I have a 02 Screw Lariat 4x4. I am new to the 4x4 world and would like some advise. I noticed in the manual that you shouldn't drive the truck on dry surfaces while in 4x4. My question is what if there is patches of snow or ice or mud in certain areas but not too far apart from each other but in between is dry surface. Do I have to switch from 4x4 to 2x4 in between each patch?

 

I wondered about this too. But a few years back when my dad was truck shopping he asked the same question and the dealer said that you can leave it in 4 wheel drive.

 

I have always heard (not from official sources) that 4 wheel drive mode on vehicles should only be engauged and kept on at low speeds. In other words... if you are out driving about on the paved roads at over 20 mph.... you shouldn't have it on.

Is this true? I've always lived by that rule.

In fact... I usually only engauge it when I come up to a mud puddle or an area where I know I'm not going to make it without it... then I slow down to almost a stop.... enguage.... proceed through the puddle or whatever.... and then disengauge.

 

You should not drive on dry pavement with 4x4 engaged. Straight line, there is really no problem, but on turns, the outside wheels travel a further distance and cause the drivetrain to "bind". If you drive in 4x4 and try to turn sharply (like into a parking space), you can feel the truck bind and the result is the tires on the outside will scuff the road to release the binding. You'll see black marks where the tires have scuffed.

 

That's what I thought.

Like I said... we get to going pretty fast during dog hunting season...even on the dirt roads. Therefore I never engauge unless I come to a place that is really really nasty.

 

You really don't want to be in 4x4, with a part time system like we have, on dry pavement.

You really need to test the handling of your truck in 4x4 mode. Maneuverability is affected when in 4x4 mode, especially if you have a Limited Slip rear end. The rear wheels want to turn at the same time which makes the truck want to go in a straight line.

Go out on a dirt road and take a sharp turn. It's even better if the turn is sharp enough that you need to lock your wheel all the way over to complete the turn. Now try it in 4x4 mode. You won't be able to make the turn.

Some people are able to drive our trucks on slick roads in 4x4 mode. Many can't. Your best bet is to practice driving your truck where there isn't any traffic or chance of hitting somebody or something.

 

cmikee and msduncan, i notice your both down South. I'm sure you don't get a ton of snow and ice , but here goes,

20 MPH and over don't use: myth. It's 50. And if you need to have 4x4 over 50, God bless.

Our trucks are about the worst vehicle out there on snow and ice,........in 2WD. The throttle spring is to tight. When you hit the gas just a little, the rear comes out from under you. There're great in 4x4. I use mine quite a bit in the winter on highways with snow. Over 50, i'm not going to stop on ice, so no need to go any faster. I leave it on over dry patches. Going from the dry to the wet/icy surface is what will get you, and why we all paid extra for 4WD.

Take it easy on the turns, it'll be fine.

I click mine in and out a lot too. I have too, a snowy incline, and the truck just sits and spins in 2WD. Pulling out of a parking spot is tough too.

I used to think the 4x4's with the switches were for girls trucks. (No offence) but i've grown quite fond of mine. It's quick and easy. Clicking on 4WD when reaching down to turn up the fan can sure wake you up in the morning.

 

I agree Blizzard, I never thought I'd like the electronic shift and axles that you didn't have to lock but I'm glad I have them. I usually leave the truck in 4WD if the road is snow covered and I felt that I needed 4WD in the first place. Like Bliz, in 2WD just pulling out of a snow and ice covered parking lot is an adventure.

 

I totally agee with Blizzard on this one. On a snow/ice covered highway as long as you kep it under 50 4x4 will do wonders for you. There's been times when without it I would have been stuck or in an accident. Now on snow covered back roads and curves you would need to take it real easy. I love having the switch makes it so easy to kick it in for a bad spot and then kick it out when not needed.
Last winter I hit the interstate and got behind two semi's going about 20 up a hill and only the slow lane had any tracks in it. I took a big chance, kicked in 4x4, pulled over into the fast lane and started making tracks. I didn't slip,slide, or spin one bit and made it to the top before the semi's even made it halfway. Try that in 2wd mode.

