Transfer cases: Limited vs. Trail differences?

[Stangboy]

Does anybody have diagrams or pictures showing the differences between the two transfer cases? Specifically the center differential? I've looked and looked and can't find a good comparison. Thanks!

 

[e60ral]

limited - full-time 4wd (i.e. it has a center differential)
sr5, trail - part-time 4wd only (i.e. no center differential)

is that the clarification you are looking for?

 

[Stangboy]

No. I understand the differences. I'm looking for a visual comparison to show the differences.

 

[Bossman]

How about a video? Toyota 4WD Simplified.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN6-gCxI60g

 

[Stangboy]

What I'm really looking for is a picture of a Limited's transfer case with the Torsen center locking differential , and a Trail transfer case without the center differential so I can show somebody that only the Limiteds come with a center differential.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

The terminology is a bit funky... I mean realistically a transfer case IS a center differential to a degree. It's that the Limited has a Torsen T3 style center differential, which allows it to vary torque differences between the front and rear axles.

Post Note-

You might have some trouble with that as the center differential looks more like a planetary gear assembly out of a transmission than say the front or rear ring gear/pinion set-up you normally see when you think differential.

The best way would be to probably try and find technical documents on the transfer cases themselves and see if there's diagrams for them (Limited is VFB4M if I remember right as it's similar to the 4th Gen units, I want to say the 5th gen non-Torsen units are VF2BMs?)

 

[Jeremy556]

(Limited is VFB4M if I remember right as it's similar to the 4th Gen units, I want to say the 5th gen non-Torsen units are VF2BMs?)

Correct on the VF4BM in the limited, the TE model number is VF2A.

There are some minor external visual differences - obviously the lever on top vs. the actuator at the top, back, and the VF4BM is slightly longer overall. If you really want to get down into exploded drawings of the transfer case contents, you can download the FSM from links in the sticky section.

ETA: Here is the main difference between them