H4 in gear 1 or 2

On an automatic first gen, I'm wondering if you can shift into H4, then shift into 1st or 2nd as an alternative to going into L4.

It might be nice to do on the fly if encountering a steep, snowy hill.

 

You can shift into 4hi on the fly and then shift into any gear you want no problem. Of course don't shove it into 1st If you're going 30mph but you wouldn't do that in 2wd either. If you do go into 4lo though you have to be at a complete stop to get it into low range.

 

Or just put it in 4hi and let the truck do the rest.

 

1st in 4hi is the same as 1st in 2wd.

 

This would mainly be for the situation when you are driving along something snowy/rocky/icy and come across a steep downhill and would prefer to let the engine help out with the braking.

So no damage would be done?

 

Nope, nothing about being in 4hi would make downshifting any different than being in 2wd. As long as you're using it in the right conditions (ie not on dry pavement).

 

Follow up question, how is H4 in 1st different than L4?

 

1st is identical, as is every gear. There's no change in the transmission. The tcase, low range affects everything. Hi range affects nothing. All it does in hi is turning the front driveshaft.

 

I'm not very knowledgeable on how transmission mechanics work. Could you explain this in a different way?

 

The transfer case is what dictates whether youre in high or low range, so the trans would not affect this. The transfer case and transmission are separate so it sound like your issue is the transfer case not going into 4high

 

4lo changes your gearing ratios so every gear is low range or something

 

Source a copy of the owners manual for your truck .

I never learned how to rebuild or drive a Automatic so not much help