choosing the correct 4x4 mode for different conditions

[hinmo24t]

hey all,
ive been wheeling this winter in freetown state forest, MA. they are rocky trails, pretty slow, along with deep puddles/water crossings. in the event of a lot of rain - i wont even go in this place without a snorkel. by puddles i mean 50' long x 2-3' + deep on days ill go in. with about 10-20 of them in the 3 different trails. there are sometime large rocks in the ruts in the puddles, or outside the ruts, so you have to hope you choose a good line and not get crossed up going through them or clipping a hidden rock - so i dont like to hammer through them, but rather just keep momentum, but slowly, and i like being in 4L for these because i would rather be safe than sorry for a snatch recovery sitting in 3' of water. theres also a decent hill out here with some moguls at the top.

questions:
when i get to the puddle crossings, does center locked up in low or 4h seem smart? is it okay to lock and unlock the center diff like 10 times in an hour?
is it okay to creep around rocks with the center locked? i think im trying to get used to choosing the different drive modes with varying conditions and other trucks on the trail - not trying to hold anyone up/not get stuck either.

here are some videos of the trails, im not in any of these vids:

one hill out there
YouTube

some of the puddles
YouTube

YouTube

 

[T4R2014]

4Hi unlocked should be reserved for slushy roads. Off roading should always be locked. I guess the only exception would be 4Hi unlocked in areas where tight maneuvering is necessary.

 

[hinmo24t]

4Hi unlocked should be reserved for slushy roads. Off roading should always be locked. I guess the only exception would be 4Hi unlocked in areas where tight maneuvering is necessary.

good to know...i wonder if our trails, in the rocky sections, qualify as tight to leave the system unlocked. maybe not since it isnt like we are trying to make turns around trees or anything, moreso just picking smart lines to avoid hitting the diff on rocks, etc. i have heard that manuevering as long as your arent on pavement is fine locked up.


appreciate the info. also - knowing youre from vermont, i think the guy who does those videos wheels up there and a handful of the crew. doresett caves etc. kevin who films those also has a sick v8 limited on 35s, etc. etc.

 

[techno]

The decision to lock/unlock the CDL will come from your experience over time, but the general 'rule' is to lock it if you need it, or if you think you'll need it. So if the CDL is unlocked and traction control is working overtime keeping you moving forward, then lock it. I see no issue locking and unlock frequently either. You will soon learn to read the trails and judge your trucks capability and set up the drive train accordingly.

For the kind of bogholes in your videos, I would lock the CDL. Probably wouldn't be in low range, but it certainly doesn't hurt if you are.

My buddies and I used to do what we called "The 2WD Challenge". We always started the trails in 2wd and saw how far we could get before needing 4wd. The first to shift was the loser and had to buy beers, haha.

 

[BackOff]

The decision to lock/unlock the CDL will come from your experience over time, but the general 'rule' is to lock it if you need it, or if you think you'll need it. So if the CDL is unlocked and traction control is working overtime keeping you moving forward, then lock it. I see no issue locking and unlock frequently either. You will soon learn to read the trails and judge your trucks capability and set up the drive train accordingly.

For the kind of bogholes in your videos, I would lock the CDL. Probably wouldn't be in low range, but it certainly doesn't hurt if you are.

My buddies and I used to do what we called "The 2WD Challenge". We always started the trails in 2wd and saw how far we could get before needing 4wd. The first to shift was the loser and had to buy beers, haha.

The '2wd challenge'

Is it 'tires' or is it 'driver' that usually wins?

Just a thought...If you lock the center it kills the trac system.

Slow crawling...lock it.
Just wheeling, trails i would want the trac ABS sys working... just me, i like it. For most stuff.
Seems like the diff locks in 4Low if your really in the throttle. Over 2500rpm.

 

[hinmo24t]

The '2wd challenge'

Is it 'tires' or is it 'driver' that usually wins?

Just a thought...If you lock the center it kills the trac system.

Slow crawling...lock it.
Just wheeling, trails i would want the trac ABS sys working... just me, i like it. For most stuff.
Seems like the diff locks in 4Low if your really in the throttle. Over 2500rpm.

thanks. you think the CDL locks automatically if youre on it pretty good in 4L? didnt know that but havent been on it that hard yet.

 

[techno]

The '2wd challenge'

Is it 'tires' or is it 'driver' that usually wins?

Lol Well, we all had different vehicles with different tires, so it usually came down to who had the most disregard for the vehicle, safety and the environment on the day. Free beer motivated us to do some pretty dumb stuff I recall. :doh:

 

[techno]

Just a thought...If you lock the center it kills the trac system.

