Hiace 4WD or AWD

[@nathansharma87]

I was trying to get one wheel in the air to demonstrate the viscous coupling lockup but the damn thing wouldn't slip 😅

[@mtwata]

Interesting, you have a point 🤔 I have seen so many discussions about this topic and I've never seen someone mentioning how robust the components are. It's always about how the system works. Thanks for trying to show it in action haha

[@nathansharma87]

Thanks Marcos Yep, rear axle is basically lifted from a Hilux Surf, front diff is basically Hilux Surf. Driveshafts are no different to a Landcruiser. Transfer case looks identical in build casting to a Landcruiser or Hilux. Gearbox is identical to a Landcruiser 80 & 100. Definitely beefier than any AWD I've seen by 1000 percent and the whole thing weighs empty what a fully loaded Subaru Legacy weighs.

[@Stephen-uz8dm]

This is really helpful and not easy to find information on these vehicles thank you. We are trying to decide between delica vs hiace/granvia and 4x4 vs AWD is a central concern which was making me lean towards delicas

[@nathansharma87]

Delica you get low range and ground clearance but not enough power to pull a wet newspaper apart. It also is revving it's little balls off doing 60mph. Hiace you get immense toque and power, no low range and needs a lift. It's also refined vs clattery and will sit at 115kph happily 60-70mph I don't recommend more unless overtaking etc. My opinion, the Delica is cooler. The Hiace is easier to live with and drive like a modern car.

[@Stephen-uz8dm]

@@nathansharma87 ok that's very good to know. Are the newer delicas (15 years old) still extremely gutless? I'm surprised the hiace is that capable at highway speeds with only 3 gears. Are these things absolute death traps in a t-bone scenario for people in the middle row?

[@nathansharma87]

Newer Delicas are fine. Hiace post 95 August are better in frontal impact. Airbags stronger y beams up front.

[@Stephen-uz8dm]

@@nathansharma87 thanks again I subscribed. Great stuff. It seems like toyota took a break from making luxurious people movers on the hiace platform for few years which is a shame because the newest we can import is 2008.

[@nathansharma87]

The Hiace went on only as a commercial varient. The Super Custom was the end of an era. It branched off to the Alphard and Velfire. No more proper 4WD drive line. I think you could probably get a Super GL 2005 onwards. But not as nice as a Super Custom and lower than a stock 4WD Super Custom. If you're looking passed Super Custom years if get a Delica with the nose. Not the old Starwagons.

[@intensedabberoniJG]

Thankfully they still call it the Outback in NA lmao. Thank you for providing so much detailed information for English markets about what is essentially a relatively unknown import car.

[@richardb8492]

Great info, would love to pick your brain for some more HiAce AWD info.

[@T.J-and-Soul]

Yes you are right, same gear box as a Prado.

[@aventureace2243]

This fella in Japan has done a transfer swap on his Dyna 4wd (identical running gear as full time 4wd H200 hiaces). Looks like he’s used a prado/Hilux transfer with Aisin remote engagement. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZm9oKJ3pr2Fgbs

[@TrumpAndKamila]

who can translate?

[@hobolyf]

I wish this had the low range transfercase. At the same time no one is taking these rockcrawling.

[@nathansharma87]

Indeed. Low range would make it ideal for slugging through miles of soft desert sand etc

[@TrumpAndKamila]

I scored a trf case from a land cruiser I hope to instal. Rumour has it, I’ll have to shorten the trail shaft

[@TrumpAndKamila]

@@nathansharma87 you think it would be a straight swap with the Prado with the 1kz te and the same gear box? I heard u have to shorten the tail shaft? u think thats it?

[@nathansharma87]

Not sure tbh. Assume it would bolt up but the mounts might be different. Driveshafts as you mentioned might need to be modified and obviously you'll need some way of actuating the transfer case gears.

[@TrumpAndKamila]

@@nathansharma87 hi, cheers Nath. We scored a manual trf case so a hole in the floor. a bit afraid to give is a crack. lol

[@beaulanier5916]

A fully locking, mechanical transfer case that gives equal and undifferentiated connection between the front and rear axle is a 4wd, and must have a shifter to decouple the front and rear axles for tarmac driving, full stop. If the link between axles is viscous or has a differential, ie not fully locked, it is it NOT 4wd but is an Awd. Without a center diff lock, its not a 4wd. No need to think or opine. It is or it is not.

[@TrumpAndKamila]

Nice vid Nath. Could you pop a transfer case out of a full time 4x4 like the Prado to get hi and low gear while still retaining the fancy viscous coupling? Cheers

[@nathansharma87]

I see no reason why you couldn't. In fact it's on my massive list of videos to make. The Prado/ Landcruiser transfer will have an electric center diff lock. The only issue would be wiring up an actuator to a switch to go from 4NL and the CDL.

