4Runners Off-Road

November 17, 2002

Anybody got advice for a new 4Runner owner taking it off-road. Just bought a 3L V6 petrol job. First time in the brown stuff today and didn't perform v well, mainly due lack of drive to front wheels. Front shaft turning but nothing to the 2 half-shafts. Hoping it's not the front diff that has gone.

Problems aside, how do the 4Runners perform in the mud? Any tips on how to get the best out of it?

All advice/comments gratefully received.

May 8, 2003

Are you sure you locked the hubs in, and that the shift lever was fully engaged into either 4H or 4L? Sometimes it'll go far enough in to light up the dash panel indicator without actually being IN 4WD. I've found it's best to shift into 4WD when fully stopped, main shifter in N, clutch in. Then shift it all the way into 4L, then back to 4H (if that's where you want to be). Then go ahead and start off normally. That makes SURE you've got the transfer case really and truly engaged. That's how I do it, anyway. And when getting out of 4WD, it's usually best to "unload" the system by backing up about 3 meters, then putting the main shift into N, the clutch in, and then shifting the 4WD lever back to the 2WD position. Works for me every time.

My 4Runner works great in mud. I have a set of BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA Radials on, and they help a LOT! I live 3/8 of a mile down a dirt road from the nearest paved road, with a 6'deep canal on one side and an 8' drop into some fields on the other, and wehn it rains, the clay my road's composed of turns as slick as oil on ice. I just air the tires down to about 14 PSI, put it in 4L 1ST gear, and let it idle on through. Takes me about 20 minutes to go that 3/8 mile, but it does it every time. Mud everywhere. Loads of fun, until it tries to swap ends on me...

BTW: If you know you're going into muddy conditions, spray the underside of your truck with a non-stick cooking spray first. Especially the wheel wells. You'll have a whole lot less mud to clean off later, and you must clean the mud off as soon as possible, or it'll start rust areas under it. It holds moisture in it forever!

Long-winded, but I hoe it helps!