Proper Way To Engaging 4 Wheel Drive (2024)

What's the proper way to engage 4 wheel Hi on 3rd Gen Tacomas? On the Tacomas that I've own (2006 and 2022) when I engage 4Hi, it will either engage smoothly (no noise) or will have a clanking noise (like gear engaging). The same is true for taking it out of 4 wheel drive. Do folks engage and disengage 4Hi when the vehicle is stopped or moving slowly. The manual states that I can engage 4Hi at speeds up to 50 mph (I believe). I've tried both approaches and it's a hold your breath if I'm going to hear a clank noise or not. Just curious what other's experiences are.

Turn the knob brother.

Thanks brother. I got that figured out. Serious question though.

When engaging while moving I make an effort to be at a steady speed.
Sometimes when engaging while stopped or moving slowly I will notice the clank.

Keep in mind modern vehicles don't have the massive heavy transfer cases the older models did, all that mass tended to make mechanical noise less noticeable.

Serious answer, just turn the knob lol. As long as you follow the instructions on the little card on your visor, that is the proper way.

The "clank" you are hearing is normal, gears are lining up. Sometimes the gears are already aligned perfectly, so you don't hear anything. Usually the only time I hear a clank is when I'm stopped. I usually keep rolling to shift into 4H. Only time I stop is to shift into 4L.

If you heard a clank while engaging 4wd, it is because of a couple possible things.

You are turning, creating a difference in speed between in the front and rear driveshaft.

You have traction loss in the rear creating a speed difference in the front and rear driveshaft.

Either way, the common theme is driveshaft speed. While shifting go as straight as possible and take the load off the drivetrain for the smoothest possible 4wd engagement and disengagement.

Leave up on pedal then throw switch.

Being old enough to have had a 4wd I had to manual engage with lever, and feeling how it "liked" to engage, I turn the knob and then let up on the gas, to unload the motor to wheel drive train and allow the 4wd to mesh / engage easier.

I'm the old school kind where my previous transfer case was a manual lever and manual hubs. So it was stop, throw the lever to 4Hi, get out, twist drivers hub, try to twist passenger, get mad about it, open back door and blindly fumble under the passenger seat for the pliers, find the pliers, brush the month old trail mix crumbs off the pliers, twist passenger hub, climb back into truck, haphazardly toss pliers somewhere behind you, put it in 1st and roll out.

I did have a truck with auto hubs for a while, and you learned to unload the trans by letting it slightly coast - not removing your foot completely mind you, just slightly letting up - and that would make the engagement smooth as silk.

With the push button, you can do that or not. Up to you. My understanding is that if its too harsh then the fancy electronics will wait until its safe to execute the command. Clunk away.

The clunk comes from load in the drivetrain during the shift. Try and have minimal load in the powertrain when shifting which means coasting and very little throttle or brake.

Serious question you say, yet you know where to look for the literal "textbook answer"

The owners manual has the answer. Toyota will not do anything that could cost them more money, so follow the manual and you will be fine.

1974 F100 drive down a long steep hill on a no winter maintenance road, slide into ditch with (unlocked) hub dug into dirt bank, walk three miles in below freezing temps...

Off accelerator, turn knob and wait for light on dash to go steady green before proceeding.

Turn the dial.

Even if you switch to 4hi over the recommended speed it beeps and flashes until you slow down enough - then engages.

Computers literally won’t let you screw it up.

Just turn the knob below 50 MPH.

My Renix Jeep, be rolling, put into neutral, pull lever to "4H," wait for the vacuum motor to move fork in axle. (I have the 2.5L L4, rev then close throttle for vacuum.) Then get back into gear and keep driving. To disengage, get into neutral, push lever down to "2H" and get back into gear.

hahah...you forgot to add, climb out onto hood, lean over to reach hubs becasue you forgot to before you entered the mud puddle.