New 5th gen... Big Mistake?

[JB.]

It seems Toyota has opinions on ABS, too. Here are two, as expressed in the 4th and 5th gen manuals, respectively.

Anti- lock brake system is not designed
to shorten the stopping distance:
Compared with vehicles without an
anti- lock brake system, your vehicle
may require a longer stopping distance
in the following cases:
Driving on rough, gravel or snowcovered
roads.
--
The ABS and Multi Terrain ABS are not designed to shorten the vehicle’s
stopping distance.

 

[CookieRoe]

Don't have much to add, I just thought it was great to see everyone pitch in to better inform WCVanHorne on his decision and NOT flame him. Even though it was a little (or HUGE, depending who you ask) oversight, there was certainly "room" to criticize the heck out of him. Good Work Everybody! If I was in the market for a new runner, I wouldn't even think to look at whatever else is out there (everything else out there is pretty much crap IMO).

VanHorne: You're gonna love you truck! Please post pics when you take delivery of her

 

[mace.]

It seems Toyota has opinions on ABS, too. Here are two, as expressed in the 4th and 5th gen manuals, respectively.

Anti- lock brake system is not designed
to shorten the stopping distance:
Compared with vehicles without an
anti- lock brake system, your vehicle
may require a longer stopping distance
in the following cases:
Driving on rough, gravel or snowcovered
roads.
--
The ABS and Multi Terrain ABS are not designed to shorten the vehicle’s
stopping distance.

In gravel or deep snow a skidding / locked up wheel is going to dig down and cause a "snow plow effect" in front of the tire shortening stopping distances.

 

[WCVanHorne]

Don't have much to add, I just thought it was great to see everyone pitch in to better inform WCVanHorne on his decision and NOT flame him. Even though it was a little (or HUGE, depending who you ask) oversight, there was certainly "room" to criticize the heck out of him. Good Work Everybody! If I was in the market for a new runner, I wouldn't even think to look at whatever else is out there (everything else out there is pretty much crap IMO).

Yes I am appreciative of the community support. And the few singes from the mild flames will heal quickly. I've certainly seen more hair trigger fora.

I'm going to have to find or start a few new threads. One of the first on the usefulness and extent (eg. size of hood strip, bumper, headlights) of the 3M film treatment to reduce acne. Tried it on the Yaris and seems OK but this vehicle will see a lot more gravel and winter travel with rock chips and sandblasting.

VanHorne: You're gonna love you truck! Please post pics when you take delivery of her

Well she will be pretty plain jane. But I'm going to have to put in a few of those extra 12V outlet mods (and the always switch). In this day and age you would think they would have about a 1/2 dozen of them. Also going to pay attention to the tracking to see if I need that caster checked.

:thanks: Again all!

 

[Arterisk]

Well I'd be honest : I made exactly the same mistake as you.

I was sure that as the last gen 4runner the center diff was included in the SR5.

At first I was pissed off, and thought on upgrading to a limited, but the price gap is huge in Canada (we are talking of a 11k gap + about 4k for the trade in, so about 15k).

But after my first winter, I can assure you that there is absolutely no problem with using the SR5 with the harsh canadian winter. With good tires (i've got Michelin Xi2) the vehicule got a lot of grip and I never fell any loss of control. The only thing you will observe VS a full-time as a canuck is when you go from full stop to full acceleration and that the rear wheel spin a little before the traction control does it's magic.

To summerize : without traction control it would have been a huge bummer, but with traction control and some 4wd training it's actually fun to use. It feels like using a shift stick transmission when you got use to it.

 

[WCVanHorne]

Well I'd be honest : I made exactly the same mistake as you.

I was sure that as the last gen 4runner the center diff was included in the SR5.

:withstupid: Well now I feel 50% less of a fool since I can share half with you! :

At first I was pissed off, and thought on upgrading to a limited, but the price gap is huge in Canada (we are talking of a 11k gap + about 4k for the trade in, so about 15k).

Yes that price difference is insane! I'd happily pay $1500 or so more for just a Torsen; wonder how much they actually shaved off the mfg. cost? It's got to be a bit of a cost now to maintain two different drive trains. IMHO they should have made it an identical, multi-mode drive train across all the models and let the suspension and other "bling" options differentiate them.

But after my first winter, I can assure you that there is absolutely no problem with using the SR5 with the harsh canadian winter. With good tires (i've got Michelin Xi2) the vehicule got a lot of grip and I never fell any loss of control. The only thing you will observe VS a full-time as a canuck is when you go from full stop to full acceleration and that the rear wheel spin a little before the traction control does it's magic.

