Please explain the different 4x4 systems in the 5th gens to a newb.

[Canazes9]

So I guess it's safe to say that the 4WD SR5 pretty much blows for any kind of serious off-roading. I was alway curious to know what the deal was w/ the rear diff but always scared to find out and that's why I never really researched it. I really wanted a trail but couldn't afford it at the time. Oh well...

What discussion are you reading that led you to this conclusion?

The TE is the best equipped for off reading from the factory, but the SR5 is very capable. My wife's 4Runner is an SR5 and it's performed quite well off road.

Ultimately, I would prefer the added performance of the locker on the TE (like my OR Tacoma), but my previous experiences w/ ATRAC were (and still are) so positive that I knew I could buy the less expensive SR5 with confidence and be satisfied with its performance. We'll buy a TE in 18 months or so when we give this one to our daughter.

David

 

[WODWorldWide]

What discussion are you reading that led you to this conclusion?

The TE is the best equipped for off reading from the factory, but the SR5 is very capable. My wife's 4Runner is an SR5 and it's performed quite well off road.

Ultimately, I would prefer the added performance of the locker on the TE (like my OR Tacoma), but my previous experiences w/ ATRAC were (and still are) so positive that I knew I could buy the less expensive SR5 with confidence and be satisfied with its performance. We'll buy a TE in 18 months or so when we give this one to our daughter.

David

Ah as the old saying goes, "a family that 4Runner's together, stays together." I think I heard that somewhere. :shrug:

 

[OBW2011]

So I guess it's safe to say that the 4WD SR5 pretty much blows for any kind of serious off-roading. I was alway curious to know what the deal was w/ the rear diff but always scared to find out and that's why I never really researched it. I really wanted a trail but couldn't afford it at the time. Oh well...

I wouldn't say that. There are plenty of SR5 4WD owners on here who have done some serious off roading and had no issues with their rigs. That's not to say that the TE isn't more off road capable but the SR5 4WD is a plenty capable serious off roader... IMHO :amen:

 

[Whiplash Willy]

I think the 4Runner gas pedal is linear (or close to it) - 50% pedal = 50% throttle. The vast majority of vehicles sold in this country have non linear throttle response - 50% pedal = 90% throttle. You will hear people say "I give it just a little gas and it FLYS! I've still got half the pedal left! In reality, they don't - they are essentially at full throttle.

The effect is the same as what you were saying - you have to press the pedal more in the 4runner to get the same effect, but the non linear response is the over aggressive throttle response of most other vehicles. Traditionally, the higher end European cars used to be set-up with linear throttles like the 4Runner and it wasn't uncommon to hear someone complain that his European sports car that he payed so much money for was slower than his XXX... I haven't driven a new BMW, Porsche or Mercedes in 15 years, so I don't know if that's still the same or has changed.


David

I often wounder when I am cruising at around 40 in D, and start giving it 40% throttle, and it just sits there in 5th, lugging/struggling to accelerate, because it doesn't want to downshift when it should, if I am actually "Lugging" the engine and wasting fuel, or if the computer is smart enough not to dump a bunch of air/fuel when you are in too high of a gear. When this happens the eco gauge goes all the way to the right, indicating I am wasting fuel.

If this is the case, you think it would be actually more fuel efficient for it to downshift sooner.

 

[1engineer]

So I guess it's safe to say that the 4WD SR5 pretty much blows for any kind of serious off-roading. I was alway curious to know what the deal was w/ the rear diff but always scared to find out and that's why I never really researched it. I really wanted a trail but couldn't afford it at the time. Oh well...

What discussion are you reading that led you to this conclusion?

The TE is the best equipped for off reading from the factory, but the SR5 is very capable. My wife's 4Runner is an SR5 and it's performed quite well off road.

