4wd in 2013 (how to?)

[Vlaak]

Hi all, I've been lurking on this forum quite a lot in the last few weeks. I'm seriously considering getting my first 4Runner this weekend. I'm looking forward to participating here a lot after that happens

Anyway, after the test drive, I have a question (the sales guy didn't seem to know answers to some of my more detailed questions). I wasn't sure if I should ask it here, or in the introduction section, or maybe some other section, so my apologies if this is the wrong area.

I drove an SR5 with Premium package. It has a knob for the 4wd with 3 settings (to the best of my memory): 4H, 4L, and 2H. I do know what these are for, but my question is around 4H. Can I drive at freeway speeds in 4H? What is the upper limit? I searched around on Toyota's site and found some online user manuals and found a couple numbers including 50mph and 62mph. Any info you guys have would be much appreciated.

 

[tamerunner]

If I remember in the owners manual for the part time system, you can engage it up to 55mph as long as you have no wheel spin. You can disengage at any any speed. And you can go as fast as you want.....don't think there was any specific number for that.

I have a '12. The only difference is I have a lever and you have a knob.

 

[NoDak]

what I did at highway speed is to take the foot off the gas then engage the 4h below 50. that ensures no wheel spin.

now with it in 4h at highway speed, just be mindful of long sweeping bends or sharp bends with no slippage as this will bind up the system.

 

[philsey]

That is not a "detailed" question - it is basics. I'd suggest you get a different salesman.

 

[Riskijer]

+ juan on that. Commission should reflect this lack of knowledge.

 

[Newf4R]

LMAO. Your salesman blows! Please let me know what he tells you the A-Trac, RSCA and Party Mode buttons do.

To answer your question your good to engage up to 80 km/hr (50mph) and can run in 4H as fast as you want. I try not to switch while hammering the gas pedal though. Maybe ease up a little when making the switch. I go into 4H in December and don't come out until April.

 

[1000MPH]

Why?
What benefit would 4H with locked center diff give you at those speeds? I personally would never use 4H at speeds above 35-40mph and I would slow way down to make the shift. JMHO/YMMV.

 

[Vlaak]

Thanks!

Hey guys, I appreciate your responses! I'm glad to hear I can turn it on even at highway speeds.

As far as my salesman, yeah, I was a bit annoyed. He even got some things wrong which I'd researched online (mpg etc...)

 

[MpJustice]

I have the 12 limited and the knob is in 4h at all times. I remember my salesman had no clue about the 4wd.

 

[Newf4R]

Why?
What benefit would 4H with locked center diff give you at those speeds? QUOTE]

The benefit is my life!! Where I live the snow starts falling in December and doesn't let up for a second until the spring. Even with the best winter tires that exist it just isn't safe to be driving a vehicle in rwd in town or on the highway. Fwd is fine, but there a lot of hills you won't get up without 4wd and good winter tires.

 

[philsey]

/rant/

Poorly knowledged salesmen really pi$$ me off. When I worked, I KNEW MY SHIT! And I will not spend my time nor money with someone who does not. Most ppl are embarrassed to stand up, and so just tolerate this. That's just nuts.

I encountered that at a Lexus dealer recently. Prior to my return, I called the sls mgr, asked who his most experienced slsmn is, and made an appt with him. Car dealers have rules about who nabs you (and gets the sale). I say TS, let them sort that out, I refuse to deal with knucklehead order-takers. My wife's Honda guy knows his cars thoroughly - I've bought 5 cars from him in seven years.

/off/

 

[NoDak]

for us northern tier states and our friends higher north, winter is usually 6 months of the year and you dont see grass until april/may.

where i am at, it snows just before or right after halloween and doesnt stop until our last blizzard in april/may and we dont see higher than 32F until spring. and you want to see weird, look around when it gets above 32F and people are running around in shorts/tshirts cause it dam hot outside after being frozen for so many months.

with the constant changing road conditions of clear, slush, black ice, snow and always blowing wind, its just easier to leave it in 4wd than to constantly switch it back and forth.

or in my case, i will just get a LE and not have to deal with it since its full time 4wd.