 

The only thing I wish was different is as follows:
You know the small cover that flips up and down to hide your cigarette lighter and power point thingy?

I wish Ford designed a similar cover for the electronic 4x4 dial.
This way you could have it covered up when not needed, and therefor not be able to turn it by accident when reaching for the AC dial. Know what I mean?

I've only done it a couple times by mistake, but a mistake I try to avoid at all costs.

I got my truck just before the last bad blizzard of the winter, and it was sure nice being able to drive around with confidence, while the tow trucks were busy yanking other vehicles out of the ditch.

I rarely have a need for 4x4 in the non winter months, but once a month I go offroad, and put it in 4x4 mode for a few minutes, just to keep it working properly.
Is this a good idea?

Thanks
Habibi

PS --> I don't normally add my signature to my posts, but I still have to show off my new painted valience, hehe

 

Post-It Note use 150 - Write "NO" and stick it on your 4x4 switch.

 

...or stick a piece of bubble gum on it.

 

KYFordFreak and others

I would think you would need to drive a long-a$$ ways in a straight line to get bind-up serious enough to cause drivetrain damage. And all the drivetrain would need is a little loosy-goosy to relieve itself, which would happen as you hit various patches of ice and snow.

I have driven for long periods of time on solid dry pavement on the interstate, simply because a couple times I have forgotten to disengage when I got off off-road. I know what drivetrain bind feels like too....I wouldn't give it a second thought in winter up north (driving in 4x4 full-time).

It's really such a non-event the owner's manual says nothing more than traveling in 4x4 on dry pavement will cause accelerated drivetrain and tire wear.....The only thing I wouldn't do is take a sharp turn at 60 in 4x4 and the nail the hell out of it when you started feeling resistance....

 

I agree with you 100%.
I once drove 50+ miles to work in slippery conditions in 4wd and forgot I was even in 4wd when I got to the dry city streets. Not till I went to turn sharp (slow speeds) into the parking lot at work did I realize I was in 4wd (felt it hopping/binding). That was over a year ago and there's no damage from that.
People say I'm too easy on my truck because I hardly ever go offroad or serious offroading. They've never met some of the paranoid people on this board. If it's not built well enough to take a little bind unloded in 4wd, it would never hold up to real work like, dragging out trees, or pulling a heavy trailer in mud or something.

 

Using 4x4 during less than absolutely-necessary conditions is inviting disaster.

ABS operates differently (read: less effectively), since it no longer is able to operate wheel-by-wheel (front) and axle independent (since front and rear driveshafts are gear-locked to turn at the same speed).

Increased Pucker Factor on icy roads is caused by the inability to differentiate the wheel speed between front and rear axles (if you break traction with posi-equipped rear axle, you now have 4 wheels that have lost traction, since the two rear wheels are posi-locked together, and the front axle is gear-locked to the rear axle). If you do break traction on icy roads -- and are at high-to-moderate speed, you will have dramatically-decreased lateral stability due to having no wheel remaining 'glued' to the ground.

The safest form of traction in inclement weather is fully-differentiated all wheel drive -- meaning: no posi in the rear axle; and some form of differentiation in the transfer case. Only under this scenario can the ABS do it's thing effectively (individual wheel control) and you then have the best opportunity for some wheels to remain in contact with the roadway (read: not-slipping).

Some members here on this board have discovered and reported the issue of ABS not performing as expected while using part-time 4x4 -- with brakes releasing momentarily and causing very high PF's and even some vehicle contact with scenery that wasn't expected.

For serious off-roading, the gear-locked transfer case of these trucks makes sense, as it forces torque to both axles (to illustrate a point, you can remove the rear driveshaft and still move the truck -- which you could not to if you had a differential in the transfer case).

In summary:

Use 4x4 only when needed. Do not use it at highway speeds. And never never never drive with the cruise control on.