD system, while "true enough," in your context, is another way of gently calling this factually incorrect to me. Many do not understand the difference between 4wd and AWD, and I feel that is the core of our discussion. Toyota always has called it full-time 4WD, and its certainly been confused in many discussions every since. ignoring the 50/50 split and gearing for a moment: if you put any other 4runner into 4wd and never took it out, thats our system. our center diff just gives us the luxury of things not binding up, so that things like corners, and every day driving are possible. So, back to my initial point: calling it AWD is not entirely accurate. Other 4runner owners dumping all over the system because its somehow inferior is goofy. They're essentially the same but one is full-time.