My friend has a 2004 Toyota Sequoia with it's nice 4WD system that has all the gadgets: low range gears, locking diffs, and armored undersides.

Along with my 04 TL, I have a 2004 Honda Pilot with it's AWD system (probably identical drivetrain to the 2004 MDX). My friend wants to go offroading and we're curious about the capabilities of my AWD Pilot vs. the 4WD Sequoia.

Obviously, I don't have the low range gears and armored transfer case, etc. But I do have a button that seems to lock the AWD system into 4 wheel drive mode at low speeds. Is there a big difference between the Pilot in this mode, and the Sequoia in 4H?

My friend says we wouldn't be doing anything "too nasty" that would require 4L. But he does lock his diffs to get through the trail.

Having never seen the trail, what does everyone think? Is AWD good enough to follow the 4WD through the dirt?

I wonder also about entry and exit angles, but the Sequoia can't be much different than the Pilot in this regard.

Cheers.

 

you can lock it into 4wd...you're straight . alltho 4lo does help out. if he said it wont' be too nasty...f-it...bring the tow straps (you never know) and take pictures

 

As long as it's not mud or rocks, I suspect the Pilot would do fine.

 

Pilot should do ok, but I believe 4WD in the Sequoia would do beter. The Pilot is primarily front wheel drive. When there is wheel slippage, it transfers the power to the back and balances out the power accordingly. Good for snow, not good for off-roading. By engaging the vtm-4 lock would have more capabilities in off-roading, but you can only go like 20 mph max with it engaged, so it's really only good for getting unstuck int he snowy stuff and some off-roading..

 

If anything, your friend in his Sequoia can tow you out!