4WD System in New Hilux

Your could be be diff-locked once 4H is selected. Cars such as Landcruisers which are full-time 4WD would have a viscous coupling of some sort, which allows them to be used on bitumen surfaces. Only when 4H is selected on these vehicles would the centre diff-lock be activated. 4H should only be used on loose surfaces eg. sand, gravel etc.

We did a course with a reputable 4WD driving school a few years ago for my wife to learn off road driving. It was surprising how much new stuff I learned as well, such as when to engage 4WD, etc....and I had been driving 4WDs for over 20 years.

The Hilux is not a "Full-Time" 4wd and should not be driven as such. If you engage 4wd on hard surfaces (such as normal roads) and continue to drive it, you will get what is called "Wind up" this will eventually either make in impossible for you to stear or snap a CV Joint, Axel, Uni joint, gearbox, transfer case or diff.

With a Hilux you only engage 4wd on loose gravel, mud, snow or sand. Full time 4wd's have a centre diff lock, which means the front and rear drive wheels can work indepentally from each other and when the going get's tuff you lock them together. Yours are always locked together, so going around corners when one of the front wheels is turning more or less than the back wheels and there is no slip or give somthing else will have to give.

Hope this explains it.