Love that locking case!

[Robs08Runner]

Just got in from work and had seven inches on the ground plus it was packed nicely.Thought I would lock the case in on a pretty steep hill on the way home and that thing absolutely didn't not slip at all. Also really good for backing up steep, covered driveways. hehe

 

[Martinjmpr]

Yup, the 4th gens 4wd system is pretty nice.

I like being able to keep it in unlocked 4wd when there are intermittent patches of snow or ice on the road. When I had my 3rd gen I would either have to keep it in 4wd and risk damage to the drive train or keep it in 2wd and hope I wouldn't skid or slip, or else get really good at reaching down and yanking the lever into 4wd when I approached a slippery spot.

Having said that, I do miss having a lever.

 

[Moab_Bound]

Just got in from work and had seven inches on the ground plus it was packed nicely.Thought I would lock the case in on a pretty steep hill on the way home and that thing absolutely didn't not slip at all. Also really good for backing up steep, covered driveways. hehe

In an area with 6 months of snow, can confirm that locking the Diff is optimal for getting you and others unstuck and 1 more thing.

Monster donuts.

 

[Robs08Runner]

Ding ding ding! I found a nice empty lot before it got too bad and I can confirm this. Hehe
No binding at all. Getting the feel of when I can lock it up. I went up my STEEP street with almost a foot on it with the case locked. Had to turn a lot towards both sides and still no binding. Is this because there was just not enough friction to cause the bind? Guess its gotta be a pretty sharp turn in snow to get it to bind up.
I'm wondering how much snow everyone has been in with the stock suspension. We had right at a foot or so this week and I think the skid plate scraped just a bit.

 

[JB.]

Had to turn a lot towards both sides and still no binding. Is this because there was just not enough friction to cause the bind?

Yes, plus the fact that when you turn the other way it sort of reverses any tension build up.

Guess its gotta be a pretty sharp turn in snow to get it to bind up.

Yeah, a full lock circle, even in snow, will create some drive line tension.

Here's more info than you probably ever want to know.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...pavement-center-diff-lock-vsc-off-switch.html

 

[ARunner]

Doubt you will ever notice binding in the snow because the drag coefficient between tires and the snow is so low you don't notice your tires slipping/spinning to alleviate this binding. If you ever go off-road (save for rock crawling, where a driveline workout is to be expected on the high friction surface), binding is much more noticeable compared to snow, but not something I would be worried about at all in terms of hurting your driveline.

 

[mderick]

Well I got stuck trying to get to my cabin last night, had to dig it out and then get the snow blower going to get up the drive.

 

[Robs08Runner]

I agree with you guys and the article. I doubt I even went a half turn either way while I had it locked. Was nice to have the best traction the truck can give also, the full power of the truck without any electronic babysitters. Hehe
Got stuck? Must have been a pretty deep snow up there. Hang in there! Spring is on the way!