Ultimately, I would prefer the added performance of the locker on the TE (like my OR Tacoma), but my previous experiences w/ ATRAC were (and still are) so positive that I knew I could buy the less expensive SR5 with confidence and be satisfied with its performance. We'll buy a TE in 18 months or so when we give this one to our daughter.

David

I wouldn't say that. There are plenty of SR5 4WD owners on here who have done some serious off roading and had no issues with their rigs. That's not to say that the TE isn't more off road capable but the SR5 4WD is a plenty capable serious off roader... IMHO :amen:

The SR5 is plenty capable, as is the LE and the TE. Remember that the most important component to off roading is the driver! I would say as much as 90% of off roading success is the driver, not the vehicle.

 

[N2GLOCK]

I guess I really just need to do more research on the matter. I need to educate myself more on the whole ATRAC thing. There was a time when I would off road alot. My 3 previous rigs have been a '96 Blazer
4WD, '01 Dakota 4WD and a '10 Tacoma 4WD TRD sport. I know for a fact that the Chevy had posi-traction in the rear and the Dodge had anti-slip. I special ordered those two that way. Basically it's old school technology that uses clutch discs. Those 2 vehicles performed well in off-roading situations. I'm not sure what the Tacoma uses. I only had that vehicle for a year, then my wife got pregnant and I sold it to my Dad before I got to off-road that. Honestly, I haven't taken the 4Runner out yet. Much has changed for me in the past 2 years and I find myself not having time to do the things I used to. Pretty soon my son will be old enough for me to take out for some wheelin'. Hopefully then I'll be able to see what the 4Runner is capable of.

 

[T4RDriver]

I presumed that electronic limited slip devices were a gimmick before I owned a 4Runner. After climbing steep rock slides, over shelves, and crawling rocky creek beds, I'm sold. Using A-TRAC in low and seeing it work made me a believer. I really don't think a Trail would offer a meaningful difference over an SR5 in the areas I operate. This came as a pleasant surprise as I was forced to go SR5 instead of Trail for the 3rd row option and had lowered my expectations.

 

[eddiebx]

I think the 4Runner gas pedal is linear (or close to it) - 50% pedal = 50% throttle. The vast majority of vehicles sold in this country have non linear throttle response - 50% pedal = 90% throttle. You will hear people say "I give it just a little gas and it FLYS! I've still got half the pedal left! In reality, they don't - they are essentially at full throttle.

Thanks, this makes much more sense! I couldn't quite put to words what I was thinking in my head, lol.

I guess I really just need to do more research on the matter. I need to educate myself more on the whole ATRAC thing. There was a time when I would off road alot.

This video explains ATRAC pretty well

 

[Canazes9]

I presumed that electronic limited slip devices were a gimmick before I owned a 4Runner. After climbing steep rock slides, over shelves, and crawling rocky creek beds, I'm sold. Using A-TRAC in low and seeing it work made me a believer. I really don't think a Trail would offer a meaningful difference over an SR5 in the areas I operate. This came as a pleasant surprise as I was forced to go SR5 instead of Trail for the 3rd row option and had lowered my expectations.

Agreed, though there are still things you can do with a locker that you can't do w/ ATRAC, in general, ATRAC is ver very capable. I would much prefer a vehicle w/ ATRAC TO any old school style LSD axles.

David

 

[condoor]

Thanks all for the great comments and in particular the link. I'd like to clear up a question I have in regards to the limited. Does the Limited still have a selectable transfer case and a 4L option?

I had a Jeep that had a t-case with four options - 2H, 4H, 4F (full time 4WD), 4L - and of course N. Sounds like the Limited does NOT have a 2WD option? Do any of the 4th gen models have a something like this Jeep T-Case?

Only the Limited has a full time 4WD.

The SR5 and TE have 2HI, 4HI, 4LO without a center diff and can't be run all the time/on dry surfaces inb 4HI since they don't have a center diff.

The V6 has been tuned to torque and hp figures close to the old V8.

 

[JB.]

