When to and when not to put in 4WD?

May seem like an odd question but my RWD 2007 Tundra I just used weight in the back for traction. Other cars had automatic AWD or some intelligent 4WD (Range Rover Sport) I'm driving a 2021 Limited with TRD off road package and triple peak tires. Lifted 3" in the front 1" in the rear.

Now that I need to decide and live in an area that gets very icy roads I have to go here to the experts.

If I know the roads are icy should I just use 4WD all the time? Seems excessive and will add wear and tear that isn't necessary. 4WD isn't gonna keep me from slipping on black ice but is it ever necessary on a road that could be slick? A hill maybe for a short period? I looked around the forum but couldn't find a very clear answer and those that live way up north I trust to know this inside and out.

Thanks in advance! Love to hear the pros and cons and what others are doing...

 

I use 4wd for slippery intersections and snow deeper than 4" that have yet to be plowed. I toggle on/off the 4wd throughout my drives around town. Primarily used at intersections where I need to jump out into line...weight/sandbags in bed is always recommended too as it will be noticed even while in 2wd as you have experienced in past. Common sense will net you more victories this winter!

 

Any time you have a looser than normal surface or slicker than normal surface, 4WD is your friend. The difference is dramatic driving with and without 4WD on winter roads. Having the front tires pulling helps keep the vehicle tracking straight and helps with turning as well. Helps a lot on low traction hills. If there is ice, I usually won't drive on them unless it's an emergency. Need studded tires for that. It will not keep you out of the ditch when the roads are icy and your making poor driving choices, but it might help get you out of the ditch. As far as wear and tear, it's what the system was designed to do. If you never use it, you've wasted that capability. Like putting a bra on the front of your car to save the paint you're never gonna see. Cause you put a hideous bra over it. What are you saving it for??

 

So switching back and forth doesn't cause excessive wear and tear? Seems it's kinda a big deal mechanically transitioning from one to the other... Never heard anyone having any issues with it but kinda like those cars that the engine shuts off at stop signs then starts back up every time. Just rubs me wrong knowing it's bound to fail sooner.

 

Again, it's what the system was designed to do. Think of all the other switches that are used on a daily basis that haven't worn out after xxx miles. Not using it is worse than using it.

 

put it in 4wd when you think you might need it! Some wear and tear is a lot cheaper then an accident. Also you probably need years of 4wd use before you'd have any actual usage issues. I use 4wd liberally every year between winter and back woods fall driving, 100s of miles in 4wd each season. not had any issues over last 8 years.

sharp turns on dry/wet pavement when you can feel it binding is not good and should be avoided. when its slick with only gradual turns don't be afraid to use it. I turn off/on frequently when its conditions where you may only need it occasionally. Best to engage/disengage while driving in a straight line. My experience is with first gens (both regular and center diff lock versions) but think it applies to newer toyota 4wd as well.

most importantly slow down and look ahead/anticipate.

 

Agreeing with everyone else. No issues with using it as needed. Whether it's for 45 miles or for a half mile. Take it out on dry/unfrozen wet pavement to prevent binding and you'll be fine. Just make sure your rear tires aren't spinning when trying to engage.

What area are you in OP?

 

I was stuck in NC when our roads froze over with a solid 2-4 inches of ice. Had to get the kid from a relative's place where the heat went out back to my apartment. Solid 40 miles in 4High and no issues afterwards.

Use it when you think you'll need it, that's what its there for.

 

I live in Vermont where the you can have every driving condition within the same day. I will put it in 4WD even when there is a trace of ice and snow.

 

It's a major bummer that the Toyota system requires you to stop and shift to neutral to get to 4H. Again, another way that Toyota is stuck in the 1990s.

For me, this will pretty much preclude me from ever using 4H on the road even when it's snowing.

 

You just need to be under 25mph I believe. Only need to be in neutral to get to 4L

 

It’ll come with experience of having a manually selectable 4WD. You’ll know when you need it and when you can do without once you’ve went through a winter or two. It’ll come as second nature. As long as you don’t run it on dry pavement turning and binding it, and you don’t run over 65 mph with it in 4WD, you should be just fine. Don’t overthink it.

 

Under ~100kmh/60mph fine to switch between 2WD and 4H. There’s a cue card on the driver sunvisor that explains it all.

Like most others have said, definitely a help in low traction environments, but don’t forget that braking distances don’t really improve- you always had 4-wheel braking.


