Use 4x4 or not?

[m85476585]

You better stay out of the 4th gen forum with that opinion, they'll burn you at the stake. You're totally right, though.

4th gens have center differentials, so it's OK to be in 4 Hi whenever you want. They also have a locker for it, so you can get the benefits of traditional style 4x4 when you want it. Only the Limited 5th gen still has the center differential, unfortunately. Having a center differential is great for snowy roads.

Hardly. The 1GRFE will bang off the rev limiter in 4lo all day long without causing engine damage.

I don't want to be the one to find out if that's true, I have had it in the red a few times and didn't even notice a limiter kicking in. It was not for long and I was not really looking for it also. Do we have a speed governor also, I have only gotten to 100 once.

Top speed in 4L is around 30-35 mph or so (I can't remember exactly), but I didn't take it to the rev limiter, so you might be able to go a little faster. It won't hurt anything to test it out. I've hit the rev limiter in 4 Hi with the transmission in first (Around 30-something mph), and my engine didn't blow up.

There is most likely a speed governor since most cars have them, but I've never read what it's set at. It's pretty dangerous to go that fast in a stock SUV, anyway, (tires not rated for it, high rollover risk, etc) so I don't recommend trying to find the limit. I will say that the speedometer on 4th gens tops out at 110, and they will go a bit faster than that.

 

[Jetboy]

you have just been lucky.
its very bad advice to give someone.

the bolded section is not universally true.

I've done much worse. If you've never broken an axle you probably don't know how much it takes. I have done it many times. I've broken everything downstream from the fuel pump.

Luck has nothing to do with it. Stock tires do not have enough friction. Not even close. The only thing you could possibly do would be hook up to the front and reverse in 4x4 and maybe if your unlucky blow a front differential. The reverse cut front diff is weak in reverse. Even then I've done that on my 3rd Gen with the winch without ever breaking anything. I would love to have the lc front 8.7 but it's way more work to swap than a solid axle.

 

[nevada]

I've done much worse. If you've never broken an axle you probably don't know how much it takes. I have done it many times. I've broken everything downstream from the fuel pump.

Luck has nothing to do with it. Stock tires do not have enough friction. Not even close. The only thing you could possibly do would be hook up to the front and reverse in 4x4 and maybe if your unlucky blow a front differential. The reverse cut front diff is weak in reverse. Even then I've done that on my 3rd Gen with the winch without ever breaking anything. I would love to have the lc front 8.7 but it's way more work to swap than a solid axle.

i have broken my share of axles. I know what it takes.
I have also seen many completely stock vehicles broken, due to a failed 4wd actuator. they got stuck in 4wd, and parts broke because of it.

you have been lucky.

 

[ben550]

You know why I said 2wd? Because if the OP had to ask the question he surely won't know you shouldn't turn much on dry pavement. I have yet to launch or recover a boat without a sharp turn somewhere. I don't want to read another "I turned on dry pavement in 4wd and the truck !shuddered! like crazy.
Also unless the ramp is covered in alge 2wd is sufficient with all that tongue weight.

I'm guessing you mean algae like this... he's in a 2wd only.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RMDKU7NFAu8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Jetboy]

i have broken my share of axles. I know what it takes.
I have also seen many completely stock vehicles broken, due to a failed 4wd actuator. they got stuck in 4wd, and parts broke because of it.

you have been lucky.

Give me an example. I've never seen a stock vehicle break due to driving in 4hi on pavement. I've never heard of a stock Toyota breaking due to driving in 4hi on pavement. What vehicle was it and what failed?

 

[nevada]

Give me an example. I've never seen a stock vehicle break due to driving in 4hi on pavement. I've never heard of a stock Toyota breaking due to driving in 4hi on pavement. What vehicle was it and what failed?

ive seen busted cv axles on full size chevy trucks, snapped tcase input shafts on Toyotas.

I have no idea what you drive, or what tcase it has. but anything that has a part time case, driving in 4wd on dry pavement is VERY hard on drivetrain parts.
coming in here and saying. "its ok, do it" is very irresponsible, and may lead to someone busting their shit.

 

[Jetboy]

ive seen busted cv axles on full size chevy trucks, snapped tcase input shafts on Toyotas.

I have no idea what you drive, or what tcase it has. but anything that has a part time case, driving in 4wd on dry pavement is VERY hard on drivetrain parts.
coming in here and saying. "its ok, do it" is very irresponsible, and may lead to someone busting their shit.

