Engaging 4x4 once a month

Use the force

 

What if i don't want to get dirt on my tires. Because i read the it will speed up the dry rot on the rubber?
can i just drive back and forth on my driveway for 10 miles instead of putting it up on jack stands?

 

I worry more about the cracks that may develop from deflating on the trail and reflating back for the road lmao!

 

This, truly WTF.

 

I would like to open this thread back up with a different thought. It seems that the general consensus is that running 4WD high on concrete would cause damage due to lack of slippage while turning. On the 2021 there is the ability to lock the rear and with after market the front too. So my question is, if the front and rear are not locked how would one cause damage in 4WD High? Without the lockers the dif is in LSD mode correct?

 

4hi on concrete is fine as long as you don't turn

Diff lockers do not change the behavior of the transfer case, it is still locked. Its the distance difference front to back that causes binding when turning in 4wd.

 

I thought the transfer case only truly locks in 4W Low?

 

Nope. If its in 4wd, its locked. To get one that unlocks you'd need somethng like the AWD cases found in the 4runners that have a locking option.

 

I do it one wheel at a time.

 

Like Johnny Cash

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=18cW_yHo3PY

 

Not that bridge, unless you're really old now and still on your feet doing great. That bridge has been underwater for close to 71 years.

 

The consensus is NOT that driving on concrete in 4hi causing damage. That is grossly overstated and truly stupid. It only causes damage if you TURN in 4hi and causing driveline binding. You can drive on dry straight roads with ZERO issues, even slight curves are still fine.

 

Read what I wrote again and don't skip any words this time. I'll point out what you missed which resulted in your statement of 'That is grossly overstated and truly stupid"

"It seems that the general consensus is that running 4WD high on concrete would cause damage due to lack of slippage while turning"

 

I stand corrected, missed that part! Guess i read too many posts claiming straight line driving causes damage that I just assumed! My bad...

 

I like to echo things back to make sure I understand them correctly, please be patient, I'm a total noob at all of this stuff.

If I understand correctly after reading through this whole thread, when in 4HI/LO, the transfer case is locked so the front and rear driveshafts have to rotate at the same speeds. Since we're actually only 2wd, one front wheel and one rear wheel, the ones getting power from their respective driveshafts, have to rotate at the same speed, given they are the same size. When turning, depending on road conditions, the front/rear wheel combination that gets power may end up being the on different sides of the truck, which would mean they need to rotate at different speeds (inside versus outside of the curve). Since this can't happen, because the drive shafts are locked together, physics means more stress on the drive components until either the tires slip enough to relieve some of the pressure or the drive components fail.

Is this an accurate description?

 

Five pages, WOW!

 

You're overthinking it. It doesn't matter which wheel would get power because that is entirely dependent on slippage which we're assuming is not happening on conrete.

The short of it is that the front and rear axles travel slightly different distances in a turn due to the geometry of the vehicle. So if they're locked together via the transfer case, you get binding, which we don't want.

 

Think we can hit 8?

 

Not using the 4X4 at least once a month will be sad...... so far that's my case ....

 

This post should sum it for OP. if the thread continues he’s going to move to a place where it snows so he can workout the 4WD without being nervous. Lol I love TW and threads like these. For me it’s fun to hear all the back n forth. Just find some dirt, engage.