That false confidence can get you in trouble pretty quickly!

 

I lived in Portland where studded tires were legal, assume Bend is the same, so 4 WD with studded winter tires is about the best you can do on ice. Snow chains are good as well but what a pain to get on and off not near as convenient as studs and as said by HulkSmurf 14, on and off as needed and you will know when to turn 4 wheel drive on, this works very well but won't help you when stopping. Studs or chains are best for this, so you gotta plan for road conditions.

 

Negative sir. Can be done on the fly as long as your going under 60mph or so. Has been that way on my last 5 Toyota trucks (97 & 01 Tacomas / 01, 10, and 18 Tundras).

If I’m doing it on the fly, I just let off the gas and it switches in/out just fine.

And to the OP, 4wd absolutely helps on black ice, or any traction limited surface. It’s what it is designed to do.

Sincerely,
Lifelong Alaskan who drives half the year on snow / ice.

 

Lived in Ashland OR, Used to run studded tires from about November to April, best thing for ice.

 

^^ this
put mine in 4hi, in November, and probably won't take it out of 4hi until mid April

 

Under 60 to swap, what's the max speed with it on?

 

Pretty sure it’s 65 mph according to the book.

 

No listed max speed for 4wd.

 

100% sure I’ve gone faster than 65 in 4wd.

 

If you have a "slap stick", shift mode, you can use it to down shift when trying to slow down and that way the trany and engine are working to slow you up in a controlled fashion...for me...it is better than just brakes.....my $.02

 

Me too! I guess this is what my manual says…no max speed listed.

 

Yup. I’m daily 75mph with 4x4 in normal flow of traffic all winter. Been doing it for decades. No issues, and if there was an issue with max sped it would be listed.

 

In snow, for me it's a combination of 4wd, using the gearshift to slow down and take off, caution, and common sense. I put it in 4wd if I even suspect a buildup of snow or ice. My Tacoma with the composite bed needed a few hundred pounds in there, but my one serious snow trial in the tundra was fine without.

 

Really? Well that would be great. I was just working off the information in the owners manual, and the reason I had looked it up in the manual is because I tried to shift to 4H and it just blinked and wouldn't shift. Once I stopped and went to neutral it shifted. Odd.....

Edit: I have no idea what I was looking at before, but I found page 229 in the manual and sure enough...it says I can shift on the fly. My bad!!

 

you may have mistakenly looked at 4LOW shifting instructions. definitely need to be stopped and in neutral to shift into 4L.

when you shift from 2 to 4H or 4H to 2, sometimes it can take a few seconds. I've found to let off the gas, push button (or knob) then ease into the gas is quickest way to get it to shift. It has to synchronize before it goes. I believe the manual even mentions to change vehicle speed to help shift. Sometimes its instantaneous, sometimes it takes a few seconds.

 

Wow, thanks for the info. I always expected something to break trying to do interstate speeds in 4wd.

 

You will learn as you go the best time to engage 4HI.
I use it whenever there are any slippery surfaces on the road.
When it is a snowy or icy it is best to play it safe and have it engaged all the time.
The only time I will deactivate it in these conditions is when I am at a car park,gas station, etc and I need to do tight turns at slow speeds.
Never drive faster than 60 in 4HI.
I thought I was being clever by deactivating it on a good stretch of highway.
I hit black ice and spun out. From there on out I kept it permanently engaged in icy/snowy weather. When you get to know your truck really well you can gently apply power during a slip to power out of it. Once you get the hang of it it works amazing.
Periodically press your brakes to test how slippery the road is. You’ll be shocked how slippery even good looking roads are. Don’t trust what you see. Trust what your truck is trying to tell you.
One winter it was so bad I had it engaged from October to April or something like that.
You will put excessive strain on your drive train if you drive 4HI on dry roads.
If the roads are mostly snowy or icy it will cause no issue to your drive train.

I read others position on a max speed. I still believe that you should keep it 60 or under. Not only for less mechanical stress but slower driving in bad weather. If you need 4HI activated in icy and snowy weather, the faster you go the more dangerous it is for you and everyone else.

Keep your speed down. Stay safe. The slower you go the safer it is for you and everyone else

 

Like others have said... I'm pretty sure that's only for 4Lo.

Been using 4Hi while at a stop and while driving - as long as I'm not switching to 4Hi at high speeds... Then again, when it's snowing/ice/rain, no one should be speeding.