4x4 tight turns on gravel

Hello all
I am experiencing some odd feelings while making tight turns in 4x4. I only engage the 4x4 on gravel roads and my extremely steep tight switch backed driveway (no where CO). When turning around the switchbacks in 4x4 I feel resistance and like the tires are moving laterally. Is this normal?

 

Definitely. First 4x4? It’s the driveline binding because the front wheels are moving at different speeds than the rear wheels. Don’t try it on dry pavement

 

Thanks for the response. i assume this will cause normal wear and isnt something i am doing wrong to prematurely wear my truck.

Edited for 4x4 not 4wd

 

I’m sure someone more knowledgeable than me will have better responses/a better explanation of what is happening, but on gravel it’s not something I would worry about personally. As long as the front wheels can slip and skip without a ton of resistance (like dry pavement of a parking lot) it alleviates the bind.
In a perfect world you’d only ever use 4x4 when traveling in a straight line, but I lived in the mountains and drove up a driveway with 3 tight switchbacks for 10+ years, and my first gen never had any issues. Try and take the corner as wide as you can and power through it

 

Even off road traction can be good enough to cause binding in 4X4. It will bind worse in reverse than going forward. If you feel resistance disengage 4X4 temporarily. If it's binding you don't need 4X4.

Anytime there is any binding in the drivetrain you are over stressing components and will cause premature parts failure. But if kept to a minimum you should get a lot of life out of them. It is when people drive on surfaces with good traction by design while 4X4 is engaged that break stuff.

 

agreed, if your binding like that you probably shouldnt be in 4x4.

 

As others have said, if you feel the binding you have lots of traction and could really be in 2WD. On tight switchbacks, or when parking, off-road, I switch into 2WD, if I have lots of traction to avoid the binding.

 

This will even happen in snow, and is very normal. Avoid tight turns in 4wd, or avoid 4wd on tight turns.

 

Normal. Your front and rear axles are locked together and must turn at the same speed, but the can’t when you are turning. On surfaces like gravel it’s an annoyance but not something to be super worried about. Use 4wd when you really need it. Gravel roads unless minimum maintenance and water soaked don’t count, but can be fun

 

That's the same thing

 

But is it though? One is four wheel drive and the other is a square 4” piece of lumber

 

But is it though? Or is it a square 3.5"x3.5" piece of lumber? Wild

 

Hit me with a 4x2.

 

Gawd damn

 

Thanks for the replies. yall rock. Just tryin to make my baby last as long as possible

 

Have you ever drove at Moab?
It has good traction. It will bind. It needs 4wd. It will not break.

 

This is about the 4th or 5th time I’ve said this:

“Marshall R bought a 4x4 and is afraid to use it.”

 

Lol.
Geezus. When are people going to realize that making turns with full traction won't break shit?
And please... Don't show me that one failed transfer case of a Jeep that drove thousands of miles locked in 4 low. It deserves to break.

 

I don’t often agree with you but in this case all I gotta say is “Amen Brother.”

 

I make a habit while in 4WD not to make too tight of turns period... i've even experienced binding making tight turns on dry snow.