Engaging 4wd regularly... I have never done this

You'll likely get more than pavement, but make a turn on hard packed dirt in 4WD and see if the truck doesn't buck a little.

 

Just plan to get on the dirt once a month and explore some outdoor areas. Good to go after that.

 

right, you can turn in 4hi just fine, but long turns, like getting on a freeway interchange on dry pavement might not be the best. As much as I'm not ready for the snow, I'm ready for the snow.

 

I probably use 4wd about 5-6 times a month, every month to get to my hunting and fishing spots. The farmers let me drive through their land and some of the roads are really muddy leading into the areas. But, no way do I hit the 5-10 miles.

 

I turn mine on every once in a while when I think about it. More of just turning it on and off a couple times, maybe drive 1/4 mile with it engaged. I notice if I haven't engaged it in a while, it takes a little bit to get it to engage. The more you turn it on and off, the quicker it engages. Usually make sure to engage it a couple times before hunting season and before they are predicting snow just to make sure it will engage quickly when needed.

 

..it ain't easy being beautiful...

 

True that. Lol

 

That is always the good thing about my Tacoma. manual transmission, with a stick and linkage 4wd. mash the clutch grab the lever and pull, goes in every time. I think the book recommends not to drop it in above 55mph but handles great on about any surface once its engaged and haven't had any issues at up to about 75mph either with 4-hi engaged.

 

I don’t get what you guys are saying. Does 4wd not work properly? 4wds have been on the road for eons.

 

When you go around a turn each tire is taking a different track and going a different distance so they are spinning at different speeds. When you are in 4wd, it locks some of the wheels together so if you are trying to turn while in 4wd one of those tires has to be able to slip, when on pavement, you have too much traction and the tires aren't able to slip so it's possible you can break something or at least bind it up and put a lot of pressure on the drivetrain.

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/drivin...w-it-works-all-wheel-and-four-wheel-drive/amp

 

I understand the need to use the 4WD occasionally to keep everything nice and lubricated, but i think Toyota's 10 miles per Month might be a little overkill on their part.

 

Agreed. And what I don't like about it is it's leading people to believe, "well if Toyota wants me to drive ten miles in 4WD monthly, surely that must mean it's OK to do that on pavement".

 

I'm often wrong [which never fazes me], but I'm calling B.S. on this 'shift into 4-wheel drive once a month for 10 miles' crap.

I never do it. Call me a thrill seeker who likes to live dangerously.

 

soo I'm guessing the whole 5 times I've been in 4wd over the life of my tundy equals bad

 

I only do it if it’s on highway, not even local.

 

Use mine every time I drive my Tundra, I live 1/4 mile up a crappy dirt road off the pavement. Never had a problem. Same with my '96 4runner, never a problem.

 

I do it on the odd straight away or gravel road I'm driving down.

I'll be using it regularly for the next 6months....we get snow for about 6 months a year.

 

I thought that was what the diff locks were for? What do they have both for?

 

tundra don't have diff lock, the main problem is we missing a central diff, a third diff that change the differences between the front and rear
https://youtu.be/mhTVQh7bFtw

 

Yeah, I know already. My point was that I don't think it is necessary and am not going to do it.

 

That seems like a flaw to me...

 

No, it's just the nature of 4WD. This isn't AWD.

 

you guys have me totally freaked out. screw it. i'm selling the tundra, turning in my truck gang card and buying a ridgeline...

 

Don't rule out a GMC: https://www.foxnews.com/auto/general-motors-recalling-over-600000-trucks-that-may-brake-unexpectedly

P.S. I hear the tailgates function flawlessly though ...

 

Go about 3 years without using it like I did due to not ever needing it and then wonder why the actuator sticks and doesn’t engage when you finally do need it (like I did). It took a few attempts to shake the cob webs off and finally get it working again.

 

In a moment of independence, I made a shockingly inappropriate comment, which was really just shtick [a 'bit' or character sketch] where I get to be a young dude living in the early 80's again, foolish, wild, and free.

I repent. The manual is correct. I will shift into 4-wheel drive more often [at least]. I apologize for misleading the forum, and it IS good to know that this is a serious issue deserving of my real attention.

I am in 4-wheel drive now.

--Bit Over--

That story does drive the point home, though: thanks for telling me; I actually will shift into 4-wheel drive occasionally now. I can only go about 9-10 months without using it where I live. BUT ... I DO want my 4-wheel drive to work.

P.S. This is probably the only time in my life that I am going to take advice from a professional hand model.