Please help me decide. Limited or SR5 4WD

[LexusFTW]

Guys, I've been looking for a 4runner for the past few days and I need some help. I fully understand the differences in the AWD of the 99-00 Limited and the 4WD of the SR5. I want a 99 or 2000 4WD with rear diff lock.

I live in Okahoma and we see a few ice/snow storms during the winter. I sold my 97 Lexus SC300 because during the snow, the car was worthless and I had to bum rides to work for 2 weeks.

Here's the question:

Can the SR5 4WD be engaged on dry pavement where there's patches of snow and ice?

The problem with Tulsa is that the city is not fully prepared for snow/ice storms and you'll have patches of ice on the roads and then parts where there's no ice at all. If anything melts during the day, you have black ice at night.

What happens when I put the SR5 in 4WD on the snow and then I come to a few miles of dry pavement? It would be annoying to shift into 4WD every time I come up to a patch of ice/snow.

Any insight would be appreciated but I'm currently leaning towards a 99-00 Limited only because of the Multi-Mode AWD.

Tres

 

[CarolinaCowboy]

I have a '98 SR5 and it allows you to switch in and out of 4WD on the fly at speeds up to 60 mph. But in the case of snow and ice, I don't really see it worth switching out of 4WD for a just a few miles anyways if there's any ice/snow on the ground at all. I think the more important thing will be that you get a good snow/ice tire to go with the 4WD. But the ultimate answer is to your question is 'yes', 4WD can be engaged/disengaged on the fly.

 

[drinknmolson]

Here's the question:

Can the SR5 4WD be engaged on dry pavement where there's patches of snow and ice?

The problem with Tulsa is that the city is not fully prepared for snow/ice storms and you'll have patches of ice on the roads and then parts where there's no ice at all. If anything melts during the day, you have black ice at night.

What happens when I put the SR5 in 4WD on the snow and then I come to a few miles of dry pavement? It would be annoying to shift into 4WD every time I come up to a patch of ice/snow.

4WD can be engaged on dry pavement, you will notice the front tires grabbing on sharper turns other than that it's fine to be in 4WD.

The thing that you have to remember is that 4WD will provide additional traction by using the front tires to pull, these are not true AWD so opposite front and rear tires are pulling. That being said driving on ice is a whole different animal, you must remember to let off the gas and not use the brakes while on ice and turns need to be at a slower pace and controlled. 4WD will increase your traction but not totally overcome the conditions at all times. I drive my 4R in ALL conditions and have lost traction many times none resulting in me leaving the road, causing an accident or sliding out of control. I always recommend that when you are a first time 4WD driver to find a large open parking lot that is icy and play around a little to get the understanding of what can happen.

 

[LexusFTW]

I have a '98 SR5 and it allows you to switch in and out of 4WD on the fly at speeds up to 60 mph. But in the case of snow and ice, I don't really see it worth switching out of 4WD for a just a few miles anyways if there's any ice/snow on the ground at all. I think the more important thing will be that you get a good snow/ice tire to go with the 4WD. But the ultimate answer is to your question is 'yes', 4WD can be engaged/disengaged on the fly.

Thanks for the reply, but I think I mis-worded my question...

Can the SR5 4WD be driven on dry pavement where there's patches of snow/ice?

 

[Maxil]

I have a '98 SR5 and it allows you to switch in and out of 4WD on the fly at speeds up to 60 mph. But in the case of snow and ice, I don't really see it worth switching out of 4WD for a just a few miles anyways if there's any ice/snow on the ground at all. I think the more important thing will be that you get a good snow/ice tire to go with the 4WD. But the ultimate answer is to your question is 'yes', 4WD can be engaged/disengaged on the fly.

I agree with the above, especially that the tires are very important. I am by no means an expert on ice as I live in South Georgia, but 4x4 is mainly for getting you going, if you live in flat land, I would think some good tires would be the biggest improvement in driving over ice.

Maxil

 

[Justin727]

Guys, I've been looking for a 4runner for the past few days and I need some help. I fully understand the differences in the AWD of the 99-00 Limited and the 4WD of the SR5. I want a 99 or 2000 4WD with rear diff lock.

I live in Okahoma and we see a few ice/snow storms during the winter. I sold my 97 Lexus SC300 because during the snow, the car was worthless and I had to bum rides to work for 2 weeks.

Here's the question:

Can the SR5 4WD be engaged on dry pavement where there's patches of snow and ice?

The problem with Tulsa is that the city is not fully prepared for snow/ice storms and you'll have patches of ice on the roads and then parts where there's no ice at all. If anything melts during the day, you have black ice at night.

What happens when I put the SR5 in 4WD on the snow and then I come to a few miles of dry pavement? It would be annoying to shift into 4WD every time I come up to a patch of ice/snow.

Any insight would be appreciated but I'm currently leaning towards a 99-00 Limited only because of the Multi-Mode AWD.

Tres

Nothing an AWD Lexus GS350 couldn't fix

 

[LexusFTW]

Nothing an AWD Lexus GS350 couldn't fix

LOL
I WISH! :zoom:

I'm mainly concerned about driving in ice/snow conditions combined with dry pavement on the SR5 4WD. I know you're not supposed to drive on dry pavement with it so maybe the Limited 4WD is the way to go in that situation.

 

[brian2sun]

Your question about driving on patchy snow/ice is the reason why the center diff lock/AWD was invented. I think you should get a '99-00 Limited or any model '01 or '02 and then you'll have it. I don't have this feature and shifting back and forth betwen 2 and 4 gets a little annoying some days, but I'm used to it. I wouldn't spend a bunch of $$ to swap a multimode t-case into mine, but it would be a nice feature to start out with from day 1.

 

[jamess]

I also live in the Tulsa area. I have a 97 SR5 4x4. Even with all the snow / ice this past winter, I only needed to use 4H a couple of days. I commute in 30 miles each way to downtown Tulsa, and did not have any problems. I did get new Toyo Open Country A/T last June and that helped a lot.

If you are worried about driving on "dry" pavement in 4H, don't be. As long as you are not making hard tight corners, you should be fine. Throughout the year, I typically put mine in 4H on dry pavement, as long as it is a straight shot, so that the front diff and components get some sort of work.

 

[LexusFTW]

Your question about driving on patchy snow/ice is the reason why the center diff lock/AWD was invented. I think you should get a '99-00 Limited or any model '01 or '02 and then you'll have it. I don't have this feature and shifting back and forth betwen 2 and 4 gets a little annoying some days, but I'm used to it. I wouldn't spend a bunch of $$ to swap a multimode t-case into mine, but it would be a nice feature to start out with from day 1.

Exactly what I wanted to hear. Thanks for the reply.

I'll let you guys know when I have my Limited in the driveway.