Driving on gravel road - H4 and engaging centre diff

[mjsurfing Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mjsurfing]

Have I got this right?

When in H4 and travelling from hard surface (bitumen) to gravel or dirt road can you engage the centre diff without coming to a complete stop? If so is there a speed limit that this can be done up to?

I understand that to engage L4 you need to be at a complete stop with foot on brake and gear shift in N.

Sorry for the numpty questions but the manual is a little hard to understand. Is there any other sites for first time users of the Prado 150 for tips & tricks.

[Bawky Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bawky]

Instructions are on the sun visor on the drivers side, and the instructions vary depending on the model of Prado.

It is correct that H4 centre difflock selection can be done whilst the vehicle is moving. I have a mental note to do this below 80km / h, and I have never had an issue in doing this.

In a manual I believe from reading the visor that you don't need to be at a complete stop to engage L4 as long as your clutch is pushed in. I haven't had a manual Prado. In an automatic a complete stop in N is how I do it, I believe this is the correct practice.

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

If you try to shift in L4 when moving or not in N in the auto it beeps anyway and aborts after short time.

You don't need diff lock for gravel, it can make the car harder to turn, the torsen lsd in the centre is perfect for those conditions so leave it unlocked.