Sounds like the Limited does NOT have a 2WD option? Do any of the 4th gen models have a something like this Jeep T-Case?

Here's what they all look like together. The graphic ignores the neutral position found on some 5th gen TCs. The owners manual warns against being dinghy towed for all vehicles, regardless.

 

[condoor]

Thank you!

:banana:

 

[condoor]

Hmmmm - any reason why Toyota reduced t-case options in 5th gens? Did traction control improve enough to make FT 4wd obsolete? Strength issue? (Same Jeep t-case mentioned above NP242 - blew up on me and I was transferring to a trail rig and put a NP231 case instead (2H, 4H, 4L))

Great forum BTW

 

[eddiebx]

Hmmmm - any reason why Toyota reduced t-case options in 5th gens? Did traction control improve enough to make FT 4wd obsolete? Strength issue? (Same Jeep t-case mentioned above NP242 - blew up on me and I was transferring to a trail rig and put a NP231 case instead (2H, 4H, 4L))

Great forum BTW

Corporate greed, lol. It's cheaper to give us less options

I've not read anything about reliability issues in the 4th gen t-cases, which IMO are superior in many ways; but at the same time it probably costs more to produce.

 

[Ol'Baditude]

Corporate greed, lol. It's cheaper to give us less options

I've not read anything about reliability issues in the 4th gen t-cases, which IMO are superior in many ways; but at the same time it probably costs more to produce.

I'm inclined to agree with the first part. Cheaper in terms of manufacturing, but possibly also due to costs incurred by Toyota making expensive repairs to 4th gens under warrantee. I only mention since I'm looking at a used 06 SR5 right now and have been doing quite a bit of research very recently on common issues, TSB's, etc. If you type "4Runner Transfer Case Leak" into Google, you'll find an abnormally large amount of hits and a lot of them have to do with 4th gen 4Runners.

That being said, I often miss having a center diff and never had any issue with my 2003 before I traded it off on my 2011.

 

[LandCruiser]

Thanks all for the great comments and in particular the link. I'd like to clear up a question I have in regards to the limited. Does the Limited still have a selectable transfer case and a 4L option?

I had a Jeep that had a t-case with four options - 2H, 4H, 4F (full time 4WD), 4L - and of course N. Sounds like the Limited does NOT have a 2WD option? Do any of the 4th gen models have a something like this Jeep T-Case?

The Limiteds have 4H and 4L. They do have a transfer case, it's operated by push button.

The only 4Runner with a manuel transfer case is the Trail.

All t-cases have a neutral position.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

All t-cases have a neutral position.

My 2013 SR5's transfer doesn't have a neutral...unless I am missing something.

 

[N2GLOCK]

Ok, so one last question and then I won't bug anymore. What does the SR5 4WD use to aid traction when in 2WD? Let's say I'm in 2WD and one of the rear wheels slips. Is there any taction control aid then? In reading about ATRAC, it sounds as if it only works in 4WD. My wife is currently out of town with my 4R si I can't get to the owners manual.

 

[LandCruiser]

My 2013 SR5's transfer doesn't have a neutral...unless I am missing something.

Just went into the wife's Limited... you're right.

I'll be damned.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

Ok, so one last question and then I won't bug anymore. What does the SR5 4WD use to aid traction when in 2WD? Let's say I'm in 2WD and one of the rear wheels slips. Is there any taction control aid then? In reading about ATRAC, it sounds as if it only works in 4WD. My wife is currently out of town with my 4R si I can't get to the owners manual.

There is traction control always on, in 2wd, 4h, and 4L, unless you push the VSC OFF button (Press and hold to disable Trac and VSC).

Traction control and ATRAC are different. You can think of ATRAC as a more aggressive Traction Control.

I think putting it into 4L will automatically disable TRAC and or VSC, but I can't remember. You have to manually enable ATRAC, and there are conditions that have to be met to enable it, like you have to be in 4LO, and maybe something else.