So, i was lookin around online today, just lookin at all the stuff that i want for my truck. i got to looking at one website that was talking about manual locking hubs for 4x4's vs. the electrical auto locks on trucks today, or something allong those lines.... A couple of months ago i did the auto hub to manual hub swap with a set of WARN premium hubs. anyways on there it said that in bad conditions, or if you are expecting bad conditions (mainly some snow) they said you could lock in the front hubs, and stay in two wheel safely and then if you need it, switch to 4wd. that way the hubs are already locked in. then when you dont need it anymore just put it back in two wheel, and when you get a chance you can turn your hubs back to FREE, so they arent locked in. honestly this sounds like a load of BS, and a good way to tear up the front end of my truck. but at the same time i wonder if they were actually telling the truth..?? anyone have experience with this...? just curious...

 

No, that's the truth, and what most people do. With the front axles turning you will get a little worse gas mileage but that's the only drawback.

 

now when you say a little less gas mileage, what exactly is a little less.? is there any annoying noises caused from leaving it locked in?

 

Maybe 1-2 MPG. You shouldn't hear any noises at all.

 

Yeah, its not something you do for a 300 mile road trip. I lock mine in when I leave for work (15miles) if the weather looks bad. I usually lock mine a couple of times over the summer and drive for 50 miles or so to keep everything lubed and working.

 

well then i might be doin that a couple times this winter to save me some trouble... one last question is though, how fast can i go with them locked in..? i drive on two different highways daily. on has a speed limit of 55 and the other is 70mph. would i be safe goin 70-75mph with them locked in still?

 

Yep, I do it all the time. No worries.

 

rite on..thanks again for the info

 

I did this all last winter when the weather was snowy. They didn't make any sound but you could feel that the hubs were engaged, sort of a soft repetitive bumping feel in the steering wheel.

 

I usually leave mine locked all winter long. It's my beater truck, so I really don't drive it often. One nice thing is you can switch into four wheel drive at any speed, and back out. On slippery side streets, I lock it in to get going from stops, and then take it out of 4 when on dry streets.

 

yep, i leave em locked in half the time in the winter, gas mileage goes down a bit the steering wheel gets heavier but thats about it....

 

Everything in this thread is dead-on. I'm the type that turns the hubs in if I know I'm gonna see snow, and turn them out when I know I'm not. I typically lose two MPG with the hubs turned in. And in spite of what the owner's manual says, I regularly shift in and out of 4WD at 70 MPH on the highway...I've had my truck eight years, and it shows no signs of any problems.

You're gonna get the manual hubs...have fun turnin' 'em!
Pat

 

whats this switching to 4wd thing while moving yall are talkin about. i thought you had to be stopped and in neutral? mine does have the manual on the floor t-case shifter... what yall are sayin doesnt sound to safe for my t-case to say the least, shiftin on the fly and all....

 

With the hubs locked in, you can safely shift from 2wd to 4 high and back while moving. I usually let off the gas and push in the clutch. It goes right in with no problems. Thats the best part of lock out hubs. Just dont it while giving it gas or when the wheels are spinning. It works fine, trust me. You will be amazed at what you have been missing out on. I feel there is no need for auto hubs or push button stuff. I still wouldnt drive long distances at highway speeds but thats just me.

 

Yep I have been doing it for years in all of my trucks. Its great for plowing too. lock it in 4 wheel drop the plow... then when I need to spin around or make sharp turns I just pull the shifter back out of 4 wheel to 2 wheel.

I have found this works well for me:
Auto trans If the truck is moving just let off the gas to shift transfer in or out of 4 wheel.
At a stop just bump the trans in neutral and shift transfer

Manual trans just push in the clutch and shift. If your at a stop your clutch is already pushed in ( disengaged )

my old 76 was a auto did it, my 86 was a manual and did it, my 91 is a auto and I do that all the time.

Just be sure both hubs are locked or unlocked. Don't be riding around with one hub locked and the other unlocked.