4x4, but not on dry pavement?

[DEKA3]

Ive owned the 4th gen 4R before my current 5th gen. I was told that i can keep my 4x4 on all the time on my 4th gen. But now with the 5th gen I heard that I cant keep it on all the time. Is this true? If yes, why and what changed? What will happen if I used the 4x4 when it rains or snows vs. if the pavement is dry? Appreciate any help. Thanks in advance!

 

[ssmathis]

This is correct. They removed the Torsen center differential on all but the Limited models. Using the part-time system on dry pavement will cause binding in turns and is not good for it.

 

[DEKA3]

This is correct. They removed the Torsen center differential on all but the Limited models. Using the part-time system on dry pavement will cause binding in turns and is not good for it.

Thanks for the quick response. But I have a follow up ?.... What happens if its raining/or snow on the ground and I come up to an area with dry ground (happens more often than yo umight think in NYC), and then in about a half mile later, the ground is wet again, from melting snow or what have you....?

 

[ssmathis]

Driving in a straight line isn't a problem but if you are turning in that half-mile then the system can bind up and could, could, cause damage. I'm not saying this will happen but I have seen it done before. It may be safer to just put it in to and out of 4wd when that happens. Kind of a pain and why some complain about the elimination of the torsen center diff. I know how you feel as we can get the same scenario in Colorado.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

You can drive it on any surface with no problems. Just don't make turns with 4wd engaged.

 

[4RBob]

You can drive it on any surface with no problems. Just don't make turns ON DRY PAVEMENT with 4wd engaged.

fixed it

 

[DEKA3]

got it. so in other words,pray for either a dry winter or a heavy snow winter. lol.
All kidding aside, I really appreciate your prompt responses on this thread. I am clear as to what to do and not do with 4wd.

Now all that is left to figure out is center dif lock, atrac, vsc, etc. But that is another thread for another time.

Thanks again everybody!

 

[westwind77]

Now all that is left to figure out is center dif lock, atrac, vsc, etc.

So you have a LE correct? If so IGNORE everything said above. The dry pavement only applies to 'part time' systems, (SR5 & TE), the LE has a 'full-time' system, no damage will happen (assuming you did mean center dif lock and not rear dif lock, because then you would have a TE)

 

[DEKA3]

So you have a LE correct? If so IGNORE everything said above. The dry pavement only applies to 'part time' systems, (SR5 & TE), the LE has a 'full-time' system, no damage will happen (assuming you did mean center dif lock and not rear dif lock, because then you would have a TE)

I have a TE. So it still applies to me, I guess. Just wondering why Toyota would take the Torsen out of the equation for their "rebirth" (as some people are calling it) of the 4R...

 

[Clemsonfan15]

In my option it's more of "Back to it's roots". I think the 5th Gen TE looks a lot like the 3rd Gen. They brought back the locker etc...

The Torsen would have made the price go up even more.

 

[westwind77]

I have a TE. So it still applies to me, I guess. Just wondering why Toyota would take the Torsen out of the equation for their "rebirth" (as some people are calling it) of the 4R...

Ok, so you have the REAR dif lock, not the CENTER lock As you said though, you can save that for a different thread, or do a search on this forum, a lot has been said on the VSC, TRAC, Lock, etc. Would save a lot of time and get all the answers you need.

 

[Jed]

Thanks for the quick response. But I have a follow up ?.... What happens if its raining/or snow on the ground and I come up to an area with dry ground (happens more often than yo umight think in NYC), and then in about a half mile later, the ground is wet again, from melting snow or what have you....?

That right there is the big disadvantage that the lack of a center differential causes. It's nice to just put it in 4wd HI and not worry about changing road conditions. To have that capability in the 5th gen, you have to buy a Limited. Otherwise, you're stuck with a part-time 4wd system that does not have a center differential.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

I think people make too big of a deal over not having a center differential. It's NOT hard to press in a button to engage 4wd.

 

[Jed]

I think people make too big of a deal over not having a center differential. It's NOT hard to press in a button to engage 4wd.

No, it's actually very easy to push a button. That's true. But it's even easier to drive in changing snow conditions without having to worry about hitting the button on and off.

You don't realize how awesome it is to have a center diff until you actually have one that you've used for a while. I generally keep my 4Runner in 4HI all winter long and only switch back to 2HI in the spring. It has even helped me in the rain to keep it in 4wd.

 

[M1911]

No, it's actually very easy to push a button. That's true. But it's even easier to drive in changing snow conditions without having to worry about hitting the button on and off.