Just for you - I'll put my 4runner in 4lo, AND lock the rear axle, and drive in some circles on asphalt. It won't hurt a thing. The sky isn't falling. The idea that you'll break parts from this is utter nonsense.

For example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=LNYsBHln13Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=h2gzkUqqlnk

 

[Mikey01]

4th gens have center differentials, so it's OK to be in 4 Hi whenever you want. They also have a locker for it, so you can get the benefits of traditional style 4x4 when you want it. Only the Limited 5th gen still has the center differential, unfortunately. Having a center differential is great for snowy roads.











Top speed in 4L is around 30-35 mph or so (I can't remember exactly), but I didn't take it to the rev limiter, so you might be able to go a little faster. It won't hurt anything to test it out. I've hit the rev limiter in 4 Hi with the transmission in first (Around 30-something mph), and my engine didn't blow up.



There is most likely a speed governor since most cars have them, but I've never read what it's set at. It's pretty dangerous to go that fast in a stock SUV, anyway, (tires not rated for it, high rollover risk, etc) so I don't recommend trying to find the limit. I will say that the speedometer on 4th gens tops out at 110, and they will go a bit faster than that.

Maybe one day when I feel gutsy I will try to check out the 4 Lo max speed.


It was on the salt flats so no turns or bumps, I normally don't get much above 80 on the freeway now. It tends to keep the tickets down.

 

[STX4Runner]

Just for you - I'll put my 4runner in 4lo, AND lock the rear axle, and drive in some circles on asphalt. It won't hurt a thing. The sky isn't falling. The idea that you'll break parts from this is utter nonsense.

I agree. Driving on Moab slickrock is equivalent traction I would think to a paved road, and that doesn't break stuff. I've driven all over slickrock and I know many other members here have as well. Nothing has broken. The tires bark through all the turns, but everything is fine.

Do we really need another thread on this? Use 4x4 if you're in a low traction situation (not rainy streets) and use 2wd everywhere else. 4x4 up a boat ramp is fine, just shift back to 2wd once you're up the ramp.

Edit. [MENTION=84120]nevada[/MENTION], not trying to get in a pissing match with you at all, but GM cv shafts are known to be pretty weak. As for the snapped input shaft on the Toyota; damn, that must have been a sight to behold!

 

[Jeremy556]

I agree. Driving on Moab slickrock is equivalent traction I would think to a paved road, and that doesn't break stuff. I've driven all over slickrock and I know many other members here have as well. Nothing has broken. The tires bark through all the turns, but everything is fine.

If you count being aired down, it has much higher friction, and in low range you are delivering more torque to the drive line. I've done thousands of miles on slick rock at 8-14psi on 33" tires, 4.56 gears, front and rear lockers engaged at times, etc. Nothing broken, yet.

My stupid friend with a 2001 Yukon with more than 250K miles on it, rented a house at a ski resort for 6 months here a couple years ago. He is from Brooklyn and is the worst driver I have ever encountered; I will not ever be a passenger in a vehicle he has control over, ever. The only thing he knows is full throttle or ABS engagement of the brake, there is nothing in between. He left his Yukon in 4hi (the auto feature long quit working) for the trip back to Florida, then it took him several months to notice it was still in 4hi.

 

[wfo9]

I agree it won't hurt anything. I've forgotten a few times and all you get is tire bark.

I would not consider it good practice and it does produce unnecessary wear (probably more on the tires than anything else).

 

[Jeremy556]

Also, Potato Salad Hill looks nothing like that video in person, and is covered in broken glass from roll overs. I wouldn't do it in anything without a full cage, personally. The Taco was pretty lucky.

 

[STX4Runner]

Also, Potato Salad Hill looks nothing like that video in person, and is covered in broken glass from roll overs. I wouldn't do it in anything without a full cage, personally. The Taco was pretty lucky.

Absolutely. I saw it for the first time last fall and it's terrifying to just look at and contemplate driving up. When you stand at the bottom of it it looks like you're looking up the North Face of the Eiger, and from the top looking down it's insane. No pictures or videos do justice to its size or steepness.

 

[wfo9]

Also, Potato Salad Hill looks nothing like that video in person, and is covered in broken glass from roll overs. I wouldn't do it in anything without a full cage, personally. The Taco was pretty lucky.

