snow driving in parking lots sucks - normal or just a me issue?

Hi - I've got a 2016 4WD and this is my 2nd 4Runner, but first 4WD. Off-road in heavy snow - it handles great! When the roads are icy or snowy - turning and pulling into parking spots sucks and feels like something is going to fall off or break. Not long after I bought it (bought used in 2018) I changed to the TRD wheels and got better all weather tires. Is this normal or could there be an issue? I've gone to the dealer and asked and they said it sounds normal, but I'm not quite believing it and has me looking at other vehicles for the AWD....but I'm a 4runner girl and would still have my '99 if it had been 4WD. I'm in the Boise area, so we don't get tons of snow. Thanks for any insight!

 

Hey @girlcat4runner, and welcome - from “America’s evil top hat”

I also have a 2016 4WD bought new
(trail edition)
Also my first 4WD, and first Toyota

With no truck/automotive dudes in my family, I knew nothing about my truck until I joined this forum, godbless it.


So I haven’t experienced that it sucks in snowy parking lots, but if I had to guess what the problem is that you describe:
1. I admittedly didn’t know that the trucks steering and handling feeling completely changes when engaged in 4WD. I could describe it at times exactly as you have “feels like something is going to fall off or break”
2. Is it some form of abs or traction control or whatever giving you that sensation

 

I would see how 2WD does in said parking lots especially if plowed or with minimal snow.

The front and rear axles are locked together when in 4WD in all 5th gen 4WD models except the Limited trim and even on some slippery surfaces it forces some wheels to slip in tight turns.

 

I almost forgot ^ lol of course the dealer said that, those ppl.
And hey cmon now, don’t discard the 4R quite yet, especially for an AWD.

 

My only complaint about driving in the snow is that when you turn traction control off it never completely turns off.

 

—> the traction control off button

 

Are you hearing the relays click? Its trac control doing its thing. It is a loud system. But it works. And works well. Dont sweat it.

 

welcome

 

You are correct that the 4R is great in heavy snow, especially off-road. In slippery, on-road conditions it is terrible and if you are feeling bucking or binding from the front end while turning in 4wd, it might be "normal" for a part-time 4wd system, but it's not great for the components. The tires need to be able to slip while turning, so it's fighting that. Constantly having to turn the system on and off when going from dry conditions to slippery conditions is annoying. The Limited's AWD system, or any other AWD (Subaru, Honda...) are better for normal winter driving on the road.

 

You have to be stopped, and hold the button for a few seconds to actually turn it off. When you first hit the button, "Trac off" or something like that, will light up. Keep holding it until VSC OFF lights up, and enjoy!

 

@girlcat4runner I have experienced this. I was in Boise at the time up at the ski resort up on the mountain out of Boise. It was a couple of years ago right after a substantial snowstorm. The drive up the mountain was great in 4WD, and then I pulled into the parking lot. Lots of snow in the parking spaces, so I left it 4WD when I turned into the parking spot for traction. It is the only beef I have with Toyota's part time 4WD system. The sharp turn required to get into the parking spot had the truck sounding like something was going to break because all four wheels are trying to rotate at the same time while in a turn. In my case, the snow was slippery enough that the tires were able to slip, but it didn't sound very good.
My guess is the full time 4WD drive system in the Limited 4Runner would have performed better in turning into the parking spot in the snow.

 

Any manufacturer's part time 4WD would be the same, unless it has a center differential like a full time 4wd system.

 

Yep, understood.

 

Wow. Thank you. Going to go play with this right now...

 

The full time 4WD is one of the reason I opted for the Limited, solves that problem. It is also interesting that FT4WD is the driveline of choice on the new Land Cruiser. Hmmm.

 

I believe it'll turn back on past ~30 MPH though, I experienced that but I can't remember if it was the normal press or the press-and-hold.

 

If you just press it momentarily, it turns back on above a certain speed. With the press and hold, I've done donuts galore in snowy parking lots.

 

The Landcruiser has been full-time 4wd for a long time. I loved having on my V8 4Runner.

 

Traction control won’t stop the issue. The binding you hear/feel is in the transfer case. Best thing to do is take it out of 4wd while in a parking lot and reapply it when leaving

 

well… that is literally the only thing that makes it worth it. For my wife 100% she will get AWD but for me, only a real 4WD setup will do. Too many downsides to all time 4WD (AWD) for my taste and the minor convenience of having it for winter is easily overcome by simply moving a lever.

 

I did experience major binding (rental car) and could feel the wheels hopping try to unbind themselves. The snow was deep in the parking lot, and I thought about taking it out of 4WD but was concerned I wouldn't be able to get out.

 

The full-time system is as capable as any other 5th gen and behaves the same once you lock the center. You just lose 2WD and the ADD up front.

 

Not quite, it more capable than a Subaru yes. Not close to a TRD Off Road once you actually take it off pavement and mild dirt trails. Without a rear locker and crawl control there are a lot of places I go that a limited simply couldn’t. For 90% of off road driving I agree the limited AWD system is great but for the 10% of the time I go over level 3 - 5 trails (or greater) the AWD system wouldn’t be able to clear some obstacles and would need to turn around.

 

Again, it's not all wheel drive (AWD), it's full time four wheel drive, with low range and everything.

And it had been the system of choice for all Land Cruisers in recent history, the GX series, and was essentially available on all 3rd and 4th gen 4Runners in the form of the multi-mode 4wd.

It is in no way inferior to the part time 4wd we have now, Toyota made the switch because it's cheaper.

The locker and crawl control is besides the point (the land cruiser also has those, by the way).

 

lol, people never learn. It has a center locker. That is all so at best it’s AWD with part time 4WD. Please go look up 5 other SUVs that use the exact same system, that term is 100% pure marketing. The Mercedes G Wagon is a beast off road with its AWD (yes AWD look it up) but it has front locker, rear locker, center locker, and its own version of crawl control. Only Limited owners can’t accept the fact that it is at its core an AWD system with only one additional feature… the center locker.

The Land Cruiser has crawl control at least. And yes, 4Runners and other real 4WD systems can go places it can’t. The real reason people love the Land Cruiser is the fact that it’s built on a heavy duty truck frame and components are larger and stronger, but with no lockers other than the center it’s only slightly more capable off road than a limited due to the fact it at least has crawl control.

 

You can switch 4Hi on and off while moving at any speed under 55mph, if the ground has enough traction that it binds the driveline, you don't need 4wd. I would just turn the 4wd off before entering the tight turns in the parking lot and proceed with caution.

When I lived in snow country for a while, I had a RWD sedan and with the traction control never needed 4wd on pavement with snow tires.

 

Lol.

Tell me you don't wheel without telling me you don't wheel.

 

Telling on yourself here

 

Maybe that part will help again.

 

haha, literally went today. And on a trail a limited can’t go through. If a limited had at minimum a rear locker this would be a different conversation. But it’s literally got crap clearances (front, breakover, and rear), only a center locker so at best it’s as good off road as a SR5. My neighbor has a SR5 and he can’t wheel where we go either unless we constantly build little rock bridges for him because a-trac can only do so much.

have you ever really wheeled? Been in situations where you are on a 20+ degree grade with two wheels in the air. If not go ahead and try it to see how that plays out for you without lockers