T4R Newbie Questions

[badhabits]

I'm in the market for an SUV with 4wd or AWD. Not hard core off road, but in-climate weather. I am seeing two types of 4WD controls on the used Gen 5 T4Rs. One type is a dial selector, and the other is a lever. Can anyone tell me the difference? Are there advantages to one over the other? reliability, function, etc?

I do not intend to run 4WD consistently, but I want it for snow in northern AZ.

I am open to objective comments that may help me in my decision. Gen 4 or Gen 5?

Very Respectfully,

Bruce

I will try to answer your question.
The 2010-2013 Limited has full time 4 wheel drive and the selector is a dial with the selections of 4 wheel high and 4 wheel low.

The 2010-2012 have part time 4 wheel drive and use the leaver with 2 wheel drive, 4 wheel drive high, and 4 wheel drive low.

The 2013 trail uses the same leaver type as the earlier models and is part time 4 wheel drive.

The 2013 SR5 is a part time 4 wheel drive that uses the dial with 2 wheel drive, 4 wheel drive high and 4 wheel drive low.

As to your choice of models it is what you need or want out of your 4runner to what you should decide get.

 

[Maz]

Are you for real?
4WD HI helps you accelerate. That is all it does!

So 4WD only helps you accelerate, and power is NOT sent to all four wheels even though you've engaged the front axle. Sure, whatever you say.

As for being real, in driving conditions I encounter on the roads I travel yes, there is a noticeable difference when using 4WD on wet freeways. To whit I experience virtually no hydroplaning and have a much better response from the steering wheel.

The best way I can describe it is that the vehicle feels as if it's somehow heavier and locked in. More of less similar to what I remember when we used to put weight in the back of a pickup truck to keep the back end from sliding around.

Now if that isn't your experience in Southern Appalachia congratulations to you.

 

[badhabits]

So 4WD only helps you accelerate, and power is NOT sent to all four wheels even though you've engaged the front axle. Sure, whatever you say.

As for being real, in driving conditions I experience on the roads I travel, yes there is a notice difference when using 4WD on wet freeways. To whit I experience virtually no hydroplaning and have a much better response from the steering wheel.

The best way I can describe it is that the vehicle feels as if it's somehow heavier and locked in. More of less similar to what I remember when we used to put weight in the back of a pickup truck to keep the back end from sliding around.

Now if that isn't your experience in Southern Appalachia congratulations to you.

This is from Edmunds

Keep Your (Braking) Distance: More Than Just Slowing Down

Second, remember this law: That which makes you go won't make you stop. If you drive a four-wheeler, you're not immune to the laws of physics, in fact you're a bit more susceptible (if for no other reason than your overconfidence). Whether you drive an Escort or an Excursion, it doesn't matter. In fact, the heavier weight of a truck or SUV means it will take much longer to come to a stop, given its greater momentum. Repeat: four-wheel drive does not help you stop. We're tired of seeing you folks spun around on the side of the road facing the wrong way. Slow down before you hurt somebody.

Also here is Toyotas 4 wheel drive guide.
http://www.eulex-kosovo.eu/training/security/docs/Guide.to.4WD.pdf

 

[Maz]

Repeat: four-wheel drive does not help you stop. We're tired of seeing you folks spun around on the side of the road facing the wrong way. Slow down before you hurt somebody.

Where did that come from??

I don't know who "you folks" is, but I do know I've never spun out, spun around, or ever been on the road facing the wrong way. Instead of reading far too much into what someone has written and leaping head long into an illogical and false conclusion, here's an novel idea. ASK for clarification.....

I regularly get passed and haven't had a traffic ticket since the 1990's (not coming to a full stop at stop sign). I don't tailgate, and try to avoid driving lined up right next to someone too long, in case they drift over. When driving home 500 miles from the dealership where I picked my new Trail last month I averaged under 65 MPH, where the speed limit was mostly 70 MPH.

NO ONE said anything about bombing down a freeway in wet conditions! This is about driving under 50 MPH in an area of the country the state police often pull over people driving very slow. They will tell you on crowded freeways, that can cause as many or more accidents from impatient drivers, than driving too fast.

For clarification (and hopefully to avoid any more Interweb driving lessons) this is about driving along with the general flow of traffic not too fast or too slow. Which, by the way, is recommended by the state police. That may well mean not driving below 50 when it's wet, at which time I use 4H since it provides a better feel to the steering and handling.

