4x4 explanation please

Its not a great practice, but your truck is not going to explode if you drive around making turns in 4x4 while on dry pavement.

Definitely a good idea to lock it in at least once a month and go for a drive around. Helps keep the actuators and limit switches free and working. (Same with the rear e-locker, if applicable)

 

If theres enough snow to warrant 4x4, lock in and forget about it until the conditions improve. Switching back and forth just to make a turn is unnecessary

 

Thanks for the thoughts; I've never driven a 4WD vehicle. So what in situation would you actually use 4HI on road?

 

There's a couple of hills around here that get real slick and its handy for that. And, fresh snowfall is far more fun in a 4wd.

 

With traction control off

 

What is this 'traction control' you speak of?

 

Think of it this way- your inner wheel needs to spin a bit more to compensate for the outer wheel going further distance due to your turn. If you’re on terrain where it can spin (loose dirt, snow, ice, etc) then you’ll be fine. Your tire can not spin easily on pavement, which is why you get that noise and issues.. you’re breaking it. It’s trying to spin and compensate and cannot, so it binds and puts too much pressure where It shouldn’t.

to keep my 4WD system up I just flip it on a straight road for a bit and switch it off after a little. Easy peasy.

 

I get it. Thanks to TacoPharm for the videos and Marshal for the cerebral dump. Both really helped a lot. Also learned a lot about my wife's AWD Outback. Thanks to all. Now it's time to find some BLM land for some weekend camping.