2023 Off-road Premium 4WD shift?
- Thread starter CutthroatSlam
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TRD PANTHER
New member
The OR, ORP and Pro’s have the 4WD shift lever as you have shown. You have a rear locker to boot. Much more capable off road. Good choice.
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CutthroatSlam
Senior Member
Thanks. Yes it’s an ORP and that was by design to get the rear locker. Just assumed they all came with the selector switches.
It’s my wife’s truck and she just drove it down from Montana and sorta surprised me by arriving 1.5 days early. She said that she already had it offroad and in 4WD. Said the shifting is a bit stiff, but should break in. That she got into 4WD is a relief because she had her right shoulder joint replace in June of 2022.
She’s getting used to the differences but loves it.
It’s my wife’s truck and she just drove it down from Montana and sorta surprised me by arriving 1.5 days early. She said that she already had it offroad and in 4WD. Said the shifting is a bit stiff, but should break in. That she got into 4WD is a relief because she had her right shoulder joint replace in June of 2022.
She’s getting used to the differences but loves it.
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thatoneguy
New member
I absolutely love that Toyota kept the mechanical 4WD lever in the TRD Offroad and Pro trims. It's totally unnecessary, they didn't have to do it (the dial system on the other trims works fine), but they did anyway.
As far as I can tell, in the United States, the 5th gen 4Runner and the Jeep Wrangler are the last vehicles still sold new with a traditional manual transfer case lever.
Sorry to be a nerd, but it felt deeply satisfying to go offroading in my 2023 with 400 miles on the clock, and manhandle that lever in the shape of a J to 4Lo. And then start clicking the rear locker button on the headliner.
It's a virtual guarantee that the 6th gen will lose this lever. Although maybe not.... it was supposed to be a virtual guarantee that the 4th gen Tacoma would lose the manual transmission, and here we are.
As far as I can tell, in the United States, the 5th gen 4Runner and the Jeep Wrangler are the last vehicles still sold new with a traditional manual transfer case lever.
Sorry to be a nerd, but it felt deeply satisfying to go offroading in my 2023 with 400 miles on the clock, and manhandle that lever in the shape of a J to 4Lo. And then start clicking the rear locker button on the headliner.
It's a virtual guarantee that the 6th gen will lose this lever. Although maybe not.... it was supposed to be a virtual guarantee that the 4th gen Tacoma would lose the manual transmission, and here we are.
BlueRunner428
New member
Was just thinking she must be a strong woman, that manual shifter really requires some muscle to pull it into 4WD
BlueRunner428
New member
Is it really though? I mean an SR5 with just the A-trac is probably just as capable. The locker just gives the added benefit to be able to have both rear wheels locked together without constantly engaging the A-trac.
Whippersnapper02
Senior Member
In the long run a locker equipped vehicle is more capable. ATRAC requires slip to work and can overheat with extended use. Then the system simply shuts down leaving you with open/open.
Humble Leader
Senior Member
having a rear locker is better than not having one. I think for the vast majority of people that offroad recreationally, if you get stuck and can't get out with ATRAC then you probably won't get out with a rear locker. if you're a more experienced offroader and know when to engage that locker before you get stuck it can help
4runner is very capable out of the box, all trim levels. and ATRAC is a fantastic system that bridges the rear locker gap
to give one example of where a rear locker would help is pulling a heavy boat out of the water on a slippery concrete ramp. ATRAC probably wouldn't be the best here, but throw your rear locker on and power is getting to both wheels in the back for traction
CutthroatSlam
Senior Member
Was just thinking she must be a strong woman, that manual shifter really requires some muscle to pull it into 4WD
I was impressed over the progress she has made since shoulder replacement last year to now. I am hopeful she can start fly casting and fishing with me again. Maybe even row the drift boat for me. She’s 76 years old and still has 3 current IGFA World Record catches, 4 total.
Proof that some things never change, after exactly a week of ownership she got a screw in one tire and I had to take it in for repair. She is an absolute magnet for road hazard tire damage.