To summerize : without traction control it would have been a huge bummer, but with traction control and some 4wd training it's actually fun to use. It feels like using a shift stick transmission when you got use to it.

Sounds good. I'm shopping around for my new low profile ski box already!

 

[scanny]

Sounds good. I'm shopping around for my new low profile ski box already!

Just make sure that you can fully open the liftgate with a ski box. There's big spoiler on the liftagate in case you haven't noticed, only few boxes will fit.

 

[mace.]

Just make sure that you can fully open the liftgate with a ski box. There's big spoiler on the liftagate in case you haven't noticed, only few boxes will fit.

Also make sure your setup clears the sharkfin. Don't want to put weight on it and dent the roof.

 

[WCVanHorne]

Also make sure your setup clears the sharkfin. Don't want to put weight on it and dent the roof.

No satellite radio on my basic SR5.

 

[lakerman]

wcvanhorne

Check your in box pm sent

 

[CAN-03runner]

I wonder how much this actually saved since there was obviously the engineering and design done for the few years it was around here in Canada; it can only have been the manufacturing cost saved.

Is a non-Torsen transfer case at least a more durable/reliable beast?



While I am certainly a noob here my understanding is there is obviously some wear and tear with the slippage and stress even on straight running with gentle curves. I used to drive stick all the time so I guess I can handle flipping in and out when entering/exiting an underground parking garage or dry area; although remembering to do it or timing it when turning and accelerating from a snow/ice covered side road, with a short radius 90, onto a dry road strikes me as a tricky PITA. My greater concern is the handling when kept on 4HI with highly variable traction conditions. Eg. What is the handling like on an intermittently snowy/icy highway at 100km/h? Don't the the micro skips/slips on curves or caused by slightly different tire circumference potentially lead to the vehicle breaking loose? Isn't this worse than just leaving it in 2WD?

You would find, if you were able to compare both AWD and 4x4 at the same time, in the same conditions by pressing the center lock button on and off that you would probably prefer to be locked in snowy and slippery conditions. I find my AWD is interesting in those oh I didn't think of going into 4x4 moments. I also find that my AWD makes for some fun driving taking some curves, since when you press down on the gas I think you can feel the rear pushing out, and the front pulling you back in the direction you want to go, it's fun. But on ice/snow, the AWD won't save you in the curves, and you shouldn't have issues running 4x4 going straight and taking curves on the highway and chaging lanes.

Think of an offroad sceanario rock crawling. We mostly just leave it in 4low, and in 4x4. There is a lot of traction on rocks, it's like bumpy pavement. You can even see some of the moab videos, some of the climbs are just that. very steep climbs with no large rock obstacles, over high traction rock surface, and non of those jeeps have an AWD mode, and I doubt they are climbing in 2Hi. Oh yeah, but they do break stuff....ok jeep bad example... haha

 

[Antman]

I agree with others in that the traction control in the 5th Gen is very well sorted out and amazing. You can't break the laws of physics, but barring any insane moves it's almost impossible to get out of sorts in the snow.
First snowstorm I tried and couldn't do it- the clicks and buzzes kept me in line. I turned the system off and promptly did a nice 4wheel drift- FUN!

 

[Jeremy556]

You would find, if you were able to compare both AWD and 4x4 at the same time, in the same conditions by pressing the center lock button on and off that you would probably prefer to be locked in snowy and slippery conditions. I find my AWD is interesting in those oh I didn't think of going into 4x4 moments. I also find that my AWD makes for some fun driving taking some curves, since when you press down on the gas I think you can feel the rear pushing out, and the front pulling you back in the direction you want to go, it's fun. But on ice/snow, the AWD won't save you in the curves, and you shouldn't have issues running 4x4 going straight and taking curves on the highway and chaging lanes.

Think of an offroad sceanario rock crawling. We mostly just leave it in 4low, and in 4x4. There is a lot of traction on rocks, it's like bumpy pavement. You can even see some of the moab videos, some of the climbs are just that. very steep climbs with no large rock obstacles, over high traction rock surface, and non of those jeeps have an AWD mode, and I doubt they are climbing in 2Hi. Oh yeah, but they do break stuff....ok jeep bad example... haha

Blaspheme! Everyone knows that you will instantly crash and burst into flames if you even think of using part time 4WD anywhere other than buried axle deep in mud.