I am considering the v6 4wd. I drive 15-20000 miles a year. Lot of it is on the highway getting to places I fish. Question is when I get there and have to drive on gravel roads, muddy rutted roads after rains, pot holes, water etc ( I Realize the rock climbing and steep rocked hills are out) am I asking for trouble with this SuV? I have lot's of off road experience so know when to go and not to go. Worried about the running gear and electrical components and motor turning the rear wheels. My wife has a 05 Prius so I under stand the hybrid side. Any info appreciated. Thank You
From what Toyota has said, they do not recommend off-road use because the electric motors do not take kindly to wheel slip. However, I do not know if it messes with the motors themselves, or just confuses the control computer. Somone else can most likely clear that up.
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They've got it set up so that the traction control is over-zealous. Any wheelspin brings on either an application of the brakes or a slowdown of the elctric motors--I'm not sure which--but in any case, the Hybrid will bring intself to a dead stop if there is enough wheel slippage, eg. on an icy hill or a low-speed steep gravelly/rocky hill. Beware!
Nodrogkam, I'm sorry, but when it comes to the Hybrid, you are incorrect.
In fact, Toyota's web site and brochures on the Highlander Hybrid have made the message "not intended for off-road use" more and more conspicuous because owners like me and others who have posted on this board have found that under the right conditions the Hybrid WILL COME TO A DEAD STOP when trying to go up and icy hill or scrtch up a gravelly/rocky hill. In fact, the "easier you take it," the more likely you are to be broguht to a halt! I find that when negotiating a steep snowy hill (which I have to do many days in the winter to get home) I had better keep up a really good head of steam or I will not make it becuase the traction control will gradually slow me to a stop unless I'm going pretty fast to begin with. LAst summer, it caused me to have to back down a gravel one-lane road on the edge of a precipitous cliff and then do a 50-mile detour. It stranded another person who posted here on a snowy road.
I'd certainly not buy the Hybrid with off-roading in mud, sand, loose stones or other slippery conditions in mind.
Last edited by mineralfarmer; 05-07-2006 at 11:37 AM.
The Highlander Hybrid will bring you to TO A DEAD HALT if you are "taking it easy" and proceding slowly in slippery conditions--snow, ice, stones, gravel, mud. It has happened to me and to other posters on this forum. Becuase of such reports, Toyota has made their fine-print message, "Not intended for off-road use," ever more conspicuous in their marketing materials on the Hybrid.
It caused be to have to back down a steep gravel road on the edge of a 500' cliff and then take a 50-mile detour last summer. It stranded another person who posted here in a snowstorm. The only way I can get up our road when it is snow-covered is to get up a pretty good head of steam and hope that the traction control only slows me down to something greater than zero.
I certainly would not recommend the Hybrid for off-road use in anticipated slippery conditions. It will eventually strand you in the worst possible situation.
ah okay well you have prooved me wrong for sure.
I guess the 4wd is just to keep the car from slipping on wet surfaces then. I guess toyota hasnt made a sort of system that recognizes its off road and disables the electric motor or whatever is causing it to stop like that.
guess the highlander continues to dissapoint me.
Thanks for all the great info guy's. Going to think about the 4 Runner or see what 07 brings with Toyota. Wife has a Prius (great car) I need something for my camping and fishing trips.
The Highlander Hybrid will bring you to TO A DEAD HALT if you are "taking it easy" and proceding slowly in slippery conditions--snow, ice, stones, gravel, mud. It has happened to me and to other posters on this forum. Becuase of such reports, Toyota has made their fine-print message, "Not intended for off-road use," ever more conspicuous in their marketing materials on the Hybrid.
It caused be to have to back down a steep gravel road on the edge of a 500' cliff and then take a 50-mile detour last summer. It stranded another person who posted here in a snowstorm. The only way I can get up our road when it is snow-covered is to get up a pretty good head of steam and hope that the traction control only slows me down to something greater than zero.
I certainly would not recommend the Hybrid for off-road use in anticipated slippery conditions. It will eventually strand you in the worst possible situation.
If I can’t make it up my driveway in the winter, this would be a serious shortcoming that Toyota couldn’t ignore. There must be a fix for this of which maybe even the dealers are not aware. So, I wonder whether there is a technical Toyota Hybrid forum where some tech guru could explain this. I’m an engineer, and ready for tech talk.
There is a Toyota hybrid tech who participates in another forum. PM me for the info on the other forum.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vonk
If I can’t make it up my driveway in the winter, this would be a serious shortcoming that Toyota couldn’t ignore. There must be a fix for this of which maybe even the dealers are not aware. So, I wonder whether there is a technical Toyota Hybrid forum where some tech guru could explain this. I’m an engineer, and ready for tech talk.
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Going Off Road
Off Road with Highlander
Linear Mode
