Can someone explain the different 4x4 options on the 4th gen?

[vision-quest]

I only moved to the US this year and have never had snow or 4x4 to deal with before this truck and winter. Can someone explain which (4 HI/4 LO, diff lock) setting j should be on for icy roads with a little snow here in Colorado? I haven't had the winter tires installed yet and the roads are going to be pretty bad tomorrow.

I've got a 2008 V6 UrbanRunner

 

[Dunngeon]

I only moved to the US this year and have never had snow or 4x4 to deal with before this truck and winter. Can someone explain which (4 HI/4 LO, diff lock) setting j should be on for icy roads with a little snow here in Colorado? I haven't had the winter tires installed yet and the roads are going to be pretty bad tomorrow.

I've got a 2008 V6 UrbanRunner

4Hi - center diff unlocked is what I use in the snow. Use the shifter to downshift if necessary.

Since your're in Colorado, I'd get snow tires. They'll make the biggest difference.

If you haven't driven in snow before, take it easy and remember the harder parts are stopping/turning, getting going is the easy part

 

[vision-quest]

4Hi - center diff unlocked is what I use in the snow. Use the shifter to downshift if necessary.

Since your're in Colorado, I'd get snow tires. They'll make the biggest difference.

If you haven't driven in snow before, take it easy and remember the harder parts are stopping/turning, getting going is the easy part

Thank you. I did arrive in January this year so I did drive in snow, but that was in a Mazda 3 with snow tires, no 4x4 obviously. So my wife will be driving the 4Runner today, should she just leave the car in 4Hi all day and then downshift to 1st gear if she has issues getting going? Can she switch to 4Hi while moving?

 

[CAN-03runner]

Thank you. I did arrive in January this year so I did drive in snow, but that was in a Mazda 3 with snow tires, no 4x4 obviously. So my wife will be driving the 4Runner today, should she just leave the car in 4Hi all day and then downshift to 1st gear if she has issues getting going? Can she switch to 4Hi while moving?

EDIT ** I don't think you can do 4Hi while moving, I think you need to be stopped and in N. ** seems like I stand corrected down below

You could just leave it in 4hi all day. 4 Hi with your 4th gen basically means AWD. So it will be like any other AWD subrau, xdrive, Quattro etc.. etc...

Then you can hit the center diff lock on and off pretty much any time while driving. This will take you into true 4x4 mode. This means that unlike the 4Hi AWD mode, you CAN NOT drive in this mode all day on the streets, especially if the street is dry, and you won't need it for rain, light snow, even heavy snow usually. So turn it on if you need it, but then turn it off once you don't need it anymore. If you drive slow enough and be careful you won't really need it on the street. It might come in handy to make your way in or out of a snow covered parking lot, or a street parking spot after the snow plows have buried you in. something like this. https://youtu.be/33LXlrqNm7Q



I will activate the center diff lock on the fly sometimes if the snow plows are pushing snow away and create mounds in between lanes or at intersections. I activate, and plow through, then deactivate. And when I say plow through, I don't mean launch myself into it, I mean just drive in with a little extra momentum. 4runner is a 5000lbs beast. It doesn't need much launching to break snow up. And you don't want to leave your plastic bumper behind.

Most front wheel drive cars get by winter snow pretty decently. What might stop them is the clearance with heavy snow fall. So with the 4runner you pretty much have the clearance issue solved.

You will be amazed at the control with center diff lock on. But....do not forget to turn it off when you don't need it. It can potentially bind and cause major problems. so don't forget to turn it off.

 

[madeinhb]

You can switch to 4Hi while driving. I do it when needed but switch it going 40 mph and lower. 4Low you have to be stopped and in Neutral. But 4Low shouldn't be used all the time and should be used in low speed. Under 10 I believe. I live in CO and have never had to use 4 Low yet.

 

[vision-quest]

I don't think you can do 4Hi while moving, I think you need to be stopped and in N.

