Engaging 4wd thunk

Hi all, I hope you have a great New Year's.

On my 2020 SR5, I've been impressed with the stock tires, mostly driving in two wheel drive all winter. I did get stock in a rut and needed to use 4Hi. With my foot on the brake I switched the dial to 4HI, the dash started to blink 4HI but never engaged.

I then took my foot off the brake and applied just a touch of throttle to get tires moving and that's when, thunk!, 4HI engaged but not a happy sound.

I don't remember this rough engagement with my 2010 Tundra. Am I forgetting the proper protocol here? Should I be going into Neutral or something for a smoother engagement?

Thanks

 

Sounds normal. Its smoother when you're already rolling and engage it. Going into neutral is for 4lo only.

 

Pretty standard in any 4x4's I've driven. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. In the Tundra it really helps to be rolling, I usually try when just coasting first and it'll go in smoothly, the odd time I just have to touch the throttle and it goes in. If your tires are turned I find it's a little rougher to engage/disengage. The more you use it the better it engages I find too, first time in 3 weeks and it's very finicky and will make a little clunk, 3rd time in 3 days and it goes in butter smooth with a tiny bit of throttle.

I'd say next time just be a little more methodical about it - try it while not moving, then give it a few seconds with no brakes or throttle, then try the touch of throttle. Putting it in 4lo is the only time you need to go into neutral.

 

Good info, thanks very much to you both!