2010 4 Wheel Drive Problem with Sharp Low Speed Turns

So I just shouldn't back out of anywhere in snow using 4WD??

No, thats not what I meant. Think of it this way....go everywhere you can in 2wd. If you cant make it due to traction issues with 2wd, go ahead and switch to 4. You would now know that whatever surface you're on is slippery enough to allow that tension built up during turning to be relieved.
 
Thank you all for all your replies and information. This is my first 4WD SUV and you guys really opened my eyes about 4WD. And no, the saleman didn't explain anything. Actually, I knew more about the vehicle than he did, which evidently wasn't very much. Unfortunatly I didn't know anything about 4WD and just thought you put them in 4WD and go. I studied the ratings on the truck instead of learning about the mechanical part, which I know now was a big mistake. Thanks again everyone. I really do appreciate it and sorry for the painful blackboard. I do have one more question. In the manual on page 224 it says you should drive at least 10 miles a month in 4WD to insure the front drive components are lubricated. How is one suppose to do this when no snow is on the ground and in summer months?
 
Thank you all for all your replies and information. This is my first 4WD SUV and you guys really opened my eyes about 4WD. And no, the saleman didn't explain anything. Actually, I knew more about the vehicle than he did, which evidently wasn't very much. Unfortunatly I didn't know anything about 4WD and just thought you put them in 4WD and go. I studied the ratings on the truck instead of learning about the mechanical part, which I know now was a big mistake. Thanks again everyone. I really do appreciate it and sorry for the painful blackboard. I do have one more question. In the manual on page 224 it says you should drive at least 10 miles a month in 4WD to insure the front drive components are lubricated. How is one suppose to do this when no snow is on the ground and in summer months?

Dirt or gravel road
 
I dont usually use 4wd on pavement. In fact, this was the first time. I just tried the same situation on on dry pavement (backing out of a parking spot) because I first noticed this problem when backing out on top of snow. So I just wanted to see if it had the same problem on a different road surface. I now understand about the dry pavement and the damage it can cause thanks to all your links and explenations. Its helped me understand how part time 4wd works....and sucks. But I have two feet of snow in the driveway. So I just shouldn't back out of anywhere in snow using 4WD??

The part time 4WD system is for use when 2WD doesn't provide the traction necessary to travel safely. If you have 2 feet of snow in the driveway, then 4wd use is obviously permissible. With 4WD use, you should rarely have to turn the wheel "to lock". When you do, the front differential will bind slightly since the outside wheel of any turn needs to turn slightly faster, therefor causing the wheel with less grip to skip. This is common among all true 4WD vehicles. It has been dubbed around the community as "Toyota Crunch".

Since the 4WD market has been so convoluted with variations of 4WD/AWD, this issue has slowly been disappearing, leaving only those vehicles with TRUE offroad capability with "the issue". Personally, that's half the reason why I bought a 4R, instead of some faggy AWD/Unibody crossover. When I put it in 4WD High, it's serious 4WD.

Since the manual says to drive 10 miles in 4WD a month, you can do so at slow speeds on dry pavement, like around town. But beware the sharp turns, as they will create the "crunch" condition.
 
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How is one suppose to do this when no snow is on the ground and in summer months?

you can drive all day in 4wd on pavement so long as you're traveling in essentially a straight line. and it doesn't have to be 10 miles all at once. I do mine a mile or so at a time or as I see straight roads. changing lanes on a highway is fine as long you don't ever do sharp slow speed turns ever again.
 
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The T4R does great in the snow and do like it, but I originally wanted a 2 wheel drive 4R, but the salesman gave me every excuse in the world, Cant get them, You'll have to pay a higher price for special order, etc.. I cant afford the limited. Thats another 10 grand. My last 2WD SUV got around fine in the snow. I don't do any off roading, but I guess I'll need to start.......if I can find any place to do it in Jersey unless I take out some peoples lawns or jet on the non-vehicle beaches. I might have to run from the cops. lol... maybe pour oil out in the street and do donuts for 10 miles...lol....oh well, I'll figure something out. until I find a full time 4WD that I like to pull a trailer. No AWD for me though. Thanks again for all you guys help.
 
Thanks 9Hooker, I'll keep that in mind. But I dont think I'll try out the highway pavement. The post and link from 4shorerunner earlier convinced me that you should never drive on pavement with part time 4wd. I'll find other land to drive the 10 miles a month.
 
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I dont think I'll try out the highway pavement. The post and link from 4shorerunner earlier convinced me that you should never drive on pavement with part time 4wd. I'll find other land to drive the 10 miles a month.
 
I usually pull it into 4WD (during the summer months when I'm not offroading any) on my way home from work. I have a few nice long straight stretches with minimal turning. If you can keep from turning the wheel more than 90º (45º right, 45º left), the road is straight enough to run 4WD on dry pavement. Now, I wouldn't make a habit of running it in 4WD in dry conditions, but a couple miles a month to keep everything lubricated is OK, IMO. Gravel or dirt really is preferable, though.
 
The T4R does great in the snow and do like it, but I originally wanted a 2 wheel drive 4R, but the salesman gave me every excuse in the world, Cant get them, You'll have to pay a higher price for special order, etc.. I cant afford the limited. Thats another 10 grand. My last 2WD SUV got around fine in the snow. I don't do any off roading, but I guess I'll need to start.......if I can find any place to do it in Jersey unless I take out some peoples lawns or jet on the non-vehicle beaches. I might have to run from the cops. lol... maybe pour oil out in the street and do donuts for 10 miles...lol....oh well, I'll figure something out. until I find a full time 4WD that I like to pull a trailer. No AWD for me though. Thanks again for all you guys help.

You're making everybody think that you're a dummy. I'm sure you have more common sense that you are leading us to believe. It's really isn't difficult to drive 10 miles using 4wd. a) bang it out on the freeway b) just don't lock the wheel. Keep the 4runner thing in 4wd all year if you'd chose, just don't tight turns with the wheel locked. You don't have to turn the wheel to the point of crunching to back out on a road or get out of your garage. I drive the same truck and I immediately figured this out. Go to a parking lot, your neighbors lawn, or wherever your chose and practice turning, a lot.
This is not rocket science! :bash:
 

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