 

[Telepi]

Hi all, I've been lurking on this forum quite a lot in the last few weeks. I'm seriously considering getting my first 4Runner this weekend. I'm looking forward to participating here a lot after that happens .

I've had my 2013 for two weeks now. Like you, I bought it so I could join this forum. Great people here. The guys over at the Pilot forum, all they did was complain about engine vibration. :bounce:

Seriously, I had a similar experience. Maybe it was because I didn't ask a whole lot of questions. I did my homework too and knew it was the truck for me. I didn't need to be sold. He pretty much just took my order, and the finance guy tries to supersize it with extra warranties.

 

[Riskijer]

/rant/

Poorly knowledged salesmen really pi$$ me off. When I worked, I KNEW MY SHIT! And I will not spend my time nor money with someone who does not. Most ppl are embarrassed to stand up, and so just tolerate this. That's just nuts.

I encountered that at a Lexus dealer recently. Prior to my return, I called the sls mgr, asked who his most experienced slsmn is, and made an appt with him. Car dealers have rules about who nabs you (and gets the sale). I say TS, let them sort that out, I refuse to deal with knucklehead order-takers. My wife's Honda guy knows his cars thoroughly - I've bought 5 cars from him in seven years.

/off/

Same here. I know everyone has to make a living, but when the salesman either can't answer the most basic question or gives you inaccurate information, I end up using that in the negotiation.
I actually don't own a 4Runner, but have been researching them for the past 3-4 months. I went to a dealership near my house, let them know I wasn't there to purchase today, but wanted to see how big they've gotten since I haven't seen one up close. Salesman preceded to talk about the features and mentioned the 6,500 Lb towing capacity. I know I probably won't be working with that particular salesman for this reason, but if I did....when it comes down the negotiation....he would be hard-pressed to explain to me why he needs anything over a mini.
just my 0.02...

 

[Whiplash Willy]

Why?
What benefit would 4H with locked center diff give you at those speeds? QUOTE]

The benefit is my life!! Where I live the snow starts falling in December and doesn't let up for a second until the spring. Even with the best winter tires that exist it just isn't safe to be driving a vehicle in rwd in town or on the highway. Fwd is fine, but there a lot of hills you won't get up without 4wd and good winter tires.

I may be wrong, but at those speeds with the "locked center diff" or Part Time 4wd in 4h, wouldn't it be dangerous if you started to turn, as both front and rear wheels would be turning at the same speeds. Couldn't that induce a skid at that speed in slippery conditions.

Question for the experts: at 55mph on an intermittently snow/ice covered freeway, is it safer to be in 4H with a locked center, or to be in RWD?

 

[4rdan]

I have the 12 limited and the knob is in 4h at all times. I remember my salesman had no clue about the 4wd.

Same here, he could not tell me the difference between H4F and H4L.

 

[Vlaak]

I may be wrong, but at those speeds with the "locked center diff" or Part Time 4wd in 4h, wouldn't it be dangerous if you started to turn, as both front and rear wheels would be turning at the same speeds. Couldn't that induce a skid at that speed in slippery conditions.

Question for the experts: at 55mph on an intermittently snow/ice covered freeway, is it safer to be in 4H with a locked center, or to be in RWD?

This is an excellent question that I would also like to know the answer to. The reason for this thread was because I was planning to leave it in 4H during the winter (as many have suggested they do in the replies). Is that bad mojo?

 

[1engineer]

I may be wrong, but at those speeds with the "locked center diff" or Part Time 4wd in 4h, wouldn't it be dangerous if you started to turn, as both front and rear wheels would be turning at the same speeds. Couldn't that induce a skid at that speed in slippery conditions.

Question for the experts: at 55mph on an intermittently snow/ice covered freeway, is it safer to be in 4H with a locked center, or to be in RWD?

Most of you that have posted in this thread apparently are getting "AWD" systems confused with "4WD" systems. The 4Runner offers two types, part and full time. Please do a little research so you know at least a little bit about how your vehicle's drivetrain operates.

