Might be the dumbest 4HI question ever...

So, if you can drive 50MPH + ish in 4HI, but aren't supposed to make tight turns as it binds in 4HI...how do you drive around town in 4HI? lol. Do you just shift into 2 for turns?

Sounds insane, but really want to protect my investment from stupid mistakes if I can, and I'm using 4HI more and more these days. Judge me all you want, lol, but it could be a very very expensive mistake I'm assuming if I do it too much.

 

If the roads are snow covered or icy there won’t be a problem . If the front tires have grip then it would be a problem .

 

Was snow covered and icy this am, but bound a bit going into a parking lot that has a steep hill, so wasn't sure how I should have done this differently as I couldn't have made the turn any wider to prevent it.

 

For parking lot maneuvers you should take it out of 4x4. Sharp turns like what you make in a lot will bind on all but the slickest surfaces. If it binds with what you are trying to do, it needs to be taken out of 4WD.

 

This is what I figured, thank you guys! I know it sounds dumb but I'd rather ask and sound dumb, than hurt all kinds of components if I can help it.

Tricky part is, it needs some "runway" to shift back into 4HI, and the hill was ice covered and steep, so guess I shoulda popped to 2, then back to 4HI and given it a chance?

Thanks again!

 

Why turn? Put in 2, let the arse spin around, and back to 4H going straight up the hill. I joke, but I do spend a lot of time switching between 2 and 4H in town. Half the roads are clear, half are still packed, so I get into the turn then back to 4H (or vice versa). Usually works fine as long as I'm moving, but sometimes trickier when I'm stopped at an intersection that has both dry and packed roads. Do I keep it in 2 and struggle so I don't bind, or 4H so I can actually go forward first. I understand why some prefer auto 4.

 

May be unrelated, but an old guy once told me "only to use 2WD until stuck. Then use 4WD to get out vs using 4WD until stuck, then you're screwed..."

I just found humor/logic in that thought process...

 

Some good advice so far. Biggest thing is don't lose sleep over this, you're not hurting anything. They're open diffs and they're not fragile.

 

The transfer case is not open. Meaning your driveshafts will spin together.

 

Well I'm glad this thread was started... I thought I was the only one constantly switching from 2 to 4Hi all the time.

 

Cool. That's why I said diffs.

 

Cool - guess you don’t understand how the 4WD works so maybe don’t chime in.

Diffs allow variance side to side but you have nothing allowing variance front to back. One of the rear wheels and one of the front wheel will spin together.

Sequoias used to have a clutched transfer case that would allow variance front to back when unlocked - but I think they ditched that on the 3rd gen.

 

I drive mine a ton in 4H for winter driving mostly because of icy roads and bad intersection. I’ve ran into some trouble switching into 4H while on ice and I had a malfunction come up but once I parked the truck and came back to it nothing was wrong with it. I do love ripping in the snow go to 4H then MTS and choose sand function it’s like a different truck completely.

 

This is The Way! More fun too.
(I’m one of the Old Guys)

 

Also be amazed how well the autoLSD feature works

 

Is there a speed max that you can drive in 4H?

 

I think it's 55 mph max.

When switching between 2-4. Do ya leave truck in drive and switch between the two? Or go back to park?

 

If you need 4Hi, max speed should not be a concern. If you can safely drive 60 mph, then you don't need 4Hi.

 

Not certain for the 3rd gens, but previous gen just has a speed restriction on shifting in and out of 4H. However, if the conditions warrant 4WD it'd be pretty stupid to go blasting around at much over 50-55. 4 wheel drive does not mean 4 wheel stop.

 

You can switch between 2WD and 4Hi on the fly, but you have to be stationary to go into/out of 4Lo.

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/Jjtsc7sip94?si=-7_Uwhyt4yh9WmxA

I believe he was clocked around 85 at the finish - I can only assume he was in 4WD racing through the cinders.

 

Fair point. I was thinking slick winter conditions given the original post and current time of year, and in that context I stand by my previous post.

 

No argument there. Just addressing use of 4hi at high speeds. Internet saying max speed in 4low is 35-40mph… transfer case ratio 2.64:1 = equivalent of 92-105MPH in 4hi.

 

The owners manual says to drive 10 miles in 4H every month. Anyone find a way to do that when the roads are clear?

 

Go straight. Or find a dirt/gravel road. 10 miles is excessive in my opinion - just enough to exercise the actuators and heat cycle the front drive parts should be plenty.

 

When my truck was new going In/Out of 4WD was so slow. For my first year I cycled into both Hi/Low and the rear axle lock every week on just my 1000’ street. It shifts instantly now in/out without hesitation.

 

^^^This is correct. Even moderate curves on dry pavement won't hurt anything. The key is to avoid sharp turns, and parking maneuvers, on dry pavement when in 4Hi.

We have a place in a ski resort town in Colorado, so my truck's 4Hi get's plenty of use. I still haven't had it in 4Lo, yet, in 20K miles. I should probably do that soon.

 

I recently asked this to my local Tundras Wisconsin facebook group. I have driven every other other vehicle in 4wd high at highway speeds, I don't know how some people get around without doing it in the winter. I understand people that don't travel when the roads are clear but around here some times it can be days/weeks/months before some roads are clear.

 

Yep, once you're shifted in highway speeds are fine.

 

This all confuses the fudge out of me. If we don't have physical limited slip differentials, why is it necessary to take it out of 4HI?

The differential should allow slip between sides to travel the same distance between front and rear.

That's my thoughts at least.