Using 4WD properly

I've never owned a large 4WD pickup. Just bought 06 , 4.7. My 4WD just went out. Mechanic still trying to figure it out. Not why I'm posting. As a rule I've been told, do not use 4WD on dry pavement. Ok so how does one follow this rule on on surfaces that constantly change? I'm in Minnesota. Black ice, snow drifts etc.

 

Using 4Hi in those changing road conditions are fine. Just know that your turning capabilities change when in 4wd. i.e. turning radius increases, etc.

 

Rule of thumb: if while driving you experiencing wheel slipping - time to turn on 4wd.
99% of day to day driving can be accomplished with 2wd only.

If you need to turn 4wd and driving conditions constantly changing you will be safe while going in straight lines. For example while driving down the highway you generally will be ok.
Problems come when you need to make a sharp turn, like when pulling out of a parking spot. It should not be performed in 4wd. The distances that your inside and outside wheels travel will be way to different and when your differential is locked wheels are turning with the same speed.
In icy conditions your wheel will be able to make a necessary slip. On dry pavement it will start acting crazy.
It’s especially important when you have nice tread on your wheels as they naturally have better traction.

 

I drove mine in 4hi across most of Wyoming and Nebraska during blizzard conditions. It did really well. I would put it back in 2wd when I needed to park it.

 

I used 4hi when we have heavy rain. I still drive 80 mph without and issues. It just sticks to the road with heavy rain. We had heavy rain past few weeks in Southern California and it worked just fine.

 

Four wheel drive is perfectly fine on dry pavement as long as you are going straight or making mild turns.

ie, highway driving you can leave it in 4hi all day long. Nothing you do on a highway will be a problem. Just remember you have to be going under 62mph to switch from 2WD to 4WD, this is just the limit for switching, not the speed limit, once you switch over, go as fast as conditions warrant.

It WILL bind on sharp turns, on dry pavement, for instance, turning into or out of parking lot or alleyway. Because of the way it works you will always have at least two wheels that are locked, but when turning all four wheels will try and turn at different rates so at least one wheel must slip, which it will do on dry pavement, just not easily.

This is not even a problem in itself, just not ideal. You aren't going to blow up your truck or anything if you do it a few times. Just avoid it.


4wd is a remarkably misunderstood and maligned technology in general, mostly because people don't understand it and treat it like some strange delicate technology when really its very simple.

Well, that and most people live in flat, dry, paved places and don't really understand how comically useless a RWD truck is away from those situations.

For my money, 4WD is absolutely vital technology. I can't even back out of my parking spot in the summer without it. Its the thing that keeps my from walking every single day and has saved my butt, and many other peoples, over the years.

I wouldn't drive on a winter highway without it. Even if 90% of the road is bare and dry its those icy patches that will kill you when you hit then in 2WD.

 

All this. Absolutely.
Plus I don't care how slow and cautious you're driving, when the ice reaches up and grabs you, you'll be wishing you were going even slower.

 

Agree...use 4WHi went conditions warrant. it will save your butt.