When is it OK to use 4wd?

I and most folks in Fairbanks run in 4hi for about 4-5 months, at highway speeds. We have to, snow, ice, hard pack, mixed. You can spend a grand a get blizzaks or studs. But most do that AND 4hi. I've got around in 2wd on blizzaks but again they're spendy (my daughter's car has them so I don't) My plow truck was 3/4 ton, studded winter tires, 600#s on sand in the back, and still slid around in 2wd so it lived in 4hi.

I take it easy in my taco, like someone said above, switch in and out at slower speeds. My work trucks stayed in 4hi in winter running 90+mph, no issues. Like mentioned, nothing helps stopping (except ditches) Be safe out there.

 

I read that too when I first got the truck but then you go on here and everyone has super strong opinions about this and it makes it confusing. Also when you first get a truck and you've never had part-time 4x4 before you get nervous about doing anything to damage the truck. My reading on TW would lead me to believe I can only use it when there is actual snow cover on the road or I am off-pavement, which turns out to be a conservative view IMO.

 

Okay so if you are in 2wd and want to go to 4hi, you come to a complete start, put the car in neutral, click the 4wd button, pull down the lever to 4lo, start driving and around 30-50 push it to 4hi

 

i test drove a 4wd 03 tacoma and i got super nervous about using 4wd, i didn't want to screw it up. i ended up stuck and not being able to move. if i moved the gear shifter it made a loud ass metal grinding noise. there should be some classes on proper use of 4wd, i don't have one but would still like to know how to do it. i drove my friends 2012 4runner in tahoe and it was fun but i'm still not as sure or confident as i should be. growing up in san diego doesn't help either....

 

No, just shift to 4hi from 2 while under 60km/hour. Don't drive in 4-low unless you are going very slow or are stuck.

 

Yeah, NEVER do this
so you have 2wd down
4HI is extra traction
4LO is not over about 5-10mph This one will get you in trouble.

 

Your truck will let you know know when its not OK to drive in 4wd. Lots of clicking/binding noise and wheel hop/screech.

Shouldn't hurt anything just shift out.

 

No, sorry I should've gone into more detail. You want to be at a complete stop when shifting into and out of 4lo, never moving.

You can come to a complete stop when engaging 4hi as well but it isn't necessary with 4hi. Say you're offroading and you realize you need 4wd...you're cruising at 20 mph and press the 4hi button, all is well. Suddenly you see that you're coming up on a really steep, rocky incline (or decline) and realize that you're going to need to be in 4lo to be safe. You can not shift into 4lo until you come to a stop and put the transmission in neutral. After you complete the climb, you want to go back into 4hi...you must come to a stop again, put the transmission in neutral and shift out of 4lo. There is no "shifting on the fly" when it comes to 4lo, that can only be done going from 2wd to 4hi and vice versa. Honestly even if you tried to, I'm sure that the resistance/grinding you'd feel would make it obvious before anything actually broke. I've never tried it and don't intend to though, lol.

 

x2. I live in So Cal and we VERY rarely ever get rain. But when we do, I always take off in 4wd but I just try not to ever go past 60mph while in 4

 

Driving straight, no.

 

I guess so

But just saying sliding on ice. That is all
Not stoping, not starting. But just driving on ice.

And like i said. Go try it find an ice patch and go try and steer around on it in 4wd and 2wd.
I have done it.

 

4wd definitely helps on ice over 2wd. It may not be that much of a difference and in general you won't have much control.

 

Ive never used 4x4 in just the rain. Even a month ago or whatever it was when we had all that rain that I was mobbing around and those people's faces was hilarious when going thru big puddles!
I look to slide around.
Its great with the abs kill switch mod!
I take my truck to the dirt, snow, sand whatever to uae 4x4

 

At least you got it.
This is all i was saying

 

Lolwut

 

i'm trying to understand..

 

It's okay. I think some other people explained it.

 

Yes

Edit: maybe

 

Big fast turns are bad. Where I live its all long sloped "turns" on the highway that won't hurt anything at speed.