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I have a 2020 TRD Off Road Premium and it has the lever shift for 4WD. My problem was that the lever knob is facing away from the driver, it would be better if it was angled towards the driver so that I can read the knob top indicatiors better.
I partially solved the problem by putting paint on the knob to make it stand out more.
I partially solved the problem by putting paint on the knob to make it stand out more.
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its a pretty simple shift pattern. Most people probably aren't looking at it while shifting
kenwilliams0803
New member
I have the lever as well.
Since the actuator itself is still electronic anyway, I'd rather just have the extra little bit of room there and a knob that doesn't vibrate all the time.
If it were 100% manual I'd be all for it.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
Since the actuator itself is still electronic anyway, I'd rather just have the extra little bit of room there and a knob that doesn't vibrate all the time.
If it were 100% manual I'd be all for it.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
thatoneguy
New member
The actuator itself is still electronic even with the manual lever? And the manual lever is clearly connected to something real since it vibrates all the time?
Can someone explain exactly how this works? Is the manual lever truly 100% pointless?
kenwilliams0803
New member
Nah the lever part itself is manual. There is still an electrical component/actuator in the front end that needs to click in for 4wd to work though.
If the lever meant the whole system was 100% manual, it would be bulletproof and highly preferable, to me at least.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
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The lever (on 4Runners with a lever) goes into the VF2A transfer case, and actually moves the shift fork in the transfer case to engage 4wd, and low-range when 4-lo is engaged. This sends power to the front diff via the driveshaft (or propeller shaft as Toyota refers to it).
However, there is still an electric actuator (the ADD actuator) which engages the front axle to the front differential.
SR5 models use a knob controlling an electric actuator on the transfer case to shift into 4wd hi and 4wd lo. THere is also the ADD actuator engaging the front axle.
Limited models use an electric actuator to shift from full-time 4wd into 4hi locked, and 4lo locked, and back. There is no ADD on the Limited models as the front axle is always being driven.
CutthroatSlam
Senior Member
Thanks, this is the information I was looking for.
hoobhoob
Member
The transfer case is manually activated. The front axle is electronically actuated once the transfer case is engaged manually (4WD icon blinking until the axle is engaged.)
CutthroatSlam
Senior Member
In addition to the 2014 SR5 and the 2023 ORP, I have a 1994 K2500 Suburban 4WD diesel and a 1999 K2500 Suburban 4WD diesel. The ‘94 is manual shift with electronic actuator on the front differential. The ‘99 is push button shift with electronic actuator on the front differential. In addition to 4Hi and 4Lo, the ‘99 has AWD…when it works.
I have had all sorts of problems with the ‘99 of late. New transfer case and transmission last year. It will shift into 4Hi, which I’ve verified on and off pavement, but the light on the button just flashes. Won’t shift into 4Lo or AWD. I have replaced the shift motor on the case, the Transfer Case control module and the shift button assembly. I was going through electrical tests and documenting results before I had to go back into the office in LA (truck is up in Montana). I have since order a used complete set of shop manuals off eBay and that rig will come down here for me to work on it. Just no fun doing electrical in freezing weather.
I just rebuilt an NP 241-C transfer case and used it to replace the leaking one in the ‘94. Not too hard of a job:
I have had all sorts of problems with the ‘99 of late. New transfer case and transmission last year. It will shift into 4Hi, which I’ve verified on and off pavement, but the light on the button just flashes. Won’t shift into 4Lo or AWD. I have replaced the shift motor on the case, the Transfer Case control module and the shift button assembly. I was going through electrical tests and documenting results before I had to go back into the office in LA (truck is up in Montana). I have since order a used complete set of shop manuals off eBay and that rig will come down here for me to work on it. Just no fun doing electrical in freezing weather.
I just rebuilt an NP 241-C transfer case and used it to replace the leaking one in the ‘94. Not too hard of a job:
