I know this is a dumb question, but I'm considering upgrading the truck I have. Right now it's an 04 f150 4.6 XLT supercrew 4x2. I'm looking at a 4x4 f150 Lariat. I no nothing about 4x4's since I have never owned them before. Can you only use 4x4 in the snow?

What happends if for some reason you had 4x4 on in dry payment? Pretty much what I'm asking is, when do you use 4X4?

Can you use 4x4 in the rain?

 

The only time you should use 4x4 is when you're on a surface that allows the front wheels to slip a little, like snow, ice, or mud/sand. Using 4x4 on dry pavement or in the rain is a no no. It will cause alot of wear and tear on the front diff and hubs. The only time you could use 4x4 on dry pavement or rain would be if you travel a straight line (like pulling someone out of a ditch).

When 4x4 is engaged the front wheels turn at angles that are too much to allow proper diff action, like the rear diff is designed to handle. Unless the wheels are on a slick enough surface to allow some slippage between the front wheels.

 

That pretty much sums it up.

 

Basically, anytime you need the traction, you can put it into 4x4. Snow = yes, mud = yes, sand = yes, rain = no (there's still to much traction with the pavement) and dry pavement = never.

I live in New England and the roads can go from snow covered to bare and back again within a few miles. If the dry patches are short, then I will leave it in 4x4. Otherwise I will switch it back to 4x2. I do break the 50 mph rule but only once in a while. (It's stated you should not switch while travelling over 50 mph.)


That's it.

 

Just before you get stuck...

Later Trev

Sorry couldnt resist and as it was brilliantly answered above i figured i would try and inject some humor.

 

Thanks for the replys guys! I just never had 4x4 ever in and truck so I don't really know to much about it. Is it true having 4x4 is more matinace and more to break on a truck? I've heard of people saying all kinds of bad things about having 4x4's so I'm hoping I'm doing the right thing on thinking to get one.

 

In the summer with no sand, dirt or anything around. How can u run the 4x4 to keep it lubricated?

 

Engage it (and drive it) on a fairly straight road. Disengage it after a few miles.

You don't need to do it all that often - once every six weeks or so is sufficient. All you are doing is circulating axle fluid around to keep the seals from drying out and such.

LOL @ Kanuck... I was (jokingly) thinking "when you ain't moving and you can see rooster tails in the mirrors".

 

should also definately drop it into 4lo once a month as well...

 

Doesn't sound like you really need a 4x4.

 

Remember the mileage difference also. A two wheel drive truck with the same configuration is going to get better gas mileage then a 4 wheel drive. It's an option that you can go without for 95% of the time, but it's nice to have the other 5% of the time. I live in Wisconsin and drive to the UP to sled around 5000 miles. The only time you really need it is trying to back into driveways or starting from slippery stops. It doesn't help you stop any faster. When I'm on the highway, speeds above 45 mph, I never have four wheel drive engaged.

 

Most people get through their lives without a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Most people get by without a truck as well. A truck represents more capability, and a 4x4 truck has more capability still. It can move and get through stuff that lesser vehicles cannot. You only need to use the capabilities if you are presented with or put yourself into the situations they are designed for.

With the higher capability comes more cost. It is more expensive up front. There is more stuff that can break and must be maintained. It is heavier and so gets worse gas mileage. Your neighbors think you are wasteful. Etc. etc. etc...

The reason you should only engage 4 wheel drive in poor traction conditions is that the tires need to slip some. This sounds counterintuitive but that is what happens. The transfer case (the part that hooks up the front wheels to the transmission) requires the front wheels to turn the same number of revolutions that the rear wheels do. When a vehicle turns, the rear wheels turn fewer revolutions than the front wheels. The front tires are rotating a certain amount as they turn on an arc, but the rear tires sort of "cut the corner" thus traveling a shorter arc. But since the front and back wheels are mechanically locked in 4 wheel drive, they are going to turn the same number of revolutions whether they like it or not. The wheel with the least traction is going to spin relative to the road surface. If you are traveling on dry paved roads there is a lot of traction that must be overcome to spin the wheel, thus there is a lot of pressure (or tension) on the driveline under these conditions. This causes higher wear on the driveline and tires in a situation where it is really not needed.

 

The above mentioned situation is made worse if the rear diff is limited slip.