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Hybrid Vehicles Toyota Highlander Hybrid Toyota Highlander Hybrid Driving Tips & Tricks
428 messages, Last post on Oct 16, 2009 at 6:44 PM
You are in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Replying to: wvgasguy (Feb 24, 2009 6:48 am) |
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Replying to: geode1 (Feb 23, 2009 10:31 pm) The HH can go everywhere a low-clearance two-wheel drive vehicle can go and then some because of the slightly higher clearance. The 4WDi version uses the rear motors to push on steep slopes. On slippery surfaces (snow, ice, mud, loose rocks & dirt), all four tires can operate independently with power to maintain traction. These capabilities make the 4WDi version more capable than a normal 2WD version. We use ours on ranch and farm dirt roads both steep and flat and the 4WDi is definitely more sure-footed than our normal 2WD truck on slippery wet steep surface going uphill. Downhill, it is all about tires and brakes. Street tires cut too easily and have poor traction on dirt and mud and loose rocks so rugged truck tires are important. We have lost too many street tires to sidewall cut over the years and they always slip and slide on mud, snow, loose dirt and gravel. In mud, the HH is no different than other cars. Some shallow mud is fine, deeper wider patches will require stacking or filling in with dirt, rocks, stones so that at least two tires have decent surface to use. I do this even when driving our 4x4 V8 Chevy farm vehicle. I hate getting stuck in mud  . Nothing beats good snow tires on snow and ice. Once this winter, we blundered onto clear ice thinking it was melted water and the snow tires and VDIM kept us going straight and sure-footed. All-Season most likely would have spun and caused the VDIM to shut down everything. Snow tires in snow makes for confident driving, simple as that. Overall, the HH is fine on dirt roads, non-4x4 setting with the right tires and solid in snow and ice with snow tires. Last bit: A small portable rugged and reliable air compressor and tire repair kit are essentials. We use a compressor from ExtremeOutback and that thing is built like a tank and worth every penny we paid. You can find them online. |
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Feb 24, 2009 4:59 am) No, using it off road does not void the warranty. Toyota is just saying that it is not intended for that use and they are not responsible for damage to the vehicle by doing so. |
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Replying to: monte8 (Feb 25, 2009 7:27 pm) In other words, there is no warranty against damage for off road use. Pretty much saying the same thing.
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Replying to: wvgasguy (Feb 27, 2009 9:36 am) In other words, there is no warranty against damage for off road use. Pretty much saying the same thing." No, it isn't. If you bend the front suspension driving off road, they could deny warranty coverage for that item, not all other items.
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Replying to: monte8 (Mar 03, 2009 2:27 pm) Just my two cents... if you want an off road vehicle, then get one. 
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Replying to: monte8 (Mar 03, 2009 2:27 pm) No, it isn't. If you bend the front suspension driving off road, they could deny warranty coverage for that item, not all other items. Again, same thing. If you break it off road it is not covered. I said there is no warranty against damage for driving off road. I didn't say they voided the whole warranty. I don't expect a dealer or Toyota would push this too far, but if one brought one of these in and it was beat all to pieces and the warranty complaint was for something like loose wires on the hybrid system or broken connections, they could make an argument that you've been abusing the vehicle in a manner it was not designed for. I believe it is possible, not probable that they would make claims like that. But for the most part if my radio goes bad, or my A/C goes bad I don't see them voiding the warranty, even if I did drive it off-road. Good chance anyway if you drive it off road it will get stuck before you do too much damage to it other than dragging the bottom out of it and then you're in a heap of trouble. I'm guessing a large dent in the floor pan under the seat causeing the hybrid battery to crush would be a hard explaination 
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I think that the main reason it isn't "recommended" for off road use is the electric rear drive. If those motors overheat, you are stuck in FWD (until the electric motors cool off), and they would only overheat if you were in a situation where you needed AWD, when the rear wheels were spinning! In general, the HH should be fine for light use, rain, snow, etc. I remember when I had my 2003 Honda CR-V; I took the south route out of Chaco Canyon, NM, not realizing that it had been raining for several days. The road had turned into that distinctive New Mexico Muck (if you've driven in it you know what I mean). My Honda RT4WD had the rear and front wheels engaged almost continuously for 20 miles. In that situation I'm not sure the HH electric motors would last the amount of time required without overheating. However, I swore I'd never, ever, EVER, go out that route again if there had been any precipitation in the past couple of weeks. Scary. As far as I know, only the Ford Escape Hybrid has a mechanical AWD system (which operates exactly like the ICE Escape); I'm not sure if the Saturn Vue Greenline is even offered in AWD, or what the large GM products have for those options. |
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Replying to: stevedebi (Mar 04, 2009 12:25 pm) In the TCH the traction control indeed kept you from spinning the wheels. If you got on a slippery surface it just shut down. The HH has more traction and if you had snow tires that's sure to help even more, but if you do get to where you lose traction, on both rear wheels I would assume the traction control would not allow any rear wheel spin of any significance. It would probably simply not spin the wheels. If the front's don't pull you the HH would just sit there. Again, this was a concern of mine with the TCH for winter use, but with the HH I had no problems this winter. I can't think of too many situations where you'd lose traction on all 4 wheels other than a sheet of ice. |
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Replying to: stevedebi (Mar 04, 2009 12:25 pm) I really likes that about the Escape. However I just could not bring myself to pay that much for the Escape considering how small and uncomfortable it was for 4 people. I think it would be a great all around commuter for one or two people needing occasional SUV flexibility, but the second row seat just didn't pass inspection for me. Also, I think the Escape only had 1500# towing. My Jet Ski's and trailer weigh more than that.
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