I have never done this as I am relatively new to towing but now have a travel trailer. There are some pretty decent mountain passes here in Idaho (7%) and the tt will weigh about 5000 loaded and I will have a 600 pound 4 wheeler in the bed. I was told by a friend to tow up the large passes in 4wd high. Anyone done this and does it help. I will obviously be towing with od off. Thanks. This will be when snow isn't an issue. The roads will be dry which I thought may be an issue. Maybe help lock torque converter? Like I said I haven't done this just heard of it.

 

If the road is paved, then I'd say no need...

If the road is dirt/gravel/mud, then sure, I'd use 4hi.

Even running on level gravel roads with lots of curves on it, I've popped it into 4hi and found it handled better in terms of steering and just a better feel, traction wise all around.

Mitch

 

You do not want to use 4wd on dry pavement. You are asking for things to bind up. Only use it in conditions where there is a potential and a possibility for wheel slippage.

 

^^^^^This^^^^^

 

Does your friend own a tranny shop? Catch you with his wife/girl friend?

I agree with the above posts-Don't use 4WD on dry pavement. The 4WD is for traction not power, so using it in this case would serve no purpose.

 

If the roads are snow covered, then yes. Dry or wet pavement, no.

Sometimes I wish my transfer case worked in 2WD, though.

 

He works at a tire shop so is quite mechanically inclined but it sounded fishy to me as well so thought I would see if anyone else had heard of it.

 

Yeah dude definitely don't. The only time I use 4hi on pavement is when the Excursion is being used and I have to pull our mastercraft out of the water with my little f150.

D

 

Using 4Wd on DRY blacktop is asking for problems, as you suspected. That said, I could see no problem and rather a big increase in control if you were towing and you encountered a heavy rainstorm and switched to 4HI. As long as blacktop roads are wet, there will be enough wheel slip to avoid serious stresses in the drivetrain.