Negative. It disables VSC only.

 

[BackOff]

Whoops my bad.
...techno is right.

The VSC is off over 2500rpm in 4low/diff locked.

 

[BackOff]

Dang wrong again...
Had to go out and try it in the yard.

As soon as you put it in 4low the VSC light comes on.

I tried it locked and unlocked in 4high and 4low and did not get anything but the slippy tire light to come on over 2500rpm.

Really seemed like there was some RPM related traction feature... guess i am just nuts.

:bash:

 

[Inv4drZm]

Dang wrong again...
Had to go out and try it in the yard.

As soon as you put it in 4low the VSC light comes on.

I tried it locked and unlocked in 4high and 4low and did not get anything but the slippy tire light to come on over 2500rpm.

Really seemed like there was some RPM related traction feature... guess i am just nuts.

:bash:

ATRAC is what you are thinking of.

 

[techno]

ATRAC will used both rpm and brakes to do it's thing. Brakes mostly, but rpm control depending on how much throttle you're trying to give.
Toyota didn't do a good job with the warning lights in my opinion. They are confusing at times. The slippy tire light actually gets used for vsc, atrac and hill start. You need to understand your exact circumstances to know what's going on and most drivers these days don't even know where the engine is in their car.

 

[hinmo24t]

thanks for the replies so far everyone.

anyone else care to share the drive modes they use where they take their 4runner offroading?

 

[blackoutt]

V8 awd, I'm of the theory of keep everything "undone" until you think you'll need it so it just stays as is until I'm offroad and encounter: mud, sand, snow, loose terrain = lock center diff so that vsc turns off, nothing worse than loosing momentum in a mud hole because vsc cut the throttle. Then I add 4 lo into the mix if I'm = going up or down steep inclines and/or crawling obstacles where I want to either use the engine to brake and keep momentum lower or to attempt to keep torque converter heat to minimum. Only in low when I want to use the gearing to my advantage and almost always have center diff locked before I go into low and it stays there. As others have mentioned sometimes when turning around or switchback or tight section it helps to unlock center diff again to reduce binding up.

 

[That_Titanium_4RNR]

V8 awd, I'm of the theory of keep everything "undone" until you think you'll need it so it just stays as is until I'm offroad and encounter: mud, sand, snow, loose terrain = lock center diff so that vsc turns off, nothing worse than loosing momentum in a mud hole because vsc cut the throttle. Then I add 4 lo into the mix if I'm = going up or down steep inclines and/or crawling obstacles where I want to either use the engine to brake and keep momentum lower or to attempt to keep torque converter heat to minimum. Only in low when I want to use the gearing to my advantage and almost always have center diff locked before I go into low and it stays there. As others have mentioned sometimes when turning around or switchback or tight section it helps to unlock center diff again to reduce binding up.

well said :cheers: this is how I typically run as well. I don't do much with 4Lo other than engage and disengage it every month or so to keep everything freed up. However I do use center lock quite a bit. Especially since the majority of offroading so far for me has been on the beach.

 

[Bluesky 07]

thanks for the replies so far everyone.

anyone else care to share the drive modes they use where they take there 4runner offroading?

My logic follows that described by [MENTION=117708]blackoutt[/MENTION] for the most part. Drove the beach at Cape Lookout, which is a mix of hard-packed near the water and deep/loose away from the water, in 4HI locked with no issues. Did the 2018 Kentucky Toyota Trail Ride using a mix of 4LO locked on the ascents/descents and 4HI locked/unlocked based on the trail. Had it unlocked on the easiest fire road sections and locked most other times.

As for setup, I've since done a mild lift but both those examples were with the stock X-REAS, no lift, and Michellin Defender tires.

Hope that helps. As others have said, you'll get a feel for it.

 

[hinmo24t]

thanks! i rendered it down to, when i get offroad, 4h Locked. anything steep (up or down) or crawl style, 4L locked. instead of locking/unlocking in 4H offroad, i might just keep it locked unless turning around or super tight turns. i suppose on a climb that requires some momentum itd be better to leave it in 4h locked for speed/gear purposes...even though 4L locked 2 gear could get me some more speed i suppose, just seems like such a slow tank in low though haha.

 

[Inv4drZm]

I've never needed to go faster than 4-low on any trail, other than on some open sections in Moab.

For me it's 4-low and CDL the entire time until I'm at the parking lot.

 

[hinmo24t]

I've never needed to go faster than 4-low on any trail, other than on some open sections in Moab.

For me it's 4-low and CDL the entire time until I'm at the parking lot.

i kind of like that too for the trails i run. they are pretty rocky and those puddle/bog holes are every couple mins...