I'd also like to see some with the crawler gear in action, but because that's a 2016 addition, it might be too new for videos to exist.

Say what? Crawler gear new addition in 2016? What is this you speak of?

Huh?

The crawler gear comes standard on all V8 models.

Well then I am trading up,

Actually, it only comes with the supercharged V8 models.

Sir, please understand the jokes...there is a strong rule around here...so if you havn't done your own searches for something, well, this is what you get


but just to help out, here is what i think you are looking for....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg5Xm1i0IBo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bL8n5-CqQQ

happy viewing...

and next time...just do a search OR read your manual, its all there in black and white...can yooooo dig iiiitttttt!?!?!?!?!?

Lastly, the crawl control gear came in with the 2010 remodel and delineation of trim levels (comes on the TRAIL-TE model) ...so its not as new as you think...

A few things here of note.

1. Toyota doesn't seem to offer the V8 platform in a 5th gen, so this was something I noticed on the '16 TE and TRD models.
2. What's your source on prior factory crawler gears in previous models? I'm having difficulty locating any information on previous transmissions which included a crawler gear. (There's plenty of information on the W transmission history, but none of which mentions a crawler gear.)
3. I know the crawler gear wasn't offered on the 2015 models, so seeing it available on the 2016 models made me think it was a new factory feature.

In any event, thanks for the vids. I don't have my 4Runner yet (it's being delivered in Feb of '16), so I wanted to brush up on the 4WD system a bit so I don't have to rely on the dealer who doesn't seem to know jack shit about the capabilities of the 4Runner and can't seem to explain it to me.

no worries, its not like i am a grizzled vet to this world myself. i just bought my first 4rnnr a yr ago, so i had to do much of the same research myself...which is how i found this forum.

to answer your questions...
1. Toyota doesnt offer the V8 in the 4runner anymore. that stopped with the 03-09 model years (4th gens). from 2010 to now the only engine offered for 4WD is the V6.

2. I could be wrong, but i do not remember any Crawl control offered in the 4runner before the 5th gen Trail models came out in 2010. Crawl control was offered in the 1999-2007 Toyota LCs first, then extended into the newest LCs now. And then it was offered in the 2010/5th Gen 4Rnnrs next. they have, however, always had the lo-speed gearing in the transfer case.

3. yes, the 2015 TE-Trail & TRD Pro models do have crawl control. SR5s and Limiteds do not have this feature, though they do have Downhill Assist which is similar...to provide an automatic decend feature for steep off-road or snowy conditions. I have used mine a few times, and it is pretty effective.

I can understand you wanting to educate yourself on how this vehicle works. it can be alot. some good pre-reading:

Four-Wheel Drive vs All-Wheel-Drive: Everything You Need to Know

5th Gen Maintenance Documentation and Reference

5th Gen Features/Models/Differences

welcome, and enjoy...i know you'll enjoy your truck like so many of us do...just dont take any of this personally...this can be a tough crowd for folks who dont do their own searches to find what are, to us anyway, really common questions.

Thanks for all the info! I knew there was a reason why this forum was so bad ass!

Oh, and i did want to say, you are absolutely correct about the dealership/sales/whomever guys...they dont know jack shyte about 4runners. Not a lick...and its a dog gone shame too.

good luck on your delivery, and im sure you will love your truck at first drive. And when you do get it off-road, your ears might need a tissue from the saliva that will get in them from your ear to ear grins...

was that too corny...sorry...these are really fun trucks to own...

There is. The owner's manual.

First off, someone told you incorrectly and it's not your fault .... it's Crawl Control, not a Crawl Gear.
As stated, this is not a new feature.

Just want to tag a few vids on of Crawl Control and what it can do, albeit they are on an FJ.



This is a FJCRUISERSFORUM member that purposely stuck his FJ partially on purpose to demonstrate how it works.


Here is one from a 2010 4Runner........




Enjoy!

tagged for future reference when I get my 4runner. Doing the same research as OP.