Heavy Rain, Flooding

Do you move it in the 4HI, or keep it in the 2WD?
I usually keep it 2WD, but I experienced some hydroplaning as I was driving through water puddles on the highway. Does 4Hi make it better or worse?

 

Don't drive fast through puddles...

 

I had the same experience and while 4wd will not prevent hydroplaning, it will add a measure of control when trying to recover from it or when your wheels get pulled by a deep puddle, its much easier to get the truck pointed back where you wan it in 4wd...I always use 4wd when its raining. Much better control and if you need to accellerate quickly you can. Many people will dissagree, and thats cool, but ive been doing this for 70k now and have zero driveline problems from it. Just be sure to disengage it for parkin lot type manuvers and such and youll be fine...

 

You enjoy shitty gas mileage ?

Slow down in rain .

 

A few people said it already, but slow down. I don't understand people driving at high speeds in the rain, I'm not talking about driving like and old man or anything. 4 wheel drive will not help you in a hydroplain. Its not that hard to just let off the gas alittle. Your obviously more prone to hydroplaining at highway speeds.

 

Using H4 setting in wet conditions increases your odds of having at least one front tire with power still making contact if others hydroplane. The dynamics of a tire rolling under power vs. one rolling without being driven under power are very different.

The leading edge of the rubber as it meets the road is shaped differently under power. It actually spread a bit giving greater traction footprint. (we are talking at the molecular level here but friction is a molecular activity)

I always go to H4 in nasty rain, especially since my daily drive is 110 miles of which 30% is mountain roads.

Others say slow down in rain. That's good advice, I do that too.

 

slow down OP. that's it.

It rains a lot here. all the accidents in the rain are from people going too fast; you shouldnt need 4hi- that's if you've slid off the road or theres some obstacle in your way.

 

What he said ^^

4WD on pavement for rain is retarded

 

if i need to take off in heavy rain i manually shift my automatic. orther than that i don’t have problems in heavy rain. i slow down but thats it.

 

Slow down. Especially when you see water pooling, and don't be stupid and slam on your brakes once your already in the deep water...

I drive my 2wd, open differential truck in heavy Florida rain and deep water quite frequently without any issues, relying on 4x4 as a crutch is a poor substitution for knowing how to drive.

 

X2, Or ATRAC

LOL!

 

Ive almost been killed by hydroplaning tourists many times; people just need to leave the skinny pedal alone when things are wet

 

Ya, I'm not sure why that is so hard to understand for people. Seems like people are just in a big fucking hurry everywhere they go. I give myself alittle extra time if weather is shit.

 

Thanks for all good info.

BTW

I Can Drive at 55 (and I do) when there is rain or slippery conditions. But it does bother me a bit when I drove the same flooded area before with other vehicles and I had not hydroplaned?

This was my set up when it happened:
Toyo Open County AT, about 55 mph, heavy rain and had to go through a known low area under bridge that always floods. Maybe about 6 inches or rain accumulation for ~20 feet. I suspect a foot a the lowest point.

BTW:
I had changed out of the Rugged Fails at 500 miles and put on a set of Toyos Open Country AT, which are supposed to offer impoved traction in rain/snow. I keep them only at 30PSI Front 29PSI back. I am happy with them as they are great on sand, which is my usual OR driving condition.

I also keep in the bed a 65 lb sand bag on top of each of the rear wheels.
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I was thinking then, if the front wheels had power by using 4HI, then the hydroplaining should be reduced as these 2 tires will have more control when they first enter the puddle. Iw as not referring to normal rainy conditions, but a typhoon type instead of very heavy rain that caused highway flooding.

 

just .02
underinflated tires = bigger chance of hydroplaining

 

Just to add to that, bigger or wider tires make it worse too, for the same reason, increased contact patch.

For deep pools of water like that, slowing down, and I mean WAY down is the only true cure. Whats to say there's not a 5" log floating in the water, a rock washed onto the road ...

 

If you can't slow down then get newer tires. Deeper tread less chance of hydroplaning. With in reason of course.

 

So what a 5 inch log going to do to a truck?