You don't realize how awesome it is to have a center diff until you actually have one that you've used for a while. I generally keep my 4Runner in 4HI all winter long and only switch back to 2HI in the spring. It has even helped me in the rain to keep it in 4wd.

I keep my 4Runner in 4HI all year long. (2003 V8 )

 

[rook]

No, it's actually very easy to push a button. That's true. But it's even easier to drive in changing snow conditions without having to worry about hitting the button on and off.

You don't realize how awesome it is to have a center diff until you actually have one that you've used for a while. I generally keep my 4Runner in 4HI all winter long and only switch back to 2HI in the spring. It has even helped me in the rain to keep it in 4wd.

:iagree:

Plus you have AWD and VSC still works

 

[atv223]

At first I was really bothered by the fact that my 2010 SR5 only had part time 4x4 when the 1998 Jeep GC I was moving from had the full time option. Still, there was no other SUV on the market that I wanted and I didn't want to spend the money on the limited, so I figured I would just have to shift in and out and teach my wife about this when the roads are mixed wet and dry.

Then it dawned on me, if the roads are spotty, I don't need 4x4 to get through anything, just to keep the vehicle from getting out of control, slipping and sliding. My old Jeep's only option to do this was to put it in 4x4. My new SR5 has traction control and stability control, which should be more than adequate to keep in going where it needs to in the spotty conditions. Then 4x4 is really only needed for the extremely bad conditions.

At least that's my rational.

 

[Jed]

At first I was really bothered by the fact that my 2010 SR5 only had part time 4x4 when the 1998 Jeep GC I was moving from had the full time option. Still, there was no other SUV on the market that I wanted and I didn't want to spend the money on the limited, so I figured I would just have to shift in and out and teach my wife about this when the roads are mixed wet and dry.

Then it dawned on me, if the roads are spotty, I don't need 4x4 to get through anything, just to keep the vehicle from getting out of control, slipping and sliding. My old Jeep's only option to do this was to put it in 4x4. My new SR5 has traction control and stability control, which should be more than adequate to keep in going where it needs to in the spotty conditions. Then 4x4 is really only needed for the extremely bad conditions.

At least that's my rational.

Yeah, that's a good point. In my area, the roads can go from wet to snowy to icy and back all on the same road within a few miles. It's actually quite common to see those mixed conditions, especially when driving in a snow storm. For that type of situation, it is very reassuring to have a full-time 4wd option. It allows the vehicle to have maximum grip regardless of the changing road conditions. I don't think I'll ever go back to a part-time 4wd system as long as I continue to buy SUVs. Maybe I'm just spoiled...

 

[westwind77]

I don't think I'll ever go back to a part-time 4wd system as long as I continue to buy SUVs. Maybe I'm just spoiled...

I think it all depends on where you live, and how much you really depend on your 4wd system 'on-road'. I went from a system that had both a P/T and a F/T system to the new 4R with the P/T system. I weighed the pros/cons for my area, snow, ice, length of avg. drive, etc and I will have NO problem with the P/T system. Now those who have longer drives, more snow, changing conditions, etc, well they may opt for the F/T as it will fit their needs better. They did 'tweak' there line, bringing some things up and others down (like offering factory leather in an SR5 which was only available in the LE previously, to making the F/T system only available in the LE.)

 

[Jed]

I think it all depends on where you live, and how much you really depend on your 4wd system 'on-road'. I went from a system that had both a P/T and a F/T system to the new 4R with the P/T system. I weighed the pros/cons for my area, snow, ice, length of avg. drive, etc and I will have NO problem with the P/T system. Now those who have longer drives, more snow, changing conditions, etc, well they may opt for the F/T as it will fit their needs better. They did 'tweak' there line, bringing some things up and others down (like offering factory leather in an SR5 which was only available in the LE previously, to making the F/T system only available in the LE.)

Yeah, it definitely depends upon where you live and where you drive. In my part of NY, you just never know what type of road conditions you'll find in the winter. I spend a lot of time in upstate NY where it constantly snows all winter long. Back when I had my S10 Blazer with a part-time 4wd system, I would be driving along a road that had been plowed clean, only to turn into a snowy driveway (people don't plow their driveways ever up there, they just keep driving over the snow) and get stuck. Of course then I had to put it in 4wd and hope that I wasn't already in too deep. Needless to say, AWD cars and full-time 4wd trucks are really popular up there.

I also ski up in Lake Placid every winter and encounter the same situation. Only up there, a lot of people have gravel driveways, so they occasionally dump more gravel on top of the snow to aid in traction.