4x4 hi question, possible problem
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 2
From: Erie, PA
Well I am sure most people wont agree with me, but I just throw 5 sandbags in my bed, and I only put it in 4x4 when I absolutely need to. Leaving it in 4x4on a few turns will not seriously screw anything up, so don't worry, just don't make it a habit. I really doubt anything is messed up because of that.
I read in the manual that speed in 4x4 shouldnt exceed 55.
I read in the manual that speed in 4x4 shouldnt exceed 55.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,843
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles, MO
Originally Posted by illness95
I understand the binding , but how do AWD vehicles getaway with it???
Bobbyg, your truck will be fine. You weren't beating on it. If there were any problems with it, you'd know by now because they would have come in the form of a loud "BANG", followed by parts going everywhere.
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Duvall, WA
Originally Posted by kd4crs
If you are in a situation where you need 4X4, how fast do you really need to be going? Just because you can go fast in 4WD doesn't mean you can stop quickly and safely either. Common sense should be your throttle governor.
Not sure what you meant here?
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,551
Likes: 3
From: Central KY
The question of how fast can I go in 4WD comes up frequently in the forums and it seem most folks don't understand that fast and 4WD don't usually go well together. No offense intended. :o
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 404
Likes: 2
From: san diego
Originally Posted by bobbyg123
I'm so pissed off at myself right now. My 4runner didn't have these restrictions, and I figured the operation of the 4x4 was similar. What a moron. The good news is that there was a considerable amount of snow on the ground and I only drove around 40 total miles. I'm wondering if I should bring it up to Ford or if I should just hope that everything is OK and "play dumb" if it isn't?
I guess I'm confused about how to properly and effectively utilize the 4x4 system in my F150. For example (like today), we wake up to 4"-5" of snow at our home. I need the 4x4 to get out of our driveway and onto the main road (which was only slushy). 10 miles later, there's a long, steep grade that was very snowy and icy. With my family in the car, I needed the security of 4x4 to safely climb this hill. If I waited until I slipped my rear tires in 2HI, I would have lost all my momentum and would have probably gotten stuck. The mistake I made was not changing back to 2HI when we hit the main roads which were mainly bare and slushy. I feel like I totally messed up in the parking lot of Sears when I heard (and felt) a grinding/binding sound when parking.
Should I have only used 4x4 hi when I most needed it and then changed back to 2hi? Is it better to just switch back on forth? God I'm an idiot. I better not have f'ed up my new truck.
I guess I'm confused about how to properly and effectively utilize the 4x4 system in my F150. For example (like today), we wake up to 4"-5" of snow at our home. I need the 4x4 to get out of our driveway and onto the main road (which was only slushy). 10 miles later, there's a long, steep grade that was very snowy and icy. With my family in the car, I needed the security of 4x4 to safely climb this hill. If I waited until I slipped my rear tires in 2HI, I would have lost all my momentum and would have probably gotten stuck. The mistake I made was not changing back to 2HI when we hit the main roads which were mainly bare and slushy. I feel like I totally messed up in the parking lot of Sears when I heard (and felt) a grinding/binding sound when parking.
Should I have only used 4x4 hi when I most needed it and then changed back to 2hi? Is it better to just switch back on forth? God I'm an idiot. I better not have f'ed up my new truck.
when i offroad, i dont put it in 4x4 until i need it, then it goes right off, only rarely in sand will i need 4lo, most the times ill stop moving from 2hi, stop, switch to 4lo, and get right out, have faith (if you have mud tires).
another thing, especially with family in the vehicle, its not so great to need "momentum" to rely on moving forward, momemtum moves you more than where you wanna go sometimes, its like offroading, what do you wanna risk?, i personally dont get into situations where i have to count on momemtum to move forward, if i cant stop and switch it to 4x4 and get out, than i probably shouldnt go further. i think getting some mud terrains or snow cables will move you along safer cause then if your rear tires spin, switch it up, and if your still stuck, its probably better your not moving on that patch rather than busting through it with speed.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,573
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mengela
Mabe you should invest in some good MT's or AT's, but to answer your question, you should put it in 4x4 only when your pretty sure your gonna need it, and then take it off when you crest the hill or the bad patch.
when i offroad, i dont put it in 4x4 until i need it, then it goes right off, only rarely in sand will i need 4lo, most the times ill stop moving from 2hi, stop, switch to 4lo, and get right out, have faith (if you have mud tires).
another thing, especially with family in the vehicle, its not so great to need "momentum" to rely on moving forward, momemtum moves you more than where you wanna go sometimes, its like offroading, what do you wanna risk?, i personally dont get into situations where i have to count on momemtum to move forward, if i cant stop and switch it to 4x4 and get out, than i probably shouldnt go further. i think getting some mud terrains or snow cables will move you along safer cause then if your rear tires spin, switch it up, and if your still stuck, its probably better your not moving on that patch rather than busting through it with speed.
when i offroad, i dont put it in 4x4 until i need it, then it goes right off, only rarely in sand will i need 4lo, most the times ill stop moving from 2hi, stop, switch to 4lo, and get right out, have faith (if you have mud tires).
another thing, especially with family in the vehicle, its not so great to need "momentum" to rely on moving forward, momemtum moves you more than where you wanna go sometimes, its like offroading, what do you wanna risk?, i personally dont get into situations where i have to count on momemtum to move forward, if i cant stop and switch it to 4x4 and get out, than i probably shouldnt go further. i think getting some mud terrains or snow cables will move you along safer cause then if your rear tires spin, switch it up, and if your still stuck, its probably better your not moving on that patch rather than busting through it with speed.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
When you turn the truck sharply, like parking, the rear wheels travel farther than the front wheels. Since the rears travel farther in the same amount of time as the fronts, they must turn faster. If you are in 4WD, the slower turning fronts act as a brake, and bind up, hard on the drivetrain when on dry pavement. Leaving the truck in 4WD on slush/wet pavement is fine as long as you're not making sharp turns. There is no speed restriction, other than safely controlling the vehicle, to 4WD. Personally, I have done 70mph without problem on the highway.
AWD works because it has a third differential, distributing the drive torque to the slowest turning wheels, front or back. A big drawback to AWD is if you get a flat that can't be repaired, you need to replace all four tires or risk tearing up the drivetrain.
AWD works because it has a third differential, distributing the drive torque to the slowest turning wheels, front or back. A big drawback to AWD is if you get a flat that can't be repaired, you need to replace all four tires or risk tearing up the drivetrain.