4wd in 2013 (how to?)

[scanny]

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?

In my experience truck feel more stable on show covered roads in 4Hi, so I use 4hi at the first sight of slippery conditions. I believe that 4hi with VSC and TRAC on is better then 2hi. However I'm trying to drive responsibly on highways so I haven't had a chance to prove this in real life conditions. On residential roads covered by snow 4Hi is definitely way to go - once I tested 4hi vs 2hi on a empty parking lot and 4hi won : )

 

[Socalrugger]

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.

It's always humbling to find out how little I know about the 4R...thanks for the post engineer....

 

[1000MPH]

My post was re: highway driving. IMO simply leaving your truck in 4wd on the hwy masks the true conditions of the road. Losing traction under acceleration in 2wd is a wake up call to slow it down and switch to 4wd if necessary. Losing traction in 4wd at hwy speeds is an "oh sheet" moment.

 

[cdthiker]

just because the truck can be driven 60 MPH in 4high dont make it smart...
studded tires, and weight in the back go a long way
4x4 just means you go that much further off the road.

 

[Thai]

I drove an SR5: 4H, 4L, and 2H.

Since you don't seem to be a hardcore off-roader, the quick and easy answer...4H and 4L should be used for off-road. Stay in 2H. VSC and traction control (over your rear axle when in 2H) should help you move along the road nicely. (And yes, proper tires and inflation etc..)

You can drive on the highway in 4H as fast as you want. The switching b/w 4H and 2H is what is "speed limited"...and that limit is whatever your owner's manual state. If the highway is dry, then you may not want to make any sharp turns while in 4H. Now, if the highway is snow covered (aka allowing for wheel slippage), then you can run 4H and make turns...i would still avoid sharp U-turns nonetheless. Again, i would rather be in 2Hi...plenty of 2wd/RWD vehicles have survived many winters without horrific accidents...so can 4runner!

But, like 1engineer wrote above, just stick to 2H and let the electronic nannies guide you in the your time of trouble.

Not sure about the current gen 4runner, but you do need to use 4H once a month or something like that to exercise it. :rtfm:

 

[eddiebx]

My post was re: highway driving. IMO simply leaving your truck in 4wd on the hwy masks the true conditions of the road. Losing traction under acceleration in 2wd is a wake up call to slow it down and switch to 4wd if necessary. Losing traction in 4wd at hwy speeds is an "oh sheet" moment.

Excellent point, it's quite easy to forget that while you can get going a lot better with 4WD, you still stop the same as everyone else

 

[Thai]

Excellent point, it's quite easy to forget that while you can get going a lot better with 4WD, you still stop the same as everyone else

You can always slam your transmission in REVERSE and have all 4 wheels spin backwards to stop more quickly! That's what i am doing!:bolt:

 

[eddiebx]

You can always slam your transmission in REVERSE and have all 4 wheels spin backwards to stop more quickly! That's what i am doing!:bolt:

Stupid question but have you actually tried that on the 4runners? I don't want to mess up my own transmission, lolol. I did on a rental Honda accord, and it's too smart to engage reverse. It just flips the reverse lights on and goes into neutral. Sure scares tailgaters on the highway real nice though

 

[calcrc]

/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.

/off/

I totally agree with you and not just with car dealers. With everything. Recently I went to a steakhouse and got a tiny piece for 34$. I called back the waitress and told her ( wife and sister in-law were making not happy faces ) I know my steak we go there enough times.

Manager comes takes the plate comes back and says Yes we made a mistake. So if I would have shut up I would have paid 34$ for half the piece of meat I should have gotten.

Even at home depot when I have to buy materials for renovations I always go towards the older fellows who seem to know what they are talking about.

Sorry to jump the thread

 

[Thai]

Stupid question but have you actually tried that on the 4runners? I don't want to mess up my own transmission, lolol. I did on a rental Honda accord, and it's too smart to engage reverse. It just flips the reverse lights on and goes into neutral. Sure scares tailgaters on the highway real nice though

You don't??!! I do that all the time on my Sienna and Prius! I like to live dangerously. :bigok:

That is why these trannies are electronically controlled. Next time, try putting it in PARK as a good way to brake from high speed...that works great for me! Unfortunately, many Prius owners don't do this more often....

 

[NoDak]

You can always slam your transmission in REVERSE and have all 4 wheels spin backwards to stop more quickly! That's what i am doing!:bolt:

ive seen that happen before, BUT it was a stick tacoma in 2wd on ice covered road. we did stop in time in reverse to avoid going thru a T intersection.

i wouldnt want to test that in an $40k automatic LE (which by the way is FT 4wd)

 

[Thai]

ive seen that happen before, BUT it was a stick tacoma in 2wd on ice covered road. we did stop in time in reverse to avoid going thru a T intersection.

i wouldnt want to test that in an $40k automatic LE (which by the way is FT 4wd)

Hmmm, did your Tacoma have ABS? I wonder if ABS (if it was availble) would have done a better job?

 

[icsa]

You don't??!! I do that all the time on my Sienna and Prius! I like to live dangerously. :bigok:

That is why these trannies are electronically controlled. Next time, try putting it in PARK as a good way to brake from high speed...that works great for me! Unfortunately, many Prius owners don't do this more often....

One day some random poor dude reading forums will believe you and try it out. I wouldn't make these supposed to be funny comments, unless clearly marked as jokes.

 

[Thai]

One day some random poor dude reading forums will believe you and try it out. I wouldn't make these supposed to be funny comments, unless clearly marked as jokes.

They call that Darwinism. (My smilies didn't help?)

 

[tamerunner]

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?

I've never had a problem with it. In fact it feels and drives much more stable in 4x. I haven't had to use it in the runner yet. But in my 2001 F150 supercrew I drove two and a half hours to Boone NC on a snow covered highway at speeds anywhere from 30 to 60 mph. I would turn off the 4x every once in awhile just to see and it almost instantly felt fishy in the back.

 

[tamerunner]

They call that Darwinism. (My smilies didn't help?)

So true. If you believe these things you deserve whatever is gonna come your way. It would be a good way to weed out the people stealing my air.

 

[Thai]

I've never had a problem with it. In fact it feels and drives much more stable in 4x. I haven't had to use it in the runner yet. But in my 2001 F150 supercrew I drove two and a half hours to Boone NC on a snow covered highway at speeds anywhere from 30 to 60 mph. I would turn off the 4x every once in awhile just to see and it almost instantly felt fishy in the back.

That is because your F150 is a POS! Just kidding. Your '01 F150 probably did not have stability control nor traction control (nor even good tires based on your description!). In addition, an unloaded truck with RWD is not exactly the best thing when things become slippery.

 

[eddiebx]

One day some random poor dude reading forums will believe you and try it out. I wouldn't make these supposed to be funny comments, unless clearly marked as jokes.

Did you try out Thai's suggestions on the way home from work tonight? Come on tell the us the truth :bounce:

 

[icsa]

Did you try out Thai's suggestions on the way home from work tonight? Come on tell the us the truth :bounce:

Shhhh, don't tell anyone. It was so much fun, I want to keep it all for myself. :cheers:

 

[Vlaak]

This thread has been both informative and entertaining

My main reason for starting it was black ice. I often make a drive to visit family in which I have to go over a low pass through some mountains and while it isn't that snowy, I've experienced black ice up there a few times. I was thinking I'd use the 4Runner in 4H if possible (speeds in the ~60mph range usually) on that drive in the future. Sounds like I should go 2H and rely on the tech most of the time, and use the 4H when there is also snow and stuff on the roads.

Thanks for everyone's help!