How fast can you drive in 4WD?
- Thread starter RLiu818
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1. Consult your owner's manual first and foremost.
2. Consult your common sense.
3. Do not drive faster than you can stop.
Living in the foothill right below the snow line, I drive to Lake Tahoe and Reno often enough. If you have 4x2 and find the roadway bad enough to need 4x4, you should not be going more than 30-40 mph. I see plenty of people blow right by in 4 inches of snow doing 50-60 mph and they are just plain stupid. 4WD does not change the laws of physics. 4WD can get you started and keep you going, but does not change the physics in stopping. Just because the manual may say you can shift on the fly up to 60 mph or what ever the owner's manual says you can does not mean you should.
I've had to slow down to 25 mph at times depending on the slickness of the snow or ice or the narrowness of the road, the acuity of curves, light or lack of, etc.
If you are 4 wheeling, the speed is often much slower than what you see on TV. Most 4 Wheelers roll nice and slow up and down rocks because they can't crash into them. They need slow steady movements checking the line of travel so that eahc wheel is on solid footing to manuever over rocks and gaps. Consult some good 4 wheeling manuals for driving techniques in those areas.
There is no bright line answer but real 4 wheeling or real life need for 4x4 is much less glamorous. Just common sense, and if it does not feel right, go even slower. The goal is to get there and get there in one piece.
2. Consult your common sense.
3. Do not drive faster than you can stop.
Living in the foothill right below the snow line, I drive to Lake Tahoe and Reno often enough. If you have 4x2 and find the roadway bad enough to need 4x4, you should not be going more than 30-40 mph. I see plenty of people blow right by in 4 inches of snow doing 50-60 mph and they are just plain stupid. 4WD does not change the laws of physics. 4WD can get you started and keep you going, but does not change the physics in stopping. Just because the manual may say you can shift on the fly up to 60 mph or what ever the owner's manual says you can does not mean you should.
I've had to slow down to 25 mph at times depending on the slickness of the snow or ice or the narrowness of the road, the acuity of curves, light or lack of, etc.
If you are 4 wheeling, the speed is often much slower than what you see on TV. Most 4 Wheelers roll nice and slow up and down rocks because they can't crash into them. They need slow steady movements checking the line of travel so that eahc wheel is on solid footing to manuever over rocks and gaps. Consult some good 4 wheeling manuals for driving techniques in those areas.
There is no bright line answer but real 4 wheeling or real life need for 4x4 is much less glamorous. Just common sense, and if it does not feel right, go even slower. The goal is to get there and get there in one piece.
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sharp4runr
New member
If you have the V6 and are in 2WD, it suggests that you be under 62MPH before you switch to 4WD. Once in 4WD, I don't see why you can't drive the top speed of the 4Runner. Now, SHOULD you drive that fast? Well that's up to you and the police...
Good Times
New member
To sum it up, each 4wd system on any vehicle is different so it's really hard to say how fast you can drive.
You're gonna have to consult each manual to find out what the limitations are for each vehicle.
Personally speaking, slower the better as the faster you go in bad terrain, you're bound to do something stupid.
Good luck
You're gonna have to consult each manual to find out what the limitations are for each vehicle.
Personally speaking, slower the better as the faster you go in bad terrain, you're bound to do something stupid.
Good luck
bulldog-yota
New member
RLiu818 said:
what model are you referring too? 2005 v6?
You should have no speed issues with a 4th Gen driving speeds in 4wd as it has a center diff. Buts as said consult the manual. The v8 is permanent 4wd so there you go.
ToolmanJohn
New member
Re: Re: Re: How fast can you drive in 4WD?
The V8 and V6 4WD systems are identical except for the fact that the V6 can be put into 2WD with a dash switch. So if you can drive top speed in the V8 4WD, it should be able to drive top speed in the V6 4WD. Top speed is top speed whatever it may be, wind and power limited I'm sure in an SUV. You have to decide just how fast you want to drive an SUV.
The manual for the V6 does state that you shouldn't shift into or out of 4WD mode at something like 60mph. This is probably some kind of synchronizing action that shouldn't be done at highway speeds. I would follow the manuals advice.
Besides, if you are wondering about changing modes at that speed, you should have been in 4WD in the first place. Decide if the road conditions warrant being in 4WD before your trip. The truck is designed to be in 4wd permanently if neccessary, and it does no harm to the drivetrain.
If you end up driving into great weather, and the 4WD is no longer neccessary, so what? Stay in 4WD until you are able to change to 2WD safely. I have driven several days in 4WD because I forgot to switch back. That little green idiot light is easy to miss. No harm except to my mileage.
