Based on a 06 Highlander. I have a question about the performance of this vehicle on a sandy situation. I will be taking it on a road that I have been on before in a small four wheel drive. It is a very sandy road and I was wondering if anyone has tested the 4WDI of one of these Highlanders. Snow covered roads have been manageable for the most part. Thanks for any feed back,
It depends if it is the hybrid or standard gas model. They each have different systems. The gas version is more robust than the hybrid one. The hybrid version only has the electric motor driving the rear wheels. While that is great for street driving, any excessive slipping and usage of the system MAY shut it down (temporarily to protect itself from heat).
If the tire load rating permits it, lower the inflation pressures for sand. You carry a reliable air pump with you in the backcountry, yes?
I would not take the HiHy or *any* 4wd with non-defeatible electronic traction control into sandy/desert conditions. No matter who makes the vehicle, if you cannot defeat the electronic traction control, you will simply come to a dead stop on fine sand The FJ Cruiser has the same problem if you are in 2H or 4H, as the electronic traction control is on. The FJ Cruiser, like the HiHy, does *not* have a disable button for electronic traction control. However, shift into 4L, the ETC is disabled, and you can then go through sand, deep snow, and deep mud. Toyota also cautions that the HiHy is *not* designed for offroad use, light or heavy. The regular Highlander can be used in light off road situations, it even has hill descent control
I don't think 4WD-i can be used in the sand. I have heard of a few people getting stuck. Maybe they pushed it too far, thinking it works like a true 4WD vehicle?? Put it this way, just treat it like a 2WD vehicle (i.e. would you bring a 2WD vehicle to where you're going? If not, then don't do it in the HiHy).
+1 We have the same version in the Lexus. It AINT 4wd. It's awd, and there isn't any feature about it similar to locking axles. If the drive slips too much, you'll get a complete disconect (unless you've pulled your speed sensor wire(s) ... but you didn't hear that from me). .
+11 I wouldn't recommend it... The rear wheels are electric driven and if I remember correctly there is a thermal lockout if you exceed a certain amount of rear wheel spinning... or something like that (sorry to be vague) I just remember that AFTER I purchased mine I figured out that it was not intended for off-roading. I think that the 4wd-i part is because of the rear electric motor...not a transfer of ICE power to the rear wheels.
Thanks to all that have chimed in on this. I have come to the conclusion that this would behave as most of you have described to me. I know the behavior that of what a could expect. It happened with the Camry on very icy incline. Thanks again. (No sand)
I should caution that anybody who does that in "real" off road conditions with a HiHy or similar vehicle, has a good chance to fry some very expensive parts
