When to use 4WD in new Hilux.?

the Navara system Must be a similar set up to the TOD system on the explorers, It will automatically transfer drive to the front wheels if slip is detected at the back, I Call it The Fun limiter LOL.

It’s a good system and works well on greasy roads (still managed the odd 4Wheel power slide thou) after the first rains or when you forget to engage 4WD off road the system will do it for you then disengage when not needed. I think it puts a lot of stress on the front drive line but, as if you take of quick from a standing start in the wet it will really drop it in hard so much so you can clearly hear it, ouch.

The Navara does'nt have "auto" unlike the Pathy, only has 2wd 4h and 4low
was test driving one today.

Dave

yeah i have driven both but i suppose the pathy switch was in my mind.

Cooper AT's 265 x 65 x 17's. Love the tyres however in the wet they wheel spin consistantly. No load in the back, she's a dual cab.

Dose it have LSD? If not might be worth putting a good one in.

And no I wouldn’t be engaging 4WD on a hard road surface you will be asking for problems, try taking off a little lighter with the go pedal or a little harder whatever you please, How much ran have you had as the roads my still be oily so it will be slippery until it’s all washed away.

Also maybe try carrying some weight around in it like a few bags of yellow sand.

Oh Thankyou Wizard1, you are a real package.!

Since you welcome any repechages and I am the author here goes SFB:

1. I do not 4WD, hence my question, which in perspective was trying to ascertain the ability of the 4WD system to be used on wet roads. If I intend to use my vehicle in difficult terrain I would undertake 4WD training, however my question has nothing to do with this, it refers to the useability of the 4WD system on very wet roads.

2. Nobody needs to justify my licensing and the right to drive the vehicle SFB, because I drive it on the road perfectly, full rating 1, never had an accident..? How have I managed to do this without the expert help of the Wizard..?? Buggered if I know.

3. In future I would welcome advise, not stupid sarcasm, so thankyou to the people who have answered my question sensibly.

Too right mate, nothing worse than a holier than thou smart @#$%

Wizard I got to disagree with you. I am off the belief that if you dont need a 4x4 then dont freaking buy one, they cost more to run, handle worse, brake worse, use more fuel, accelerate worse. But if you have one and dont live in toorak you probably need one of it's functions. As for handling, some of the worst handling cars I have ever driven are commodores!! (and competition) mid 80's to early 90's, what crap, a new 4x4 will freaking beat the living daylights out of these in braking and handling, this means if you drive a commonwhore, you need a special licence. That aint going to happen! I drive a 4x4, it is so so crap to drive, I hope I never have to stop fast in the wet, I have to be very carefull, but this new toyota will probably be like an F1 car to mine, therefore again, they dont need a special licence. The last thing is, what is a 4x4 anyway? with all the variations of the theme these days, there are only a few real ones left, I doubt new 4x4's of the same model could cut it with their earlier model siblings in the dual cab market. Less clearance, more on road ability, they are just like sedans used to be, and as mentioned better than a lot of sedans used to be. I think you would have to take only 1 demographic of 4x4 owners to special licences. They are, young owners of old crappy LC's and all those tank 4x4's with 4 wheel drums (and toorak owners irrelivent of which 4x4 they own).

Terrafirma,

I suggest that it can simply be an issue of tyre perormance and if you had some other tyre that performed better in the wet then I'm sure most of this post would be unecessary. Quite valid and sensible is the query of engaging 4wd in the wet on bitumen in my eyes, and my opinion would be to not do so. I have an SR5 04 TD model duelcab with BF Goodrich AT tyres and must say that I do not have a wheel spin issue in the wet and do not carry any load apart from the sports bars. Good Luck with your next tyre choice is what I say.

Cheers

Hey terrafirma, I also think if its wet, just use 4x4. I know people talk about wind up and all that, I would love to see some evidence of broken parts form wind up tho. I used to have an L series subaru part time real 4x4. The manual said to use 4x4 on bitumen when wet, it just said to engage/disengage in a straight line. I wound it up a few times and drove right through it and it never had any probs. I would say your car is way tougher and in the wet you will just get a tiny bit of spin, so bugger it, just use 4x4 sparingly when you feel you want to.

Hi Ya TerraFirma

I have the Hilux D4D and sometimes I also would like a little more rear end traction in some on road conditions, I think thats all your fishing for and enquiring about.

I dont use mine in 4 high when on the black stuff, it winds the gearbox up to much, I would like to though.

Just try and take a 4x4 with wind up out of 4x4, from a mechanical appreciation point of veiw it cant be good for it to be in this condition for long periods of time I would not think

Bet you the future upgrade Hilux will be part time 4x4, typical eh ?

Enjoy your driving

agreed, use it.

TerraFirma,

Good on you for being up front, excercising your right as an idividual and asking intelligent questions of people you would have thought would be supportive and helpful. I too have had similar issues way back when I first started with 4wd dual cabs and utes, as have many people in this forum if they were honest enough to admit it.

in my opinion, a small amount of appropriate and well thought out information once sought can make a remarkable difference to an intelligent individual. I woud suggest you consider the advice given grant it appropriate merits where warranted and make an informed decision and keep on asking questions.

Well done....db.