Prado j90 2 speed transfer box

[Mazuki]

Hello all.
My boss has gifted me his 99' prado to use as a work vehicle.( lucky me)
I noticed that the gear stick for engaging low ratio has high, high low and low low. Did a little bit if research on Wikipedia and found the prada has a two stage transfer box.
What is the purpose of having this?

[BlakeNZ]

isn't the middle position "neutral", rather than 'HIGH LOW", or does it actually say "HIGH LOW"?

[zukmeista]

H= high range centre diff unlocked, H-L = high range centre diff locked and L-L= low range centre diff locked. Not a good idea to have centre diff locked on high traction surfaces so basically it allows you to have it in 4wd on road (using H position) when it's snowing etc without destroying anything.

[Jerry]

the 90 series is full time 4wd, stop the truck and put the transmission into N before changing anything on the transfer case, the 90 series have a weak centre diff so don't take it rock crawling

[rokhound]

Don't take a 90 series into any sort of 4wd environment.
But they don't have a 2 stage transfer, they are exactly as pointed out above, H-L = high range centre diff locked.

[mudlva]

Don't take a 90 series into any sort of 4wd environment.
But they don't have a 2 stage transfer, they are exactly as pointed out above, H-L = high range centre diff locked.

Stage may be the wrong word but they are two speed.

The lettering on our 120 prado is H.HL.N.LL

so as zukmeista above has stated
HIGH open c.diff
HIGH LOCKED c.diff
NEUTRAL
LOW LOCKED c.diff.

The o.p. was only confused on letter interpatation

[NJV6]

Don't take a 90 series into any sort of 4wd environment.
But they don't have a 2 stage transfer, they are exactly as pointed out above, H-L = high range centre diff locked.

Not the one being used in our recent winch challenge.... It was driven hard on 33's with twin Chinese lockers

Pics in the ironman winch challenge thread!

Time bomb?

[Mazuki]

Sorry I did mean 2 speed not 2stage in my original post. But high locked and low locked mAkes sense. So does the "2 speed" transfer case refere to the hi and low speeds? dont most common 4x4s have a two speed transfer case ?

[Gyxx]

So does the "2 speed" transfer case refere to the hi and low speeds?

Yes.

dont most common 4x4s have a two speed transfer case ?

Yep - having a transfer case with a high and low ratio would (for most people) be a defining factor between a "real 4x4" designed for off-road use and a "soft-roader"...