The owner's manual says to shift from 2wd to 4H under 55mph. Once in 4WD, how fast can I go? Can I do 70mph on the freeway in the rain that way, or is top speed in 4WD 55mph? Thanks, fish.

 

Once it's engaged, you can drive as fast as you dare.

Personally, I wouldn't drive in 4Hi at high speeds. You can easily lose control on turns when the front and rear axles bind. It will cause the truck to lose traction and slide.

Besides, it's not advisable to drive a part time 4WD system like we have on pavement.

 

If you can drive 70mph, you do not need 4WD.

Remember, 4WD is for starting & maintaining forward motion in poor traction conditions. It doesn't really help much with hydroplaning or "sheer" traction (cornering).

 

I've driven several hundred's of miles with the front end engaged on fair to poor roads. Has not hurt anything yet. As everyone cautions, you don't drive like an idiot in these conditions.

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97 Lariet-sc-4.6-4x off road-auto-3.55 LS-
superchip-K&N-3"
pvc air box mod-Granetelli MAF

 

Hey Fish, if you need to be in 4WD, you have no business going 70mph. Remember, you still have to stop. Will driving 70mph in 4WD cause any damage to the drivetrain? It will if you go into a four wheel slide and roll over in the ditch. Sorry for the smartass comment, but really, if the weather is bad enough for 4WD, please drive responsibly for your sake and the rest of us out there. I've pulled 4 people out of ditches this winter. They were all 4WD vehicles that were going too fast. The first thing they said was, "But I had it in 4-wheel drive?"

 

Thanks for all the comments, guys. I didn't think they were 'smartass'. Depending on the day, there's quite a bit of 'open road' with some gentle curves. In the rain, I just thought I could stack the deck in 4WD.

 

Here in Minnesota, where we are experiencing the worst winter in 10 yrs, I tend to err on the side of "overuse" rather than underuse. After all, this is why I bought 4WD for in the first place: to save my *** in bad weather or on bad roads.

While there is a penalty to pay in MPG for using 4WD, I would rather be safe than sorry. Any time I feel the truck to be the least bit "twitchy" on the road surface (rain or snow), I "lock 'em in." It sure adds to my confidence, and has kept me safe so far. I am able to shift into 4WD HI at any speed and as long as I am not making any hairpin turns, I have had no maneuvering problems. Yeah, backing into parking spaces, etc., is sometimes "jerky," but just take it slow and figure it out.

Having had two Chevies with 4WD, I commend Ford for a 4WD system that engages almost instantaneously.

Just my $.02 worth.

Jim

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'97 F150 Supercab XLT; Pacific Green; 4.6l; B & M ShiftPlus; Bosch Plus4s; 3.55; ABS; 17" whls; Towing Package; Gibson dual exhaust; Waldoch Conversion (Custom Paint/graphics, powerslider rear window; walnut dash trim; overhead console; F'glass 'boards); ARE fiberglass bed cap; JVC Head unit & 12 disk changer; Prince compass/temp RV mirror; Anti-theft.



[This message has been edited by jaymz (edited 02-11-2001).]

 

I've never used my 4HI just for rain The only time I use 4WD is when I'm in the city with slippery roads and on the highway with snowdrifts and of course slippery! What I mean by slippery is icy and/or snow covered roads

4L I've used on mountain trails and to un-stuck people from ditches

Remember your best precaution on wet roads is to slow down!

 

I wouldn't say there's NEVER a need to do 70 in 4hi... I've done it myself.... 2 lanes, blowing and drifting across the freeway in the middle of corn country heading out to Lansing... occasionally, there would be a sudden small drift gusting across the road surface, so as I saw it approaching, I'd switch it into 4 hi just to be safe.... I've done it at 70 and never had a problem with it. Probably not the safest rate of speed for those conditions but.....

eph... I use mine in the rain quite often... You can brake torque it from a light no matter how rainy and wet the ground is, and not light 'em up in the process.... I do that when I need to get a jump (i.e. my turn's coming up and I wasn't paying attention, etc...) My cousin wanted to race one day in his little neon, and (of course) I blew his doors off because he couldn't get any traction.