You could just leave it in 4hi all day. 4 Hi with your 4th gen basically means AWD. So it will be like any other AWD subrau, xdrive, Quattro etc.. etc...

Then you can hit the center diff lock on and off pretty much any time while driving. This will take you into true 4x4 mode. This means that unlike the 4Hi AWD mode, you CAN NOT drive in this mode all day on the streets, especially if the street is dry, and you won't need it for rain, light snow, even heavy snow usually. So turn it on if you need it, but then turn it off once you don't need it anymore. If you drive slow enough and be careful you won't really need it on the street. It might come in handy to make your way in or out of a snow covered parking lot, or a street parking spot after the snow plows have buried you in. something like this. https://youtu.be/33LXlrqNm7Q



I will activate the center diff lock on the fly sometimes if the snow plows are pushing snow away and create mounds in between lanes or at intersections. I activate, and plow through, then deactivate. And when I say plow through, I don't mean launch myself into it, I mean just drive in with a little extra momentum. 4runner is a 5000lbs beast. It doesn't need much launching to break snow up. And you don't want to leave your plastic bumper behind.

Most front wheel drive cars get by winter snow pretty decently. What might stop them is the clearance with heavy snow fall. So with the 4runner you pretty much have the clearance issue solved.

You will be amazed at the control with center diff lock on. But....do not forget to turn it off when you don't need it. It can potentially bind and cause major problems. so don't forget to turn it off.

Really appreciate this response!

 

[vision-quest]

You can switch to 4Hi while driving. I do it when needed but switch it going 40 mph and lower. 4Low you have to be stopped and in Neutral. But 4Low shouldn't be used all the time and should be used in low speed. Under 10 I believe. I live in CO and have never had to use 4 Low yet.

Yeah I was just reading elsewhere I could engage 4 HI while driving. thanks a lot.

 

[SSt4r]

Yes, no problem putting in 4WD while moving or engaging center diff. lock (at below highway speeds) BUT you want to be travelling pretty straight with NO wheel spin at time of engagement. Also there is no problem leaving it in 4hi all the time (note the V8s have no 2hi setting - 4hi all the time) but you don't want the center diff locked on dry roads.

I suggest when you get some snow on the ground find yourself a SAFE place (empty roads or parking lot) and "play" with the different modes to get used to how the truck (or car or SUV or whatever you want to call the 4runner - not going to entertain THAT argument!) reacts / handles in each mode.

4low is generally used for off road applications but try it anyway. Its good to frequently switch between all the modes anyway just to exercise the components.

Also don't get too confident on how well the 4runner moves in the snow using all 4 wheels. It's no different than any other vehicle when it comes times to stop. It all comes down to traction ie: winter tires as stated above. I have a dedicated set I switch to when I'm going to be in snow. HUGE difference.

 

[Drunner97]

^ I concur. I was switching in and out of 4HI and engaging/disengaging my center diff all day Saturday while moving.

 

[vision-quest]

Yes, no problem putting in 4WD while moving or engaging center diff. lock (at below highway speeds) BUT you want to be travelling pretty straight with NO wheel spin at time of engagement. Also there is no problem leaving it in 4hi all the time (note the V8s have no 2hi setting - 4hi all the time) but you don't want the center diff locked on dry roads.

I suggest when you get some snow on the ground find yourself a SAFE place (empty roads or parking lot) and "play" with the different modes to get used to how the truck (or car or SUV or whatever you want to call the 4runner - not going to entertain THAT argument!) reacts / handles in each mode.

4low is generally used for off road applications but try it anyway. Its good to frequently switch between all the modes anyway just to exercise the components.

Also don't get too confident on how well the 4runner moves in the snow using all 4 wheels. It's no different than any other vehicle when it comes times to stop. It all comes down to traction ie: winter tires as stated above. I have a dedicated set I switch to when I'm going to be in snow. HUGE difference.

Good idea regarding trying out the different modes in a parking lot. Would be interested to see how much of a difference they make.