Which is why I think it's great that Ford is offering the AWD system in more models this year.

 

my owners manual says up to 55mph for 4hi but mines a 97. I would say that if you have to use 4x4 to get up to that speed you shouldn't be going that fast because you can't stop that fast.

 

If you like to repair your truck or just don't like it anymore then go for it!

 

Why is it okay to do it in wet conditions but not dry? Does the transfer case care if the road is wet?

 

Practically speaking, it's not purely a wet or dry thing. It's more about the level of taction available. Too much traction (dry) and you run the risk of driveline binding. In low traction (wet or snow / ice) conditions, this isn't an issue.

 

I have a 98 F150 which I have owned since new, driving in Manitoba and Alberta. When winter conditions warrant it, I drive in 4 high on highways up to 120 kph. Thirteen years of doing it and no problems.

 

I often drive the 30 miles from/to work on the interstate in 4x4 when the conditions are greasy. The reason being... when the truck downshifts on a grade the sudden increase in torque can break loose the back wheels and that is not good at 65mph with an LS diff. I would leave in in 2x4 if I had an open diff.

I bet you could drive on any interstate all day in 4x4 in dry conditions and not hurt anything. It's only when you start making tight turns on drive pavement and the wheel can't spin out when it needs to that you will start breaking things.

 

Funny Story... I was driving about 75MPH down the interstate... my GPS fell off my windshield and hit my 4x4 **** and turned it to 4H... I nearly shat myself. Prolly couldn't get that to happen again if I tried. Anyway it shifted to 4H before I could get slowed down and stopped.

Long story short... no problems here either with 4H at highway speeds.

Drive more... worry less

 

Berta', that's why!

I am also from Alberta and have the same question. I have a 2013 F150 5.0L V8 with 145" wheel base. I was booked to get winter tires had accidentally told my hookup at Kal-Tire I had 17", not 18". Winter tires are like gold in Alberta after heavy snowfall (20 cm last night) so I'm calling around today to try and get some hooks.

My truck is parked at my company office. I know the company parking lot and subsequent highways to my house will be F*CKED. My buddy at KalTire said driving in 4HI on highways is a terrible idea but everyone I talk to who works in the oil patch says it's no big deal.

I typically drive 80-90 kph on highways during the winter.

My question is should I limit my driving until I can get winter tires and drive in 2 wheel? Or am I okay to keep driving on my brand new all-seasons in 4H until spring. I should only be home for 4 out of the next 16 months so I won't be putting a lot of clicks on it.

Full power-train warranty if that means anything.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

You can run any speed you want to in 4Hi. The speed limit the for the shift from 2WD to 4WD. The transfer case has to spin the front axles and drive shaft up to the same speed as the rears during the shift process. At speeds more than 55MPH it really isn't good for the system same thing goes for when the rear tires are slipping. Once it's locked together you're good to go until you need to turn tight. Then the front tires will bind up because of the speed differential between them.

The best way to use 4x4 in bad weather is to keep it in 2WD in parking lots or make really wide turns. Kick in into 4 Hi once you get moving and do your thing. If you feel the front wheels skipping you know that you're turning too tight and binding things up.

 

Okay thank you sir. I assumed you had to be in neutral to shift from 2WD to 4WD. This is reassuring. I had done a bit of crusing in 4WD but it did turn my stomach a bit, not knowing exactly what was going on.

 

You do need to be in neutral to shift into 4 Lo. The truck will not let the transfer case make that shift if you are in gear and moving more than a few MPH.

 

Doesn't your foot also have to be on the brake to get it into 4 lo?

 

Nope, the owners manual says the ideal 4Lo shift is rolling below 3MPH and in Neutral.

 

lololol