Is the 4runner Trail Edition Too Complex??

[DavidAlexander]

Yeah, an early review I read listed the Trail as having a lever actuated 4wd like the older sr5 generations.

I still cant believe they charge extra for KDSS and don't even put a decent all-terrain on the Trail Edition. The trail should definetly come with these options.

I can see it now, 5 years from now we are all looking for a used trail edition with KDSS to buy. Kind of like a 3rd gen with locker for all you 3rd geners out there.

 

[Titanpat57]

Hey all,

While showering today and thinking of ways to solve world hunger, i was thinking just how complex the 5th gen 4runner 4wd system is! Ok, so, you're approaching the off-road park...what to do?

1. Stop, shift tranny to Neutral
2. Shift the Transfer case into 4-LO
3. Shift back into Drive
4. Press RSCA OFF button to turn off side curtain airbags
5. Press A-TRAC button to go into aggressive mode
6. Press Rear Locker button to lock the rear
7. Turn the CRAWL control to whatever speed you want
8. Turn the Multi-Terrain knob to the terrain you are driving

Granted, the last 4 steps are interchangeable and you may not need to use all of those modes. However, this is complex!! Can you imagine now if a person describes his off-road situation (say, being stuck on a climb) on the forum, you now have to post and ask him which of these 8 steps did he do and which ones he didn't do?!! :nono: Holy cow! Within the last two steps are even more options that you have to ask! Information overload...or technology overkill! And all i wanted to do was climb that anthill!!

IMHO, the combination of A-TRAC and rear locker makes CRAWL and Multi-Terrain (MT) obsolete and useless. I would bet that with A-TRAC and locker, i can beat anyone using the CRAWL and MT system. In vehicles without A-TRAC and rear locker, i can see where CRAWL and MT would be helpful...say, in the Land Cruiser for instance. However, with A-TRAC and rear locker, you don't need CRAWL or MT because they (A-TRAC & locker) allow you to just concentrate on pushing the gas pedal just enough to go as fast as necessary over a terrain. A-TRAC and locker are there to keep you moving forward at your own pace over any terrain.

For me, i wish that Toyota would just throw away the CRAWL and MT and put in KDSS as standard for the Trail Edition. Do you see Jeep Wrangler Rubicon making the anti-roll bar disconnect optional?? No, it is a standard feature because it is an OFF-ROAD feature. Toyota needs to make KDSS standard on the Trail Ed. because that is what it is used for! Get rid of all those knobs...they are confusing me when my checklist is already long enough to go through when hitting the trails! :driving:

This is why i think that the 2009 (4th gen) Trail Edition has the perfect 4wd technology combination...keep things simple...the last thing that you want on the trail is forgetting or turning on the wrong stuff!!:happens:

My thoughts....

If you put this much observation into a 4wD scenario.....I think world hunger should be a snap...:iagree:

But nonetheless a great observation!!:thumb3:

 

[bigbwb]

I have a question on when the locking rear diff can be activated. I understand the part time 4WD systems(owned a 2000 4R) but have never had the rear locking diff before and I hope to own a TE very soon.

So if someone can clarify the following functions:

TRAC button pressing it once disables Traction control, holding it in also disables VSC?

ATRAC - (I know what ATRAC does)pressing it disables the feature, can this be disabled in both 4lo and 4hi?

Locking Rear diff- when can this be used.... 4HI, 4LO, certain speeds etc? Does one need to stop to engage it or can it be done on the fly like the part time 4WD system?

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[elemint]

I would not use "too complex". I would say an expensive option for those who cannot chew gum and walk at the same time. I laughed when I read this: "Engage crawl control, so the driver can focus more attention on steering. I guess those people I see floating all over the highways with there cruise control are just super focused.

 

[LWN]

I think you are wrong about this. I test drove an SR5 and found that the transfer case lever actually moved and vibrated under load, which leads me to believe it is directly tied into the transfer case through linkage.

I believe you're correct - the SR5 and Trail models have part-time 4wd, i.e, a mechanical lever to the transfer case, although the Limited model does have full-time 4wd with a locking center diff. So perhaps the lever in the Limited model is only connected to a switch, but that shouldn;t be the case for the SR5 and Trail.

 

[4Runner8]

for the part time in the trail and sr5 when in 4 hi what is the top speed?

 

[sandcrawler]

I believe you're correct - the SR5 and Trail models have part-time 4wd, i.e, a mechanical lever to the transfer case, although the Limited model does have full-time 4wd with a locking center diff. So perhaps the lever in the Limited model is only connected to a switch, but that shouldn;t be the case for the SR5 and Trail.

the SR5 and Trail Editions both employ Toyota's VF2A transfer case; lever-actuated mechanical linkage. the Limited features the Torsen center differential; knob-actuated electronic linkage.

 

[bigbwb]

I have a question on when the locking rear diff can be activated. I understand the part time 4WD systems(owned a 2000 4R) but have never had the rear locking diff before and I hope to own a TE very soon.