Another obvious misconception in this thread is what happens when driving on slick roads and your 4Runner starts to slide around a turn when in 4WD. How many think the 4WD is going to help correct your slide? Sorry, wrong answer. Remember this is not a CUV with AWD. 4WD on a 4Runner is not going to help correct your slide going around a slick curve. Hope is not lost though: The 4Runner has a system called "VSC." Vehicle Stability Control will help keep the shiny side up in slick conditions. Regardless of whether you are in an LE, TE SR5 or in 2WD or 4WD the VSC will keep you going along your intended path. It works using sensors at the wheels + some electronic algorithms. Here is an example:

I am in 4WD going 35 MPH (using constant throttle) on snow covered roads and I start around a right hand turn. Your vehicle knows this through the sensors. All of the sudden I hit a really slick spot and start to slide. Instantly your vehicle will retard the throttle, activate the ABS ONLY on the wheels necessary (in this case the Right front + other wheels as necessary) and you will continue along your track, just slower. This happens faster than the blink of an eye. It would also do that if you were in 2WD or on the full time 4WD LE.
To close, 4WD is only good for accelerating through limited traction conditions. It does not help you stop, steer or anything else. VSC, along with ABS and common sense, will help you turn and stop in limited traction conditions.

I live in conditions where we get 2 feet of snow and a few days later it gets 55 degrees, then drops to 20 degrees and snows again. We have constant melt and freeze from November to April and we got over 9 feet of snow total last year. Here is how I use my TE:
If it is constantly snow covered, like miles of interstate or side roads, then I leave it in 4HI. For intermittent snow cover, I leave it in 2WD (interstate) and shift back and forth as conditions warrant. Believe it or not this vehicle goes very well in 2WD. For ice, nothing except studs and common sense help.

 

[UncleBilly]

Great info Engineer. Glad too see you didn't leave because of a few jackasses I appreciate all I'm learning on these Forums and hope to buy a new 4Runner Trail by the end of the year...

 

[Vlaak]

Most of you that have posted in this thread apparently are getting "AWD" systems confused with "4WD" systems. The 4Runner offers two types, part and full time. Please do a little research so you know at least a little bit about how your vehicle's drivetrain operates.

Another obvious misconception in this thread is what happens when driving on slick roads and your 4Runner starts to slide around a turn when in 4WD. How many think the 4WD is going to keep you from sliding? Sorry, wrong answer. Remember this is not a CUV with AWD. 4WD on a 4Runner is not going to keep you from sliding going around a slick curve. Hope is not lost though: The 4Runner has a system called "VSC." Vehicle Stability Control will help keep the shiny side up in slick conditions. Regardless of whether you are in an LE, TE SR5 or in 2WD or 4WD the VSC will keep you going along your intended path. It works using sensors at the wheels + some electronic algorithms. Here is an example:

I am in 4WD going 35 MPH (using constant throttle) on snow covered roads and I start around a right hand turn. Your vehicle knows this through the sensors. All of the sudden I hit a really slick spot and start to slide. Instantly your vehicle will retard the throttle, activate the ABS ONLY on the wheels necessary (in this case the Right front + other wheels as necessary) and you will continue along your track, just slower. This happens faster than the blink of an eye. It would also do that if you were in 2WD or on the full time 4WD LE.
To close, 4WD is only good for accelerating through limited traction conditions. It does not help you stop, steer or anything else. VSC, along with ABS and common sense, will help you turn and stop in limited traction conditions.

I live in conditions where we get 2 feet of snow and a few days later it gets 55 degrees, then drops to 20 degrees and snows again. We have constant melt and freeze from November to April and we got over 9 feet of snow total last year. Here is how I use my TE:
If it is constantly snow covered, like miles of interstate or side roads, then I leave it in 4HI. For intermittent snow cover, I leave it in 2WD (interstate) and shift back and forth as conditions warrant. Believe it or not this vehicle goes very well in 2WD. For ice, nothing except studs and common sense help.

Amazingly useful detailed post. Thanks a ton for taking the time!