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98 Explorer (Lemon Law Case in Progress)

'00 F-150, X-cab, 4x4, Lariat, Off-road, Trailer Tow, Holandia Sunroof, built 11/99 picked up 10/00!Clear Corners, Manik Stainless Steel 1-piece brush guard, Custom CB wiring, Uniden PC76-XLW CB radio with K-40 Magna-Mount antenna (for now), 1 set of 165 watt KC Daylighters (for now... more on the way) Custom switch mounting plate and overhead console, Bully Stainless Steel Trailer hitch drawbarw/ 2" stainless steel ball.
List of planned mods: Clear tails, torsion bar tweak, bug deflector, spray in liner, and a tonneau of some sort...

93 Probe GT teal, OE rims painted to match, bone stock drivetrain.

 

GIJOEcam,
This has absolutely nothing to do w/the 4wd topic, but I am in the same type of lawsuit w/a 98 Cadillac Seville SLS--what a bi*ch right?!? Damn Chevrolet--ooops-GMC (same thing--Generic Made Chevrolet-GMC), but I guess I have to be "politically correct",LOL.

FORD ONLY from NOW ON!!

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1997 F-150 Lariat SuperCab 4x4, 2-tone: white w/tan bottom, 4.6L, aoutmatic, Towing package, K&N Filter, Custom Cat-back true dual exhaust with 2 FLOWMASTER Series 40 Delta Flows and 4" x 22" chrome tips(out the back of course), Bridgestone Dueller A/T's 265/75/16, Ventshade Bug and Window Deflectors.

 

It's nice to read about '97 F150 owners who use 4WD frequently. I guess I misunderstood the manual and thought that you weren't supposed to drive over 55MPH in 4WD period.

Mark

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No, if you read the manual, it says not to ENGAGE it above 55. I did it a few times on my 97 and never had a problem, though I'm sure it's not exactly GOOD for it.

 

there is a cummins owner who has 35's and when he's at the strip he prefers to run in 4hi. 500+hp you need all the traction you can get. He runs in the mid-low 13's, as i recall.

 

I also like to use 4hi in the rain sometimes. And like GIjoecam said, it's pretty neat when you are locked in at a red light in the rain, you can take off and go, no slipping. I beat a Z-28 Camaro off the line the last time I did that. Plus, those BFG's are pefect in wet weather.

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Patrick aka Mudder or MR.Daylighter of Arlington Texas (D/FW), member of the Texas Chapter club DAYLIGHTER edition F150 ®, Black 98 S/S S/C F150 4x4 0RP 5.4 V8 3.55ls, 4" Rancho suspension lift with RS 5000 shocks, Ramsey Pro 8000 hidden winch, Grizzly roll bar, Superwhite Bulbs, 2 Baja back up lights, 2 KC 57 Series 5x7 100 watt long range lights, 2 KC 55 watt fog lights (all-season kit) 10 165 watt KC Daylighters, 2 chrome, 4 Stainless, 4 black ( with 14 KC's, I come alive at night), Manik grill guard, Westin step bars, Rhino Taillight guards, Magnum bug shield, Sonic aluminum treadplate 36" tool box, Flowmaster 40 series dual exhaust, Airaid High Flow system, Lighted Ford logo on tailgate, 285/75/16 BFG AT/S KO, American Racing Baja wheels, Pro Comp headlight blackouts, Red Top Optima battery, personalized plates, Cobra 18WXST CB radio with 3' whip antenna, Escort Laser/Radar detector, Nokia cell phone, a Mobil Speed Pass on the back window, 3 F150World stickers, a Texas Chapter of F150World.com sticker, a BIG KC block sticker on the back window and a DAYLIGHTER sticker on the front windshield, and yes, I also have been infected with the infamous door crack. More to come for the Daylighter: JBA headers, superchip, 1 more Daylighter for the front, 2 KC reverse Lights, PIAA fog lights to match head lights, tint, BFG 295 AT/s. If you would like to see pics, email me at Mudder@TexasChapter.com
Also the Moderator of the Ford Trucks vs. GM trucks and Ford trucks forum over on fordvschevy.com so check it out.

2 BRT 4U "Go ahead, flash your brights at me, see what will happen."

Got light?
It's a KC thing.....you wouldn't understand.
Candlepower to date: 4,214,000. Gonna add more soon.

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