T4R TE vs. FJC TTSE

[Bicepus Maximus]

Hello all,

I'm waiting on a delivery of the 2012 FJC Trail Teams SE. It's a 6MT. The reason I chose it over the AT is it's AWD (has a locking centre diff) and really helps with daily/highway commutes in the Canadian winter here in Alberta.

I love the look of the 5th gen T4R but thought that all T4Rs don't have a center diff. It turns out the past gens do. I can't find anything that says the same about the 5th gen.

Can anyone confirm whether the 5th gen T4R TE has a locking center diff?

Much appreciated.

 

[Intruder]

Only the Limited Edition 5th gen has a locking centre diff. The TE and SR5 are selectable. I have no problems switching between 2Hi and 4Hi in Alberta winters. For the most part I find that I'm only using 4Hi in residential areas that don't get plowed. Yesterday morning I drove from Calgary to Cochrane then Waiparous and just shifted into 4Hi when necessary.

 

[1engineer]

Only the Limited Edition 5th gen has a locking centre diff. The TE and SR5 are selectable. I have no problems switching between 2Hi and 4Hi in Alberta winters. For the most part I find that I'm only using 4Hi in residential areas that don't get plowed. Yesterday morning I drove from Calgary to Cochrane then Waiparous and just shifted into 4Hi when necessary.

Agreed. I drove most of last and this winter in 2WD. Only shifted in really bad deep conditions. The 4Runner did fine in 2WD.

Speaking of this:
There is a HUGE misconception on the effectiveness of "Full Time 4WD" in hazardous conditions because people forget one thing: 4WD or AWD only helps DURING ACCELERATION. During braking or coasting the other nannies such as VSA or ABS are activated. Probably the biggest feature is not having to think to put it into 4WD as it is already there.

 

[Bicepus Maximus]

Thanks, guys.

My concern is how often I drive to Fort McMurray. For those that don't know, it's a two lane highway, often covered with black ice. And it's very busy, with many oversized loads and semis.

I had one white knuckle moment when I went to pass a semi and my rear end gave out before the nannies corrected the vehicle. I drive it on the highways in 2WD because I don't want to burn through a tank of gas in 300 kms.

 

[phillyd2]

Limited guys are very good at Not Thinking! :lookout:

 

[Bicepus Maximus]

Agreed. I drove most of last and this winter in 2WD. Only shifted in really bad deep conditions. The 4Runner did fine in 2WD.

Speaking of this:
There is a HUGE misconception on the effectiveness of "Full Time 4WD" in hazardous conditions because people forget one thing: 4WD or AWD only helps DURING ACCELERATION. During braking or coasting the other nannies such as VSA or ABS are activated. Probably the biggest feature is not having to think to put it into 4WD as it is already there.

I agree with you that it's a misconception. But considering braking concerns on poor road surfaces are the same no matter the drive configuration (FWD/RWD/4WD), the RWD driver has even more to worry about looking at the whole picture.

 

[1engineer]

Thanks, guys.

My concern is how often I drive to Fort McMurray. For those that don't know, it's a two lane highway, often covered with black ice. And it's very busy, with many oversized loads and semis.

I had one white knuckle moment when I went to pass a semi and my rear end gave out before the nannies corrected the vehicle. I drive it on the highways in 2WD because I don't want to burn through a tank of gas in 300 kms.

Understood. The absolute best thing, as I'm sure you know, is to use the correct tire for the job.

@Philly, no bashing on TE's here. Just stating the facts.

 

[jca21]

you should stick with that FJC TTSE.

sounds like a winning combo, 6mt, torsen center with a rear locker.

 

[Intruder]

Speaking of this:
There is a HUGE misconception on the effectiveness of "Full Time 4WD" in hazardous conditions because people forget one thing: 4WD or AWD only helps DURING ACCELERATION.

I see a lot of 4WD and AWD vehicles in the ditches during/after a snow storm for this reason. 4WD = 4 wheel go.

I drive it on the highways in 2WD because I don't want to burn through a tank of gas in 300 kms.

But going to full-time 4WD you're going to be burning more gas on average year-round. Anyhow, the TT FJ is a great vehicle either way and I think you'll be happy with it. I know a few people who have the older all white TTs and love them. Hope to see you out on the trails some time.

 

[Bicepus Maximus]

I see a lot of 4WD and AWD vehicles in the ditches during/after a snow storm for this reason. 4WD = 4 wheel go.


But going to full-time 4WD you're going to be burning more gas on average year-round. Anyhow, the TT FJ is a great vehicle either way and I think you'll be happy with it. I know a few people who have the older all white TTs and love them. Hope to see you out on the trails some time.

You know what's strange is the full time 4WD FJ fuel consumption is better than the part time 4WD Tacoma I had until last Friday (according to toyota.ca). And they're pretty much the exact same engine. I look at it as an overall improvement (from the previous vehicle). :wink:

Thanks for the reply, guys. I honestly would go with a 5G T4R TE if it had a center diff. But now that I know it doesn't, I hope the FJ gets to the dealer sooner than later, so I'm not questioning myself.