With so many geniuses out there, I'm surprised there is any broken glass.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AzdNxpwR780" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[m85476585]

Top speed in 4L is around 30-35 mph or so (I can't remember exactly), but I didn't take it to the rev limiter, so you might be able to go a little faster. It won't hurt anything to test it out. I've hit the rev limiter in 4 Hi with the transmission in first (Around 30-something mph), and my engine didn't blow up.

I was mistaken, top speed in 4 low is faster than I thought. Around 55mph in my 4th gen. I can't think of a time you would ever use that, but I guess that's how the gearing works out. Probably the fastest input speed 5th gear will ever see!

 

[Davy180]

Wow! That is a lot faster then I thought it would be able to go. I would have guessed 40mph max.

 

[PHXTE]

Just for you - I'll put my 4runner in 4lo, AND lock the rear axle, and drive in some circles on asphalt. It won't hurt a thing. The sky isn't falling. The idea that you'll break parts from this is utter nonsense.

For example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=LNYsBHln13Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=h2gzkUqqlnk

Respectfully, you're wrong here.

Can you do it and get away with it? Probably. Does that make it a good idea or change the fact that it's hard on the components? Hell no. If you do it enough or for long periods, will you break something? Most likely.

Part time 4WD equipped 4Rs(read: not the AWD system in the Limiteds) do not have a center differential. What that means is that the rear wheels can't maintain a different RPM than the fronts in 4WD. That's what causes the bucking feeling and understeering you feel when you take a turn in 4WD. You're feeling that because both sets of wheels are trying to go different speeds, and since the front wheels have too much traction, whereas in a slick surface situation, you would still understeer or bark, but they'd plow easily without the friction thus dramatically reducing the stress on the driveline.

That being said, I wouldn't have any problems using 4WD on a boat ramp.

 

[nglayton]

Use 2HI. If your wheels spin, throw it in 4HI. Still spin? Put it in 4LO.

You have plenty of power in 2HI, but that is a dang heavy load, while I tend to agree with the above statement, I think 4LO is the way to do it best....

 

[Blitzkrieg]

With so many geniuses out there, I'm surprised there is any broken glass.

Ya gotta give that old Chevy credit for not breaking or blowing up under the idiocy of the redneck.

Some dumb asses just seem bound and determined to destroy their vehicles.

And the guy that left his Jeep parked down at the front at the bottom of the hill? If there was justice in the world, the redneck would have fallen out the window of the Chevy, the Chevy would have run him over and then flew down the hill and smashed the crap out of the dummies Jeep just to send the point home.

 

[Jetboy]

Respectfully, you're wrong here.

Can you do it and get away with it? Probably. Does that make it a good idea or change the fact that it's hard on the components? Hell no. If you do it enough or for long periods, will you break something? Most likely.

Part time 4WD equipped 4Rs(read: not the AWD system in the Limiteds) do not have a center differential. What that means is that the rear wheels can't maintain a different RPM than the fronts in 4WD. That's what causes the bucking feeling and understeering you feel when you take a turn in 4WD. You're feeling that because both sets of wheels are trying to go different speeds, and since the front wheels have too much traction, whereas in a slick surface situation, you would still understeer or bark, but they'd plow easily without the friction thus dramatically reducing the stress on the driveline.

That being said, I wouldn't have any problems using 4WD on a boat ramp.

Respecfully - No. I'm not. I'm not just a web wheeler. I completely understand the part time 4wd system. I have a degree in physics. I've also broken transfer case shafts and built transfer cases from parts. 40" tires and low gears is hard on drivelines. Even then I can drive circles all day with the front and rear locked up in my fj40 without worry. Tires on asphalt simply cannot generate the friction that a bouncing wide open throttle run through a rock ledge can. Not even remotely close. If you can't at least do that, the vehicle has no business going offroad. Hell, a Honda accord can do a front dig without breaking axles.

I'm 100% fully aware of what's inside our transfer cases, how the shafts and chain drive operates. I understand that there will be scrub in turns, and it will put more force on certain driveline components. However IT WILL NOT CAUSE DAMAGE. Not only can I get away with it, I can drive in 4hi for the rest of the life of my 4unner and not have significant issues with driveline failure. Yes it will wear out tires faster. Yes it will get worse mpg. It might wear out ujoints faster? Otherwise, it's not really going to have any noticeable effect.

This issue isn't a close call. It's kinda silly that we're still arguing about it. Yes the best practice is to use 4x4 when you need it, and leave it in 2wd when you don't, but no it's not going to hurt a thing to drive on pavement in 4x4. Not for 10 miles. Not for 10,000 miles.