RLiu818 said:
The V8 and V6 4WD systems are identical except for the fact that the V6 can be put into 2WD with a dash switch. So if you can drive top speed in the V8 4WD, it should be able to drive top speed in the V6 4WD. Top speed is top speed whatever it may be, wind and power limited I'm sure in an SUV. You have to decide just how fast you want to drive an SUV.
The manual for the V6 does state that you shouldn't shift into or out of 4WD mode at something like 60mph. This is probably some kind of synchronizing action that shouldn't be done at highway speeds. I would follow the manuals advice.
Besides, if you are wondering about changing modes at that speed, you should have been in 4WD in the first place. Decide if the road conditions warrant being in 4WD before your trip. The truck is designed to be in 4wd permanently if neccessary, and it does no harm to the drivetrain.
If you end up driving into great weather, and the 4WD is no longer neccessary, so what? Stay in 4WD until you are able to change to 2WD safely. I have driven several days in 4WD because I forgot to switch back. That little green idiot light is easy to miss. No harm except to my mileage.
Great answer and if it's true it seems to me that toyota dealers are not being vey honest in the way they market the v8 model. I was told by my dealer that if I upgraded to the v8 that I would also 'get' full time 4wd as if it was an added bonus. It seems to me that they simply take away the option to put the vehicle in 2wd mode for better gas mileage.
TechWrench
Senior Member
Loki said:
Another forum epiphany. The dealer sometimes doesn't know WTF they are talking about
I don't know if it is more dishonesty or ignorance but in any case the dealers seem know very little about what they are selling. They don't really have to, their job is to tell you whatever you want to hear that will get you buy the vehicle that management wants moved off the lot.
spblat
New member
It's just a common sense thing. I stick with the rule of thumb I got from my old Bronco II's manual. Don't shift in and out of 4WD over 50 mph, and for that matter if conditions are such that you feel you need 4WD, you shouldn't exceed 50 regardless.
Olliebear got it right. Just keep it safe. Another way to think of it is that it's a good bet that the machinery can handle going faster than would be safe for any given set of conditions.
Olliebear got it right. Just keep it safe. Another way to think of it is that it's a good bet that the machinery can handle going faster than would be safe for any given set of conditions.
bulldog-yota
New member
Loki said:Not to hijack but I keep hearing that the v8 is full time 4wd and the v6 isnt but when i switch my v6 into 4wd mode I seem to be able to drive it like that all the time without issue. What exactly is the advantage of having the permanent 4wd on the v8?
the only thing I casn think of is the strength of the front hubs. The V8 has no disconnect system, thus nothing that can break. I know a lot of people that swap out their front hubs for manual ones at some point. The reason for this is probably the extra torque and weight of the V8 and considerations for reliability with it.
SnydersWeb
New member
IMHO you really wouldn't want to go all that fast in an SUV.
I used to own a 1995 Integra GS-R and it was rock solid at >100MPH. It felt smooth, stable and most importantly, in control.
I've played around with my 04 4Runner SE and took it up to ~110MPH and while it didn't feel particularly unstable, I can say that it doesn't like going much over 90MPH on straight highways. At 4700 lbs it would be much less forgiving if you screwed up. My Integra would slide out of control while I'd say that my 4Runner would tumble out of control.
I miss my GS-R when I need/want to haul a$$ but the bottom line is SUV's are not built for speed. Though they can manage typical highway speeds with ease.
Unless you want offroad capability or need the extra cargo room and power, get a car.
I used to own a 1995 Integra GS-R and it was rock solid at >100MPH. It felt smooth, stable and most importantly, in control.
I've played around with my 04 4Runner SE and took it up to ~110MPH and while it didn't feel particularly unstable, I can say that it doesn't like going much over 90MPH on straight highways. At 4700 lbs it would be much less forgiving if you screwed up. My Integra would slide out of control while I'd say that my 4Runner would tumble out of control.
I miss my GS-R when I need/want to haul a$$ but the bottom line is SUV's are not built for speed. Though they can manage typical highway speeds with ease.
Unless you want offroad capability or need the extra cargo room and power, get a car.
ok now ive had our 05 toyota past 100 mph and it felt rock solid . I live in the mountains and we have some pretty twisty roads here and i do them regularly at 70 mph + without a thought . I keep in mind she is a little top heavy but i forget all the time im in an suv .As for shifting into and out of 4wd . Manual says below 62 mph and your good to go . JUst dont do it on dry pavement . It supposedly wears in the differential funny and causes failure to get into and out of 4wd (on the v6 ) and ability to STAY in 4wd on v8 . But who knows can you believe the mechanics any more than the money grubbing car salsesmen ?
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