So if someone can clarify the following functions:

TRAC button pressing it once disables Traction control, holding it in also disables VSC?

ATRAC - (I know what ATRAC does)pressing it disables the feature, can this be disabled in both 4lo and 4hi?

Locking Rear diff- when can this be used.... 4HI, 4LO, certain speeds etc? Does one need to stop to engage it or can it be done on the fly like the part time 4WD system?

Thanks for the clarification.

anyone?

 

[Clemsonfan15]

anyone?

I'm not positive, but I would say only in 4Lo and only when your stopped. That's how it was on the 3rd Gens.

4Runner8- Do you mean how fast can you go or how fast can you go and still activate 4wd?

 

[Uneek]

Locking Rear diff- when can this be used.... 4HI, 4LO, certain speeds etc? Does one need to stop to engage it or can it be done on the fly like the part time 4WD system?

Generally speaking, use the rear diff lock if one wheel has little to no traction, such as on something slippery like ice or if it's up in the air. Since it has an "open" diff, power will naturally goto the wheel with the least resistance, which wouldn't do a thing to get you moving. By locking the diff, you're forcing power to be split 50/50 to both wheels. The locker does not lock on the fly, it could take some time for the gears to line up before it engages. But Tacoma guys have found the more you use it, the easier and faster it locks.

If it's like the 2nd gen Tacoma, the rear locker only works in 4Lo from the factory. You would need to do the locker mod to lock the diff other than 4Lo. My Tacoma is a PreRunner, so no modding on mine.

 

[bigbwb]

Generally speaking, use the rear diff lock if one wheel has little to no traction, such as on something slippery like ice or if it's up in the air. Since it has an "open" diff, power will naturally goto the wheel with the least resistance, which wouldn't do a thing to get you moving. By locking the diff, you're forcing power to be split 50/50 to both wheels. The locker does not lock on the fly, it could take some time for the gears to line up before it engages. But Tacoma guys have found the more you use it, the easier and faster it locks.

If it's like the 2nd gen Tacoma, the rear locker only works in 4Lo from the factory. You would need to do the locker mod to lock the diff other than 4Lo. My Tacoma is a PreRunner, so no modding on mine.

Thank you. While I had my TE rental, I was cruising along on a snow covered road and hit the diff lock button while in 4HI and the red diff lock light lit up, so maybe it does work in 4HI? Anyone else with a TE mess around with the rear locker yet?

 

[4Runner8]

4Runner8- Do you mean how fast can you go or how fast can you go and still activate 4wd?

basically both..... how fast can u go while in 4wd? i know u can activate while driving.

 

[4RBob]

read the owner's manual very carefully when you get it. it should have all this info in it.

you don't want the rear locker on on dry road. my jeep only allows to actuate in 4Lo, not sure about your future 4Runner.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

basically both..... how fast can u go while in 4wd? i know u can activate while driving.

You can drive as fast as you want in 4wd.

You can probably activate it up to around 60 MPH.

 

[4Runner8]

so why is it called part time???? i thought part time 4 was like put it in 4 and only go up to 35 mph?? and is it confirmed that the know goes straight into the transfer case?

 

[LWN]

anyone?

Locking rear dif can only be used in 4 low, although there are published mods to override this so it can be used anytime. And you do need to be stopped to engage it.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

so why is it called part time???? i thought part time 4 was like put it in 4 and only go up to 35 mph?? and is it confirmed that the know goes straight into the transfer case?

Probably because you have to select when to use it. You can't have it engaged all the time. If you try to make a turn on dry pavement it will bind.

 

[4Runner8]

Probably because you have to select when to use it. You can't have it engaged all the time. If you try to make a turn on dry pavement it will bind.

bind???? as in it will grind the tires or what?? and i know i wouldnt want to at all times i just like knowing that i can go as fast as i want in 4wd.... (i do this in Pop's FX4 F-250... talk about fun in the mud hahah)

 

[Uneek]

so why is it called part time???? i thought part time 4 was like put it in 4 and only go up to 35 mph?? and is it confirmed that the know goes straight into the transfer case?

Part-time because it (SR5 and Trail Edition) doesn't have a center differential. When making a turn the rear tires don't follow the same path as the front tires, thus they're rotating at different speeds. Without a center differential, the front and rear axles rotate at the same speed, meaning it will bind and cause excessive wear on the drivetrain and tires when a turn is made. With that said, a part time 4WD system should only be used on low traction surfaces, so the tires are allowed to slip during a turn and explicitly why part time 4WD should not be operated on pavement.

The shift on the fly functionality has speed limitation from 2WD to 4WD high (4H) on the 4th gen, upto 62mph. I'm not sure if it's different or any limitation with the 5th's part time system.

The shift lever is mechanically linked to the transfer case.

 

[Uneek]

bigbwb,

My Tacoma's rear diff lock can only be engaged when speeds are under 5mph. Once engaged, you can go above 5mph.