 

[alaskaman]

Good post Maz. Speed kills simple as that. If you want to test limits on the 4Runner take people with you who can bail you out of a jam. When you are in snow and alone best to be wise…and carry a satellite phone.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

As for being real, in driving conditions I encounter on the roads I travel yes, there is a noticeable difference when using 4WD on wet freeways. To whit I experience virtually no hydroplaning and have a much better response from the steering wheel.

Um, 4WD has nothing to do with hydroplaning, it's entirely dependent on your tires ability to clear water. If your not hydroplaning, it is because you have good tires, not good 4wd. If you feel safer with 4wd engaged in the rain, then by all means run it. However please be aware that if you're going to fast for the tires to clear water, then you will hydroplane regardless of weather or not you have one wheel getting power or 100.

 

[badhabits]

Where did that come from??

I don't know who "you folks" is, but I do know I've never spun out, spun around, or ever been on the road facing the wrong way. Instead of reading far too much into what someone has written and leaping head long into an illogical and false conclusion, here's an novel idea. ASK for clarification.....

That quote that you questioned is from the Edmunds article that the URL in my post pointed to. That whole paragraph is from the article.

 

[Maz]

That quote that you questioned is from the Edmunds article that the URL in my post pointed to. That whole paragraph is from the article.

Edmunds would never go into "you folks" mode, and certainly not make personal accusations...like claiming someone is a danger on the road. Those are YOUR words habit, which I even copied while specifically leaving out anything from the article.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by badhabits View Post
Repeat: four-wheel drive does not help you stop. We're tired of seeing you folks spun around on the side of the road facing the wrong way. Slow down before you hurt somebody.

Where did that come from??

--------------------------------------------------------------

Trying to flip this into just being a messenger is grossly misleading and clearly disingenuous.

 

[Canazes9]

Edmunds would never go into "you folks" mode, and certainly not make personal accusations...like claiming someone is a danger on the road. Those are YOUR words habit, which I even copied while specifically leaving out anything from the article.

Quote:
Originally Posted by badhabits
Repeat: four-wheel drive does not help you stop. We're tired of seeing you folks spun around on the side of the road facing the wrong way. Slow down before you hurt somebody.

Trying to hide behind this play as just being the messenger is grossly misleading and clearly disingenuous.

Click the link - he copied and pasted it word for word from their site, just like he said. It took all of 30 seconds to look at it. 7th paragraph down.

This link:

This is from Edmunds....

Keep Your (Braking) Distance: More Than Just Slowing Down

....

David

 

[Mtssurf1]

Speed doesn't kill, its coming to a stop quickly that kills.

 

[Maz]

What is wrong with you?

Click the stupid link - he copied and pasted it word for word from their site, just like he said. It took all of 30 seconds to look at it. 7th paragraph down.

This link:




David

You're correct.

I missed it in the mess of run on sentences and book long paragraphs, along with a thousand needless quote marks and italicized words . It's sad that a normally class publication would hire someone who not only writes poorly, but uses in your face remarks that couldn't possibly do anything but turn off the reader.

FWIW I actually went through the article twice, but obviously not well enough.

I apologize Karl, my error was even more egregious than the original author...Mea Culpa

 

[1engineer]

Edmunds would never go into "you folks" mode, and certainly not make personal accusations...like claiming someone is a danger on the road. Those are YOUR words habit, which I even copied while specifically leaving out anything from the article.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by badhabits View Post
Repeat: four-wheel drive does not help you stop. We're tired of seeing you folks spun around on the side of the road facing the wrong way. Slow down before you hurt somebody.

Where did that come from??

--------------------------------------------------------------

Trying to flip this into just being a messenger is grossly misleading and clearly disingenuous.

Reading is FUNdamental.

 

[badhabits]

[MENTION=102810]bap[/MENTION]
You have heard both sides of a debate on using 4wheel drive full time vs part time. The decision between a 4th gen or 5th gen should come down to cost, since the 4runner holds its value so well it may be better from a cost standpoint to buy the newer one.

As to which model to buy check out what is available both new and used to find one you like as 4runners are good reliable vehicles that will give you years of service. What ever you buy drive carefully and most important have fun.

.:lookout:

 

[Sundog7121]

I wouldn't not have a Gen 5 Trail Edition. :driving:

 

[LandCruiser]

Transfer cases stick if they haven't been used in a while, or it's cold, or the truck isn't in the mood.

When you have a lever you can jiggle it until it goes into 4WD instead of watching in utter disappointment as that green 4WD icon blinks pathetically on the dash as you skid off a mountain road and fall 1000 feet into a ravine.