4WD Turn Radius?

Very likely a newbie question, but we had a lot of snow here in Seattle the last few days so threw our truck in 4WD Hi for the first time in the city. I have used it on fire trails but not in town. The turn radius is horrible and feels like it is rubbing or something is getting caught, is this normal? I have had other 4WD vehicles like a 99 Land Rover Discovery and don’t remember running into this. When I am in 2WD there seems to be no problem. Thoughts?

 

Never turn full lock in 4wd, shit will break if not sooner then later. I always put it back to 2wd if I can to make sharp turns, or take 4-6 point turns in 4wd without turning full lock to get where I’m going.

 

What these guys ^^^ said

 

As said, avoid turning sharp in 4WD and switch back to 2WD when you can. I tend to just use 4WD when really necessary. I think a lot of people flip to 4 way too often when it's not needed.

 

https://youtu.be/4-Wy5ENm_lM

 

I'm in Seattle, well down south near Black Diamond. My wife and I were out for dinner last night in the Tundra and I was explaining that you have to switch between 2WD and 4WD HI when leaving the neighborhood with snow on the road and onto the arterial road that is mainly bare. I figure just in case she has to drive it sometime in the snow.

I tried to explain that turning in 4 WD on dry (non snow) is not to do, as it will start binding. Going straight in 4WD is ok on dry. She gets it. She has it easier in her BMW X3 x-drive. Hope the snow stays in the mountains..

 

4wd in the city? 2wd drift lyft sonnn. That'll give you a short turning radius. I only throw it in 4wd in the really deep shit out 8n the woods.

 

You can turn just fine in 4wd. But not on pavement. The wheels need to slip or you can bind up the front axles. If you must turn on pavement you need to make wide turns as you have noticed.

 

This^^^

 

I understand your logic BUT!

We just had a foot of snow and the plows had not been through yet. It’s 4x4 or you don’t go to work. City or country it’s all the same.

 

Lol

 

Same goes for gravel. My brother has a 1/2 mile driveway with 400 ft elevation gain. I have to use 4wd on the way up to not throw gravel everywhere. But as soon as I get to the top I pop it out of 4wd, otherwise I can't make the turnaround without the grinding and popping.

Basic rule of thumb, 4wd in any standard street vehicle is made for going in straight lines. The axles will allow for some tolerance in turns, but not much.

 

Awesome thanks for all the responses... even the snarky ones . This really helps and makes sense... I know better now

 

@Bistrostyle, in your manual it says to put it in 4wd at least 10 miles monthly I believe to keep the system lubricated. I’m sure some people will say “I’ve gone for months never put it in 4wd and it still works”, I do it monthly, it makes me feel like my truck is being treated right...plus gives a good excuse to wifezilla that I have to go off-road.

 

Hell yeah! Many times I turn it on as soon as I hit the dirt. Keep that sucka lubed up and exercised. I turn it off on the tight turns and back in on the straights and hill climbs. Mine works really fast. I think it’s quicker than when new. I probably still only have 200-300 miles logged in 4X