 

[jca21]

You know what's strange is the full time 4WD FJ fuel consumption is better than the part time 4WD Tacoma I had until last Friday (according to toyota.ca). And they're pretty much the exact same engine. I look at it as an overall improvement (from the previous vehicle). :wink:

Thanks for the reply, guys. I honestly would go with a 5G T4R TE if it had a center diff. But now that I know it doesn't, I hope the FJ gets to the dealer sooner than later, so I'm not questioning myself.

you could theoretically retrofit a center from a limited into a TE.

would be an expensive project though lol.:hungry:

 

[03_4x4Runner]

You know what's strange is the full time 4WD FJ fuel consumption is better than the part time 4WD Tacoma I had until last Friday (according to toyota.ca). And they're pretty much the exact same engine. I look at it as an overall improvement (from the previous vehicle). :wink:

Thanks for the reply, guys. I honestly would go with a 5G T4R TE if it had a center diff. But now that I know it doesn't, I hope the FJ gets to the dealer sooner than later, so I'm not questioning myself.

After having the full time 4x4 on my V8 I could never go back to part time. Even when just trying to take off quickly pulling onto a road from a driveway or anything with loose gravel or wet roads the full time takes off just like it is on dry pavement. I have to be carefull doinf this in my Avalon because the tire spins. My Jeep Wrangler has part time 4x4 and I get tired of putting it in and out of 4x4 all day when off road every time a steep hill comes up. But this is 2012 and I do not like going backwards. Toyota has all parts already made it is a shame they do not use full time 4x4 on more 4runners. On my 03 full time 4x4 I love it off road. It does not bind up on turns, you seldom need to lock the center diff. All I have to do is shift to low range when needed. I also like the full time 4x4 pulling a heavy boat up a steep ramp. Put it in low with the center diff unlocked and it goes right up and you can turn corners without the axles binding up. When I do this with my freinds new F150 4x4 it binds up turning in 4x4 and feels like something is going to break.

 

[1000MPH]

I was getting my last free oil change at the dealer on sat and poked around at a new FJ (no 4R's on the lot!).
I was a little shocked to see the MPG rating on a manual trans FJ. 15/18 before any mods. Ouch.

 

[Bicepus Maximus]

Toyota Canada site says 21/28 for fuel consumption. I was worried for a sec.

 

[tlflow]

so what is the 'diff' between a transfer case and a torsen center?

 

[Bicepus Maximus]

Here a vid about the FJ set up. It talks about the center differentia and the transfer case.


Toyota Fj Cruiser - Capacidad Off-Road - YouTube

 

[Laubage]

FJ's have terrible blind spots though. Just for that reason alone, I ruled out the FJ. There's something about being able to see things around me that gives me a warm fuzzy.

 

[harper7]

so what is the 'diff' between a transfer case and a torsen center?

The TE/SR5 have part time transfer case.. The Limiteds and pre 2010 4x4 4Runners have a Full time transfer case with a T3 Torsen limited slip differential that is also lockable.
Full time it uses the Torsen center diff with a different percentage of torque to either axle as needed and when you lock center diff, it becomes like a TE/SR5 part time and a 50/50 split.
Torsen T-3 Differential

Torsen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Torsen center diff is not cheap and the reason Toyota cut it out of some models. Not because it isn't very very good at what it does. It was a total cost savings move! The TE's would have had to have been at least $2-3 grand more and they figured that would have priced it above the range they were looking for and too close to the Lexus.

So they gave the TE the KDSS and rear locker and gave the Limited the Torsen at about the same price range.
The Lexus GX460's have both but gave them a barn door with a hatch window along with ,IMO a feminine styling.Notice ,Koz I said IMO! I usually see upper class business women and MILF's driving them around here.

FJ's have terrible blind spots though. Just for that reason alone, I ruled out the FJ. There's something about being able to see things around me that gives me a warm fuzzy.

Love the new radiant red FJC TTSE's!
Besides ,go fast enough and you only need to worry about what's in front!

It's like anything else you would adapt with the bigger mirrors and get used to it and don't listen to that Mayhem dude. It's not really that bad,just takes a little getting used to.Like 18 wheelers,box trucks and your E-3 Sentry have even worse blind spots but yet man adapts! Good old days...used to work the line at Hartsfield and blow back 727's and DC9's off the gates with the thrust reversers to take them to the hangar. Couldn't see diddily squat out the back!

 

[Laubage]

Love the new radiant red FJC TTSE's!
Besides ,go fast enough and you only need to worry about what's in front!

It's like anything else you would adapt with the bigger mirrors and get used to it and don't listen to that Mayhem dude. It's not really that bad,just takes a little getting used to.Like 18 wheelers,box trucks and your E-3 Sentry have even worse blind spots but yet man adapts! Good old days...used to work the line at Hartsfield and blow back 727's and DC9's off the gates with the thrust reversers to take them to the hangar. Couldn't see diddily squat out the back!

True, I can't see crap in the E-3, but our the giant cancer dispenser can. Had a guy ask a buddy of mine at an airshow if we could see through their roof with that thing. He told him yes. :shrug:

 

[homeyclaus]

Toyota Canada site says 21/28 for fuel consumption. I was worried for a sec.

Imperial gallons vs. US Gallons.

Units, how do they work?

All 4x4 4Runners have a transfer case just some have a center diff and some have a open diff.The TE/SR5 have part time transfer case with an open center differential that can be locked providing equal power to front and rear. The Limiteds and pre 2010 4x4 4Runners have a Full time transfer case with a T3 Torsen limited slip differential that is also lockable.

There is no diff in the standard transfer case, or you'd be able to leave it in 4WD all the time, by definition. All that happens is the lever engages a clutch to spin the forward drive shaft, locking them at 1:1 or some other ratio.