Noob 4x4 question

Just picked up my truck a few weeks ago, first 4-wheel drive vehicle i've ever owned and have a probably stupid question. Have been playing around with the 4-wheel drive settings a bit and when i'm on asphalt in 4H and turn the wheel sharp either left or right, it feels like the brakes are on....have to push the gas pretty hard to get the truck to move. Is this normal?

 

Don't use 4wd on asphalt. Go play in the dirt or sand with your new truck before you break it.

 

Sounds like your 4x4 system is working fine. The drive line is just binding up on the dry pavement. This is due to not having a differential in the transfer case. Driving like this can cause damage soI wouldn't recomend it.

 

When driving in 4x4 should you take the transmission out of Over Drive on an Automatic?

 

Yeah that's normal. To avoid possible damage to your drivetrain, don't use it on high traction surfaces. Turning while engaged on same surfaces can be worse for your vehicle, that's the reason it feels like the brakes are on, the drivetrain is binding. Mud and sand can be your friends now, save your 4WD for low traction situations. Lots of info on this site regarding play areas and etiquette. The owners manual is an informative read. Have fun with your new 4X4 and play safe.

 

If you are going to drive in 4wd on pavement...don't turn the wheel....just drive straight (not that I am advising you to drive in 4wd on pavement at all!). Pavement is not a friend of 4wd, especially when turning.

 

Its normal. Driving in H4 on dry pavement and turning sharply causes the drivetrain to bind up. It is not recommended to do that. You could cause premature wear of the constant velocity (CV) joints. Best to use H4 in slippery, dirty conditions such as dirt, sand, snow, etc when ou actually need the extra traction of H4.

 

No, you don't have to.

OP Pretty much everyone else said it, that is binding that you are feeling, and binding is bad. Repeat after me out loud, "binding is bad" . That is a no no to 4 wheel drive. Can break alot of things if you do it enough. Like others have said, only use 4 wheel drive in slippery situations. This does not include rain.

 

Thanks for the info! Got a lot to learn about 4 wheeling. The salesman said to engage it every once in awhile if I don't use it much so I was just messing with it. Definitely want to find some places around here for some light off-roading. Don't really want to really beat it yet. Didn't really NEED 4x4 here in Texas but being military I could end up somewhere that gets snow so I didn't want to screw myself and splurged for the 4x4 option.

 

Ya they recomend to turn it on once a month to keep everything working, which is fine in a strait line. Otherwise, find yourself a dirt road or some mud, and snow is always fun.

Thanks for your service!

 

X2

 

You have "part-time" 4WD...read the links below before you do some damage.

 

Appreciate all your help and keeping me from destroying my truck! lol

 

Manual suggest 10mi a month in 4wd. Tho I think 10mi is a llittle excessive for those who don't off road. Just every once in awhile.

Haven't taken the taco out on dirt yet,but I'm existed to hit the closest rallycross course

 

That is a lot if we shouldn't be turning when on pavement. Hard to find 10 miles of dirt road around here for me!

 

How about South Padre Island... you are in Texas, and that is the beach you can drive on, right? My favorite four wheeling is in deep sand... not only do you use 4WD, but the beach I drive on is coarse sand (mixed in with sea shells and pumice), so dropping the air pressure in tires is very important.

The nice thing about sand is, if you do get stuck (temporarily), you just need to let more air out. The sand is clean (unlike mud) and easy to dig, if you are down to your differentials!

 

Ya, that's pretty impossible in a built up area. There is a tunnel I go through every day that is a mile long, and a bridge I cross over leading to it, so I normally throw it into 4WD on the bridge and turn it off at end of the tunnel. Do that maybe a couple times a month. Everything works good.