My friend Is shifting his 2007 f-150 into 4x4 while driving down the road. I told him he is an idiot. can he do that without damaging the truck??

Thanks

 

To shift into to 4wd hi, you can shift on the fly of slow speeds, to shift into 4WD-LO you gotta come to a full stop, put foot on brake, place trans shifter into neutral & shift into 4WD LO.......

 

It doesn't hurt it... but I wouldn't suggest doing it anything above 20 mph. Even then, out of courtesy, any of my friend's trucks that I drive during the winter if they have the electronic 4x4, I usually pull over to a complete stop then click it in the 4x4. I don't wanna bust their truck on them... then I'll never be able to use it again.

4x4 low you need to make sure gear selector is in N, at a stop, and then select 4x4 low.

 

Perfectly fine. Anything up to 55mph the front drive shaft can spin up to speed for ESOF.

 

x2 on i.ride.suzuki... I know you can do it up to 55 mph. But why would you need it at 55 mph?!

But it's there if you need it.

 

Depends. If he's gunning it on ice and his rear tires are spinning and his fronts aren't and he puts it into 4x4, he's gonna get a big boom.
If he's just driving down the road and puts it into 4x4, no damage will be done.

 

think 4WD is the same as AWD. It isn't.

You should not engage 4WD unless you are in snow or mud. If you drive in 4HI on pavement you will subject your drivetrain to a lot of stress.

 

Every once in a while, I put mine in 4x4 HI on the road in the rain, just to make sure that everything is working.

 

Some of you guys are clueless. Pulling over to put it in 4x4 hi?

Read your manual. 4x4s have been switchable on the fly for quite a few years now. You will do no damage. And yes there is a need for 4x4 to be engaged at highways speeds.

Never ceases to amaze me the city boys who buy these trucks w/o a clue. But I guess the questionsare being asked so you can learn.

 

Yea, I had a scare a few weeks ago too. I traded in my 2007 4runner (which I loved) for the F150 4x4 so we could tow a camper. Anyway, we ran into our first snow of the year 3 weeks ago, and I needed to use my 4x4 to negotiate the back roads where I live. On our way to the store, the snow on the ground went from 4-5 inches to wet slush, but I kept the 4x4 engaged until we got to the store. When trying to park her, I felt some resistance (binding) that kind of scared me. This never happened with the 4runner, so I asked the Ford service tech if I damaged my truck. He said not to make a habit of running it on dry pavement, but he also acknowledged that there are times when you're in between bad snow and light slush.

If the 4x4 system is so fragile that you can't shift over to it when conditions warrant, what's the point of having it at all?

 

You were fine until you went to park...

 

If you are turning sharp in a parking lot you should turn the 4x4 off. Its the big cranks of the wheel that start to get it to bind. A slight turn is generally not going to hurt it.

Yeah that slush is very dangerous. 4x4 helps a bit but that is the one driving condition that always gets me nervous.

 

I use 4x4 everyday because of ice/snow and have no problems. Yeah, it'll bind when you turn, big deal. Both tires are trying to go the same speed. I've driven up to 70 or so in 4x4 with not problem and driven many miles at 55/60 in 4x4. My 4x4 still works so it must not be too fragile.

 

doesnt 4lo have a sensor that will keep it from engaging unless you stop and put it in neutral? Since it is electronic engagement, it is easy to put sensors that will prevent harmful activations.

 

Correct, 4LO won't engage. Trust me, I tried to on my 2004 F150 !!