Should Toyota add Auto 4wd to the Tundra ?

If I was on the engineering team or part of their focus groups I would have setups similar to what Toyota does with the 4Runner on the Tundra also.

The models that will "probably" rarely leave the pavement - (No TRD option - Capstone, Platinum) - give them the Auto 4wd.

For all models with TRD or the TRD Pro - no Auto but include the rear locker instead.

The 4Runners are made in Japan and I suspect a different focus group with dare I say it - seem to have better vision.

I think the above would make both camps happy. Those commuting in bad weather and those going offroad.

Camp A - Yes ....Camp B - NO and I don't care

Surprisingly consistent numbers still.

 

Auto 4wd? do you mean full time 4wd or all wheel drive (AWD)?

 

I don't expect Toyota can add AWD plus traditional 4 hi and 4 low.
AWD is like what my wifes Outback has. Its power is there on all wheels a certain percentage ALL THE TIME.
Its what the Ridgeline has. AWD
My son had a Subaru STI and he could lock the center differential. Different percentages - it was quite cool.

I refer to Auto 4wd - the front diff just goes for a ride until Auto 4wd is selected.
Someone else can explain how the full time 4wd in my sons 4Runner is different than GM's Auto 4wd. Torsen differential.

fwiw - if you want to see how good an AWD is on any vehicle. Bring it in to the mechanic have him step inside while the other mechanic raises the vehicle.
With all four wheels well above you where you can see all wheels, have the mechanic in the vehicle put it in drive and add consistent gas.
I watched this with a Subaru and it was quite something to watch as you see how each wheel "thinks" as none of the wheels have traction and the power moves around endlessly looking for traction - lol.

 

I saw a post somewhere, probably this forum, of someone swapping a Sequoia TT into the previous Gen Tundra. That setup would have been perfect imo.

 

There's a lot of ignorance about what Yota's 4WD systems are capable of. And ignorance about how AWD differs from fulltime 4WD with CDL. Oh yeah, and the VSC Off button, that creates confusion. I guess what you're advocating is what our '19 Sequoia has - 2HI, 4HIAuto is default (AKA fulltime 4WD in Toyota-speak), CDL button to go 50/50 split in 4HI, and 4LO with CDL. VSC Off button to disable nannies in 4HI.

I had the factory Eaton clutch-type rear LSD in the '05 Tundra 4WD, was a performer, I think it was 300RPM difference between wheelspeeds for the clutches to engage.

 

Which is why I specifically pointed out how I hate that on my Tundra.

But yeah, my old first gen grand cherokee is actually full time 4wd, which is pretty nice. And I can use a lever, directly attached to linkage which is attached to the t-case, to shift into 4lo IMMEDIATELY with zero lag and without having to perform a 20 step ritual and sacrifice a virgin.

 

Well now we need a video of this.

 

No I meant Auto 4wd. It is completely different from both AWD and full time 4WD.

https://4wheeldriveguide.com/how-does-4-wheel-drive-auto-work-explained/

 

So what is Fords 4Auto system, which continuously sends varying amounts of torque to the front axle?

 

Just another variation of a Auto 4wd system

 

Early 90's so no phones with video (or pictures). 8^(
It was a Subaru Legacy. It was put on the hoist to confirm which wheel had the bad wheel bearing by listening to rear (driver side if I remember). Really cool to watch, all wheels turning, but some were in a state of slowing others speeding up, and it left the head mechanic really impressed with the Subaru AWD.

The new Tundra was introduced first ahead of the Sequoia. I imagine if the Sequoia was introduced first there would of been a lot more objection to why only a part time 4wd system. I'm sure if this poll was run on the Sequoia, the Yes numbers would be a lot higher. JMO but there is no way they are adding Auto 4wd to the Tundra if the Sequoia doesn't already have it. A big miss for Toyota for not making it an option on the Tundra, and a bigger miss not making it standard on the Sequoia - And lets face it, they don't care. In this market they are selling every one they make. They don't make many Sequoia or Tundras compared to the competition.

 

???

Early Subarus had a pretty simple AWD system. They had either a viscous center diff (manual trans) or a clutched transfer case (automatic trans). The clutched transfer case would transfer power to the rear based on wheel slip at the front up to 50:50 torque split. That’s similar to the clutched transfer cases of the big 3 with Auto4WD. The front diff was open so right and left wheel would spin in opposite directions. Not sure which models got it but there was an option for a rear limited slip. But the rears should have done the same and spun in opposite directions. Subaru kept this layout for many many years at least until the late 2000s.

 

I think they are still pretty much the same except for the STi with dccd or whatever they call the center diff.

Thats exactly why I asked what we would consider fords 4Auto system. Its basically the same thing as virtually every awd car/suv in existence, just with the axles reversed. It seems to me that Ford(and maybe GM and ram’s) system is what any normal person would call awd.

My parents 2002 crv had “real time awd” that was controlled by a clutch. Their Astro van was “AWD” and was a borg warner clutched t case. Their 2009 Acura RDX was “Super Handling AWD” and was a clutched unit. All of them worked in the same/similar way as the clutched 4Auto t-cases in the trucks.

 

If Subaru built a decent sized AWD pickup where you can lock the center diff - I will buy it.
The first gen Ridgeline allowed you to lock the center diff - you needed to put in first gear.
I don't think they do that anymore ?
The 2022 Tundra appears to only have 8.5 inches of ground clearance now - is this true ?
My wifes outback has more ground clearance. Just saying.

 

I believe most 2022 Tundra trim levels are listed at 9.3” of ground clearance.

 

Yeah probably at the rear diff 3rd member. I bet its higher everywhere else. My 1995 4Runner on 37" tires and 8" Toyota axles only has 11.5" of ground clearance if you measure at the pumpkins. Thats 4.5" larger tires than the biggest Tundra tire and almost a 2" smaller diameter pumpkin and still only has 11.5". On the previous 33" tires it would have been at 9.5".

I dont think anyone would question its capabilities compared to an outback.

 

I am a fan of vehicles designed to go off road that have smart clean undersides.
Things that can get banged are tucked away. The Outback excels at this The Tundra has always been good as well as the Ford F150.

Like wise I can't stand GM trucks with their Old Man Balls Rear suspensions.

 

Oh if I had a nickel every time I heard from some of my GM mechanic friends talking about customers ruining their transmissions by leaving them in Auto AWD all the time.

 

I havent heard that with the fords and I know a lot of guys just set them and leave them in 4Auto.

I dont because the Fords still have disconnecting hubs, so when they are in 2wd the front driveline isn’t turning at all. Not like most 4x4’s that just leave the front end connected and only disconmect at the t-case

 

How does this happen ? is it the extra drag on the transmission ?

 

Im pretty sure the GM transmissions just suck to begin with. Even the GM fanboi's hate the 8 speed with a burning passion.