[@dune7824]

Low range has nothing to do with it and neither does the size of the drive shafts. An AWD has an open center diff. What that means is If both rear wheels spin, the front doesn't do anything or vice versa. They're only AWD when traction is evenly split front/rear AND side to side. 50:50 4WD has a locked center diff so front wheels at each end will turn even if both back wheels at one end were to brake traction. Even then one could theoretically argue they're only 2wd in a situation where traction is lost at 1 wheel on each end. True 4x4 regardless of traction is only achieved if you also have 3 diff locks. As for the VC 4WD they're best thought of as a 4x4 with lag. The VC only engages once traction is lost at one end. The problem with this is that you've already lost traction by the time it kicks in essentially starting to get stuck before it helps out. It's much better to have a locked center diff since you have drive to all wheels even before traction ever breaks and this may prevent loss of traction in the first place. My VW T3 Syncro van had a VC and I had a couple friends who also had Syncro's which they converted to 50:50 4x4 by replacing the VC with a solid shaft and decoupler. It's an easy conversion with this model because the military used these vehicles for a while and did this conversion to improve offroad performance. Kits can be bought. Anyway, it became apparent on a group drive through some soft sandy dunes that they had an edge over me with the VC. I'd be losing traction more frequently and got stuck in a few places they had no issues. Basically, I'd rate a VC as better offroad than AWD but falling short of selectable 50:50 4WD.

[@nathansharma87]

Thank you for this long and detailed explanation. I hoped you would have put chapters to make it easier. These have a viscous coupling transfer case so according to your superior information, it's a 4wd.

[@meakesey99]

Great video! Really enjoyed it! I have a question- is all this still true for the 5th Generation Hiace 4X4 Japan Import? (2004 onwards I think?)

[@nathansharma87]

I'm not sure tbh my parents had a 2005 but it was 2wd. Never looked under it.

[@davefitz7555]

Hi Nathan. It's been a while. Hope you are doing well.

[@nathansharma87]

@@davefitz7555 it has been a while. I'm well mate thanks for asking. Hope your good my friend.

[@cheekstheusualsuspects1148]

Awesome vedio.. keep it coming dude🤙

[@nathansharma87]

Thanks! Will do!

[@AustraliaClaude]

Hello, looking for info about those 4wd Hiace. Do some model have low gear selection? We saw a 2020 advertised as 4wd but the owner doesn't know if it does have low gearing as he always used it on the black top. Thanks in advance

[@nathansharma87]

@@AustraliaClaude no it won't have 4wd. Only the very early models with no turbo engine had low range. So 1989-1993 I think. From 1993 it's full time 4wd, high range only. It's not AWD like a Subaru. It has a proper transfer case and viscous coupling inside but unfortunately no low gearing.

[@AustraliaClaude]

@nathansharma87 thank

[@CupiDany]

They key difference between AWD and 4wd is the locking centre diff as you mentioned. My 1996 rav 4 was an AWD vehicle with manually locking centre diff to turn it into 4wd (high range 4wd). Just curious if any of these have the same, or is it only done automatically through the viscous coupling when you have slip at one of the axles?

[@nathansharma87]

Full time 4wd the viscous coupling will detect wheel spin automatically and lock up forcing power to the other axle.

[@hobolyf]

Btw what kinda exahust you have. Sounds great! Congrats on 1k subscribers!!!!!!!

[@nathansharma87]

Thanks for helping me get to 1k my friend. Exhaust is the almighty very rare super dooper OEM original. It just has a screw on chrome tip.

[@hobolyf]

@@nathansharma87 wow that sounds awesome!

[@mrshippie6910]

@@nathansharma87 hi Nathan, Thanks for all your awesome videos! I've been looking for a good screw on chrome tip for my exhaust- where did you get yours from? I've looked in a few auto shops but they only had really big ones.

[@nathansharma87]

Hello This was on from Japan. Are you in America? I googled chrome turn down exhaust tip and came back with a bunch of options.

[@mrshippie6910]

@@nathansharma87 I'm in Australia. I'll have a google myself then, thanks!

[@RezaMohammadi-zr7gv]

مصرف‌ درصد کیلو‌ کار‌ چند‌است؟

[@Mahdemohammedi4579]

منظورت چیه درست حرف بزن؟؟؟

[@Krafty02]

Hey bro what hi aces had the L4?

[@nathansharma87]

Earlier models with the 2.8 non turbo diesel

[@stco2426]

@@nathansharma87 actually any with the part-time 4WD set up (may have locking front hubs). I think all the full-time 4WD are hi range only. Part time 4WD is very capable but only useable off-road as front to rear is direct coupling and no differential. The Hiace is basically a Hilux underneath. Some P/T 4WD (4x4) have a LSD, too. As stated, the limiting factor with the Hiace is clearnace and twist / wheel articulation. HTH, but you might have moven on!

[@hugonoijens1842]

I know Nate, it shits me the ignorant people who go “it’s just a AWD”. … Nope it’s not. It’s a Full-Time 4WD. “So all wheels are being driven?” , yes they are. “Ok so it’s a AWD then!”. No, how many wheels do you see on this van? “Four?” BINGO, so it’s a Four Wheel Drive.

[@dune7824]

It's because there's a difference between 4x4 and AWD. A 4WD has a locking center diff while an AWD does not.