4x4 driving questions/concerns

A locker and 4x4 are not the same thing

Driving in 4x4 in snow improves your control not the other way around

 

I think he is referring to the 2LO Marklar

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4265319#post4265319

 

I think youre missing what he is saying.

It is a fact that 4 wheel drive does nothing for you ONCE MOVING in icy or slick conditions. If anything 4x4s are worse than other vehicles due to all the extra weight. With lockers or 4x4 the chance of slipping out of control is greater.

 

Been doing it for years. Its ok. Really its ok.

 

No they aren't completely the same thing, but a similar idea. You are locking the front diff to the rear diff, therefore two tires (1 front and 1 rear) are locked together so they turn at the same rate. That is why when turning one has to slip in order to travel the turn because they follow paths of different lengths but in the same amount of time therefore they need to rotate at different speeds but can't. One either has to speed up or slow down causing slipping when offroad and the binding feel when on road.

I agree that 4x4 in deep snow improves your control a lot, but on plowed but still icy roads I have seen virtually no help, except when trying to take off from a stop of course.

 

I would rather have the front pulling in the direction I am turning than plowing

 

See my post above

 

Yep that's the one. Thanks OZ. For me it disables my VCS in 2wd (just have to flip it, don't even have to shift in 4wd) and gives me an E-LSD rear end. Much nicer that being open in the rear sometimes. haha

And the binding doesn't make you cringe? My makes god awful popping and clunking noises if I try turning when in 4wd on pavement.

I haven't personally experienced any issues (besides the awful noises), but I have read stories of people blowing up diffs, cv axles, and tcases by doing it for miles.

 

So let me ask you this are your front and rear tires/wheel different sizes?

Or are the rears supper worn compared to the front?

As for the 4x4 on pavement. 4Low only straight for very short distances with no turning.

And 4 high is fine on pavement up to 60 MPH but use limited turning and not super long distances at higher speeds. No U-turns.

 

Just depends on which set of tires starts to slip. Yes your front tires pulling you around a corner will be helpful but in that scenario it means your rear end has lost traction on at least 1 tire. Like I said, in town this shouldn't really be an issue, but doing higher speeds on the freeway and that could result in your rear end swinging out around a corner.

Again this is probably all a moot argument, since this possibility may be very unlikely, but it is still a possibility.

 

Your not doing it right. lol

I never turn that sharp. If i know I will have to turn sharp I just pop it out real quick before the turn then back in.

But if you make lots of popping noise you should give all your ujoints a good checking out.

 

.
I have had my 4x4 since last summer and have not engaged the 4x4 yet ... need to do so soon ... have to find a dirt or gravel road ...

 

No my tires are still pretty much brand new and the same sizes.

In the situations you listed, then yes it is reasonable (but still not recommended) to use 4wd on pavement, but why use 4wd if you don't need the extra traction?

 

It's worked for me for the last 20+ years , I think I'm going to stick with it

 

and shit you're old!

 

Hard to argue

 

Aged like a fine Marklar

 

lol.

 

I'm back for the shit show that will always comes around everytime a 4wd on pavement thread goes south

 

Using 4x4 on pavement is like someone who can't drive standard. All you hear is, GRIND! They are both horrid noises a vehicle can make.