Do you consider the manual transfer case of the OR, ORP, and Pro to be a plus or a minus?

I just got to thinking that I'm not sure what I think.

Now that my wife has an AWD RAV4 with Wildpeak Trail tires she can use that, however, when she just had her Yaris I don't think I would be buying an ORP like I'm planning on buying.

To be honest I'm not exactly happy that the ORP has the manual transfer case, however, I want the other features it offers so either I get it or get a GX 460 instead.

I'm just curious how other people view this "feature"?

 

I liked it, but I don’t see why it would matter. My tundra and 2nd Gen tacoma have a dial and I prefer the feel of a mechanical lever.

if what you’re asking is for an auto 4wd or awd transfer case then yes, I agree that is handy for winter driving and I wish Toyota would incorporate that into their truck based vehicles

 

Feels good to grip it and rip it, otherwise, doesn't matter much these days, there's still some stuff happening behind the scenes with the computer either way.

 

Nope I was just curious about whether people liked the dial or the lever.

Maybe I'm just remembering when you had to
back up to disengage 4WD with the lever that my Dad had on his old pickup.

I've been driving for 30+ years now and have always had a button or dial for 4WD.

I'm honestly kind of torn now and I might consider having the lever as a point for the GX.

It'd matter more if my wife needed to use 4WD on the 4Runner.

 

Probably because I'm old school, but I've always had levers vs. dials in my trucks. I've had a few AWDs with a dial and always said a little prayer to the tech ghods when I would change settings. This was another reason I chose the venture trim vs. others.

 

My wife was the primary driver of my 4runner when I owned it for 4 years. It’s pretty simple, pull straight back on the lever. Same as the dial, not while rear tires are spinning, ie you can be moving just not spinning the rear tires faster than the fronts in snow, but again this holds true for the dial as well.

 

Good to know. I haven't actually ever seen a 4Runner with the lever so I wasn't sure what the pattern on it is.

 

I would have liked the lever, but I have the SR5 so it's a dial.

My guess is the lever controls the transfer case a little quicker, based on my experience with my 97 Tacoma that had the lever.

But as others stated the Off-Road still has the electronic actuated ADD (front diff), electronic actuated rear diff lock and we all have the electronic throttle control so in the grand scheme of things, all of us are at the mercy of electrons.

From what I've read the electric actuators are reliable as long as you exercise them periodically.

 

I like the lever, OLD-SCHOOL feel to it.

my wife doesn't need to be driving my trunk in 4WD... she just needs to drive her SH-AWD Acura MDX

 

I like the lever but I have had a dial in several previous vehicles..I never used the "auto" selection in the ones with a dial. I guess I am old school and just like to use the shifter myself. That said, I don't miss the manual hubs

 

i dislike it, I want the dial. With that being said, one of the things I miss the most about my Ram is the dial shifter. Frees up so much space in the center console, a weak spot for the 4Runner.

 

I couldn't give a F about having to grab a lever to put it into 4wd, even if I had to do it often. I probably prefer the lever because it is simpler in a way that doesn't matter to me. If someone cares enough about interior design to have an issue with an obtrusive 4wd lever then the 4runner might have a few additional issues like a 2009 interior.

 

Has either one ever actually failed? Dial is prob better for inexperienced drivers.

 

My 3rd gen has the lever, the only thing that failed on the 4wd was the actuator that sent power from the front diff to the wheels which would fail regardless of dial or lever. The thing about the dial is that it is a solution to a problem that never bothered me, and so any added complexity is therefore not worth it to me. Toyota probably likes the dial because its easier to add some computer code into the system that prevents you from money shifting your transfer case if your going too fast, and frees up interior space.

 

It's cool but only half manual as mentioned. I never had issues with the knob in my Tacoma.

i wish we had a AWD option.

 

Limited 4WD is AWD and 4Lo, no 2Hi at all.

But, no lockers. Toyota never gives you everything.

 

My old BJ74 had a button for 4H and then lever for 4L etc (also a lever for the PTO winch). The 4H button failed which was a pain in the ass to source becasue JDM parts. I personally prefer the manual lever vs the knob.

 

Same here.

 

The limited is limited to the street. 4th gen V6 4wd had 2wd, AWD, 4WD and low range.

 

Lever. I know there are actuators in the front diff for the ADD and in the rear for the diff lock, but isn't the J shifter still cable actuated ie direct linkage? And the dial selector all actuated electronically?

 

I believe that the manual lever is mechanically connected to the transfer case, yes.

 

I assure you the Limited can wheel. It's got a transfer case and 4Lo. It has 4Hi, center diff lock, and 4Lo. Why bother with 2Hi if it's able to drive in 4Hi on pavement?

@Agent_Outside wheels one and it's as capable as a SR5.

 

Not true! Like @fajitas21 mentioned, there are members here who take Limiteds all over the place. The only actual disadvantage is that some (most, I think) rock sliders don't work well with them.

 

I will say this. Coming from a Jeep Grand Cherokee, it will feel weird to have to transfer manually to engage 4wd. I’m so used to it just being out of my hands.

speaking of this topic. From what I understand, 4h should be engaged below 50 mph or so. Is there a max speed to use it? Obviously dry weather is 2wd no questions asked. However, should I switch to 4h in rain? Should I be concerned how long I use it? Are there times I should definitely never use it? Should I only use it sparingly, or can I engage 4h in bad weather for hours at a time?

 

Yeah I kinda agree. I like the look of the lever, but from what I understand it functions the same as a button system. The truck could use another cupholder or something else in that space.

 

To the original topic...

Most old school types and off-roaders will prefer the manual shift lever, as it's one less thing you're relying on electronics for. However, even though you're manually engaging the transfer case, there is still an actuator that engages the front drive shaft.

I say get whichever transfer case comes with the trim you want. I wouldn't buy an Off-Road just for the lever. But, I did for the locker, CC, and MTS.

 

There's a reason Tacoma guys do FJ transfer case swaps..... ADD's cause tons of issues.

 

Always have/will prefer a lever to a knob....

 

Lever like my old FJ's had.