Getting used to No 4 wheel Drive Auto

we are silly to think about the benefits of auto4wd (or AWD), I was silly to wonder how bad the paved roads need to be before engaging 4WD on my new2me truck.

Maybe I'll trade for an old model T (or replica to be cheap) with skinny wooden wheels ... people got around fine with those. Heck, forget about buying a truck to tow horse trailer. I'm going to trade the trailer for a good ol' cart and use the horses to get around ... people got around fine in those

 

Engaging 4wd is different and do it if needed. That’s different than 4A. AWD and 4A are different and not the topic this thread was started on.

 

100 years ago everything was just fine too, right? God forbid someone actually innovates something practical. 4A is essentially the same as Tesla Autopilot because of "driver assistance"? And none of this is "entitled" as you claim, it's a basic drivetrain change that every other major OEM offer's, but Toyota's dinosaur fanbase like yourself can do mental gymnastics of Olympic caliber to justify their total lack of competence with basic upgrades. 4A makes everyone on the road safer, and will likely prevent the lowest common denominator that we've seen on this forum several time from snapping drive lines by driving in 4H on dry ground, since we wouldn't have to worry about binding. Good grief what a terrible justification that 50 years ago everyone got around "just fine" so why change?

 

I don't want to speak for anyone, but I dont think the tone of his post was *against* innovation. And a point of contention I have with your post is that 4a *does not* in fact make everyone on the road safer. Quite the opposite. More SUV's and other 4a vehicles stuck in snowbanks than Honda accords because "the lowest common denominator" thinks that their 4a permits them to not change their driving style when the weather shows up.

 

This guy gets it.

 

I just want to know how I missed all the threads with guys “snapping drive lines” in 4wd. Sounds cool.

 

Are there more SUV's or more Accords on the road? I'm going to guess all make SUV's there's more on the road. So, statistically there will be more of them stuck in the snowbanks?

 

You guys search at all? Been two or three in the last two months on the Gen 3 forum.

 

No, there hasn’t. Someone saying it binds in 4wd doesn’t equate to “snapping drive lines”

 

I didn't. Thus I shrugged because I didn't know about them. Not my fault people don't read their owner manuals or do research before buying.

 

ahhh you *did* say “lowest common denominator”

 

Nice burn, did you have a counter point?

 

I agree with that completely.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/concern-about-4wd.116078/

I'm not going to go back and waste my day, and I believe I was wrong anyways, there was one possibly two threads with broke CV joints, but several on people who don't understand how to use 4H coming from 4A. As usual on this forum this is counterproductive and my fault.

I still think it's stupid Toyota doesn't offer 4A, and I will stop there. The echo chamber has rendered it's opinion.

 

When the point of the original post flies over your head, a counterpoint clearly will not be productive.

 

Nothing broke in the thread you posted but it’s all good.

 

It's less an echo chamber than a bit of exhaustion about seeing the same complaints every few days as though it's new information. We all know that Toyota is YEARS behind everyone else on the feature list. Have known for what... 10? 15 years? People not researching what a vehicle has because they just expect features to be there and then complaining about their lack of diligence as a manufacturer problem gets a bit old. We all scratch our heads at Toyota's decisions (Why does the USA Pro not get an option for BSM but it's standard equipment in Canada?), but we have all accepted these odd decisions as worth it in order to purchase from one of the most reliable brands on the market.

 

And maybe that's my problem, I'm not a long time Toyota guy. I've owned a 2008 Tacoma, 2010 Tundra, 2013 Tundra, and 2022 Tundra. I bought for the "reliability" associated with the brand, which comes at a cost I am under no illusion. Toyota isn't ever the first to bring options to market, but they are frequently the most dependable. I just didn't expect them to be as far behind as they are relative to others with 4A and some other quirks.

I just went off on a flyer because I live in an environment with a lot of snow and ice, which makes not having 4A extremely obnoxious switching back and forth to 4H frequently. Anyways I need to eat some crow for how I handled this thread.

 

Ive had both systems, a shit ton of Toyotas that had part time systems and one ram that had 4wd auto setting

I did like to have that option of 4wd auto, but Ive had so many trucks with part time systems, its just second nature when to use it and when to switch, etc.

I can see the less experienced part time system guys or new truck owners wanting that 4wd auto system, it is nice.

one difference view point, toyota has now gained so much price with this new gen, they need to also match the content of the others, so in that regard, yes, it should have it.

 

All good. We're all friends here.

I'm less sympathetic than most as I also live in a land of ice and snow and I've never had 4A. I run 2WD 99% of the time and adjust my speed and such. Generally speaking, if it's bad enough that I am putting it into 4WD I'm only going 50-55 MPH at a max, and I just turn it off when I get to intersections or turn into parking lots. I don't try to be a prick, it just comes naturally.

 

Funny story since Ram just came up - I was at a Christmas party Friday night and saw an old friend from high school that I see a few times a year at kids sports stuff. He was asking about my truck because he just had to put a new engine in his 6 year old Ram 2500 with the 6.4 hemi because the cam lobes wore flat at 90k miles. Pick your poison wisely.

 

we all did that already, lol.

but there is a new line in the sand with the 2022+, it remains to be seen if it can live up to the no brainer reliability advantage over the others. So far its rocky start, but Im jumping in on a 2023 or 2024 whenever they find the exact model I want.

It better not be a shit box or break down because if thats the case, buy a Ram, they are way nicer if that toyota QDR isnt there.

 

Im in nearly the same boat as you and it's also like second nature with the part time operation for me as well. I live in northern IL and the winters are also shit.

That said, I bet if you owned a 4wd auto truck for a while and used it, you would appreciate its merit, it is very nice at certain times when your on the in between needing 4wd and not, its slick (no pun intended , HA)

 

I've had AWD in my WRX, auto 4WD in my Renegade, but not in a truck. I forgot about the little Renegade I had. I still locked it into 4WD when I felt the need.

 

ya AWD is a different animal, my wife's Sienna has it, its perfect for her since she isnt about to figure out a part time system

and ya, with the ram I had you had 4lo, 4 hi, 4wd auto, so you could also lock it in when you wanted like you stated.

I would love a 4wd auto as Im looking at a platinum truck and it should be there for 65-70K. They should at least have 4wd auto for platinum, 1794 and capstone.

but we all know thats not how Toyota works, so phuck it, Im getting one anyways, and continue to part time shift like I do now

 

If you are a smart driver and a good driver especially using 4wd then there is no need for auto. Its not hard to know when to use it honestly. I've never owned it and I've done just fine. I'm also in Denver. I lived in Seattle too. I offroad alot too. These trucks have so many other traction aids that you don't need auto4wd. So with that said, auto4wd in my opinion and experience is not a deal breaker and not worth complaining over. Anyways Goodluck and maybe go back to a GM. I hope you would give the tundra a try and go out and learn the system.

 

joe is that you? Did jill let you on computer again?

Learn the system? I've been driving 4wd since late 70s. Back to GM? This is my 6th Toyota, all but one 4wd. I only mentioned GM as it has auto4wd, one thing that interested me in those ... pretty much only thing ... I bought Toyota (again).

I merely replied that there are conditions when auto4wd (or awd) would be nice. Didn't say necessary. I knew what was buying when bought 4wd.

 

Yes it completely sucks its not available but I also wouldnt say its the end of the world either. I would base my truck purchase on it through.