Question for 4wd Limited Owners

[Jetboy]

You're forgetting about 4th gen 4runners. They have the following options:

2WD
4Hi Unlocked with Torsen limited slip center (like AWD)
4Hi with locked center
4Lo with unlocked center
4Lo with locked center

The V8 models are similar, but they have no 2WD option.

You're right. The 3rd gen did to for a few years on some models.

 

[Bilbo]

You're forgetting about 4th gen 4runners. They have the following options:

2WD
4Hi Unlocked with Torsen limited slip center (like AWD)
4Hi with locked center
4Lo with unlocked center
4Lo with locked center

The V8 models are similar, but they have no 2WD option.

Good call! I've grabbed these descriptions from the '03 4Runner Manual (and edited out the shifter/display info that no longer applies). It does say "less wear" in 2WD, but less wear of what? And how much? For me, it reinforces the idea that wintertime driving with the center diff unlocked is just fine in all but extreme conditions.

“H2” (high speed position, two–wheel drive, center differential unlocked):
• Use this for normal driving on dry hard–surfaced roads. This position gives greater economy, quietest ride, least wear and better vehicle control.
“H4” (high speed position, four–wheel drive, center differential unlocked):
• Use this for normal driving on all types of roads, from dry hard–surfaced roads to wet, icy or snow–covered roads. This position provides greater traction than two–wheel drive.
“H4” (high speed position, four–wheel drive, center differential locked):
• Use this for greater traction when you experience a loss of power, such as wheel slipping, in the center differential unlock mode.
“L4” (low speed position, four–wheel drive, center differential unlocked):
• Use this for maximum power and traction. Use this for climbing or descending steep hills, off–road driving, and hard pulling in sand or mud.
• In this mode, the braking feeling that occurs when the wheels are negotiating a sharp corner is further reduced than in the “L4” (low speed position, four–wheel drive, center differential locked) mode.
“L4” (low speed position, four–wheel drive, center differential locked):
• Use this for maximum power and traction. Use this for hard pulling in situations the vehicle cannot negotiate even in the “L4” (low speed position, four–wheel drive, center differential unlocked) mode. Also, using this mode when driving down steep off–road inclines will help contribute to increased vehicle stability.

 

[JB.]

Have you ever seen the manual of a vehicle that has the option of 2wd or awd? I'm not sure I know of any such vehicle. I don't think you would include it in a manual if there wasn't the option to use 2wd. I think there was once a Pajero for a while that had something like that, but I don't know if that's the case or not.

A couple of screenshots from a Pajero manual showing the drive modes and 4wd cautions. It mentions "tyres" in caution #2.