Engaging Four Wheel Drive While Stopped or Parked

So, huge snow here in Colorado Springs the past few days, and when we decided to head out of the house, we opted for our 2015 Tacoma. But, we were basically plowed into the garage (we don't have a driveway, garage opens to alley). The truck was of course in two wheel drive while parked, and when we tried to get out, we basically got stuck. I didn't know if it was OK to switch the truck into 4WD while completely stopped or parked. The owners manual says "up to speeds of 62 mph," but nothing about parked.

Thoughts? I eventually switched it into 4WD, and we got out.

It seemed to work...but I wonder what is the proper procedure in that instance?

Thanks!

 

Welcome to TW. You can switch into 4wd while parked, but it may not lock into 4wd until there is some driveline movement for things to line up correctly and engage the front diff.

Edit: For first post you should post some pics of your truck!

 

for 4lo, i think you need to stop and be in neutral to engage. 4hi you can do it stopped or on the fly.

 

Zero is included in "up to speeds of 62 mph.". Flip the switch and drive.

 

This. I sometimes have luck flipping the switch to 4x4, and going from drive-reverse and back to get it to lock in.

 

Short version. You can shift into 4X4 at any time, even when parked. The vehicle won't actually be in 4X4 until the drivetrain moves slightly for everything to line up. Usually less than one rotation of the tires. Even if you're on a slick surface and the wheels spin a bit before things engage.

 

Just never make the shift to four hi with you foot pushing on the gas. Bad shit can happen.

 

You can switch while not moving. The light might blink until you start to move, then you might feel a slight *thump*, and the 4WD indicator will stay on, and you're good to go!

 

As many said you can do that when parked np, if 4x4 does not engage because you are parked, try shifting to neutral (wait a moment) than reverse (wait a moment) than FWD (wait a moment)

 

If I know for a fact it is going to be bad the following day I engage 4x4 the night before and then its ready to go.

 

Speaking of 4WD, I've always wondered about this statement in my '15 owners manual: "Caution while driving ●Never shift the front-wheel drive control switch from H2 to H4 if the wheels are slipping. Stop the slipping or spinning before shifting."

'Not sure if you can do damage to the truck by doing this, or potentially lose control, or what. It seems like switching it to H4 would be a natural reaction to slipping wheels when in H2...

 

they mean take your foot off the gas pedal before you shift into 4wd. You just dont want to slam the gears together under throttle. you want the engagement to be gentle.

 

Mine almost always kicks into 4H right away in park.

I'll do that sometimes to lock the front wheels if I have one jacked up and don't want it to spin when I have a breaker bar on the lug.

 

I think automatic hubs have gotten better, quicker engagement and more robust, but the wisdom I've always followed is, "don't wait until you're stuck to get into 4wd". The fronts have to roll at least a little to get them to fully engage. If the hubs haven't quite gotten locked you can trash them by applying power and trying to get traction. If your rears are spinning and the truck isn't moving at all, you may not be able to get them to engage.

My Taco is my third 4x4 with auto hubs. The first was a '97 T100, and it had a transfer case shift lever. Those T100 hubs needed a little more rolling distance to engage than either my Tundra or my new Taco as I recall. I got into the habit of throwing the rig into 4hi as soon as I saw a threat. Even a moderate mud puddle on a dirt road, I'll throw it into 4hi before I get there.

I've known people who went to manual hubs because A) they want to be able to swith to 4wd when already stuck, and 2) they trashed their auto hubs and manual hubs are tougher.

In your situation, I would have pulled the truck as far forward in the garage as it could possibly go, turned the switch to 4hi and then slowly reverse until they engage. If there wasn't enough room for the drivetrain to roll enough, I'd pull it way forward again and shovel enough of the snow outside the garage to give you another 3-5 feet.

Oh, and to get into 4lo, you do have to be stopped, in neutral, and with a foot on the brake. But you also need to have the hubs already engaged I believe. Certainly, for either option, the front wheels have to roll at least a little for the flashing light to go steady indicating that your hubs are locked.

 

That's what it does. Light blinks until the driveline moves a little and light goes solid to show it is now engaged. If the light is blinking, you're not in 4wd yet.

 

The main concern is don't have your back wheels spinning faster than you're going when you switch into 4wd. In 4wd all wheels are turning at the same speed. If you're spinning (loss of traction) in 2wd and switch into 4wd, it can really shock the system.
Years ago, I had an old T-100 with the 4wd lever. I got crossed up in a ditch, wasn't moving but the front left and right rear tires were on the ground. The drivers side left was off the ground and was free wheeling. I didn't realize it and pulled back on the lever to engage 4wd. It made a God awful clunk when it engaged because it stopped that spinning back wheel cold. Everything worked ok afterward but I'm sure it did some damage somewhere. My nephew is still driving the truck today and has never had any 4wd problems but luckily, I didn't have my foot on the gas. I guess it could have been much worse.