Locking hub newbie

I’m wondering what the best practices are for using locking hubs and 4x4 in general.

if I shift from 2hi to 4hi, am i now I’m 4wd even with the locking hubs set to free?

and the same question regarding shifting to 4lo?

someone told me that it’s a 2wd until I engage the locking hubs but that seems wrong.

1997 4wd tacoma lx 4cylinder

 

Lock the hubs

 

If the hubs are not locked, the front wheels are free and you are essentially in 2wd still, if you are going into 4wd, they need to be locked. If you are in 4hi with unlocked hubs, you are supplying power to the cv axles but they are not connected to the wheels, essentially putting you in 2wd.

 

Its also in this thread, its a bunch of extra info on snow driving that people don't agree on but it explains the hubs well.

 

The hubs must be in the locked position to be in 4wd.