4x4 HI/Low - What is OK and what isn't?

Front wheel drive in a car is way way better in the snow, because the steering tires are clawing in the direction you want to go.

 

Unless you’re trying to turn. Lol.

 

No, momentum and the tires having friction with the road is what makes you turn, you don't need to accelerate to turn

 

Well, I currently drive fwd in the snow, and have for most of my life. I have also driven rwd in the snow for a couple years. I typically do it just fine with my foot down. Especially in fwd. With a truck, there's so little weight over the rear wheels, just touching the throttle to maintain speed on snow can cause the rear end to lose traction and start to rotate. In 4wd you have the front wheels pulling to help keep the vehicle straight. Because, you know, you do have to touch the gas to maintain forwards momentum.

 

I’ll let someone else educate you. Have a good day.

 

My point was if you're driving your truck in rwd and the back end starts to try to come around, you take your foot off the gas. There's no equivalent in a fwd car because it's fwd.

Fwd cars do well in the snow because they are biased towards the front in weight, and the driven wheels are under the heavy part. But that's all irrelevant if we're maintaining momentum on the highway

 

I mean, I have driven in the snow a lot in rwd and been able to turn every time. Weird? I can't imagine what better education you're proposing but I'm all for learning

 

Really man?

There are curves on the highway too right? In 4hi it keeps your front wheels planted and there is less chance of you losing control. Its not just about maintaining forward momentum.

There is no weight in the back too so 4hi on slippery highways makes a big difference.

 

I do agree 4 hi can add stability, but
I just think if the road is that slick maybe don't go highway speeds. The point I was trying to get at is you should use 4x4 sparingly. If you need 4wd all the time then AWD is a better choice. Mostly because people keep talking on TW about how it's 100% fine to drive around on dry roads in 4wd which is WRONG

 

Yes, but sometimes being able to accelerate fast doesn’t translate well into braking. Not saying you aren’t careful, but lots of truck owners in my area get into accidents thinking 4wd means they can go fast in the snow/ice.

 

We’re talking about turning and steering control, not braking.

 

I just drove 100 miles to my folks place on bad blizzardy back highways. 4Hi the whole way at about 65 mph. Only put it in two for one turn at a stop sign with no snow on the ground. I run 4x4 on the highway here all the time. Why wouldn’t you? Is better gas mileage worth the tail end passing you? Ha

 

what i usually do is 4 wheel high up to 65 mph. Then 4 Low 5-10 mph and only use if youre really stuck stuck or know youre about to be in a sticky spot. As long as there is snow, dirt or mud 4 high wont hurt anything going fast speeds and i almost think theres a speed limiter when youre in 4 high?

 

What’s the gas mileage difference anyways? I’m curious. On my truck most of the front end stuff is still turning even in 2HI. Both CV shafts, and part of the front diff still turns. No power being transmitted but still a lot of drag. I wish these trucks had manual hubs.

 

I know in the older jeeps you can drive at about a 2 or 3 mph and then put it into 4 low. I dont know how the whole electronic transfer case works though. Its probably not needed. And i think most would advise to not ring out 4 low then slam it in 4 high but i would like to see the outcome... could be useful.

 

I think the OP got his answer 3 or 4 pages ago...lol

 

My Pickup has manual hubs and the difference is greater. However the one time I was grill deep in snow in a ditch and needed 4x4 to get out they weren’t locked so I had to get out and dig out the whole front end just to lock them manually haha

 

Sorry, I quoted the wrong post

 

This is the only person making sense. Read the manual. Slippery conditions. Shit.