4x4 speed?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 2
From: Wyoming
I tend to go no faster then 45-55 (mph). 45 mph on pavement with snow and ice conditions, and 55 on dirt roads with adverse conditions. I even think thats what the owners manual stated, but not sure!
I grew up driving the 70's F-series, and that was all a person would want to do in those things! LOL!
I grew up driving the 70's F-series, and that was all a person would want to do in those things! LOL!
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 287
Likes: 3
From: Gunnison, Co.
I once had mine going fully pegged 5th gear around 3200 rpm once in 4 wheel drive passing an enormous line of traffic in South Park. I would guess it was somewhere just over 100 mph but not sure as the speedometer doesn't go that high. That was the fastest my truck has ever gone and I don't think it has been over 80 mph since..
I have driven 60 mph on snow packed roads in 4 wheel drive all winter for the last 14 years. No problems. Going slow with sharp turns is harder on the 4X4 than driving straight down the highway.
I have driven 60 mph on snow packed roads in 4 wheel drive all winter for the last 14 years. No problems. Going slow with sharp turns is harder on the 4X4 than driving straight down the highway.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 287
Likes: 3
From: Gunnison, Co.
That may be the case in Oregon. In Colorado where it is very dry and not icy the roads can be snow packed for long periods of time up here in the mountains. Out here you typically drive 55-60 on snow pack. I sure wouldn't drive at those speeds in 2 wheel drive on snow pack. In 4 wheel drive you really don't notice the difference between snow packed roads and 2 wheel drive on dry roads. Just don't slam on the breaks.
In the summer months we only have 3 paved roads in our county which is larger than the state of Connecticut. A lot of my driving is on dirt roads that get mighty wash boarded from the logging trucks and RV's. Once again 4 wheel drive is a must or you just beat yourself up. Typical speed on most of the dirt roads is 45-55 mph.
You can drive in 4 wheel drive as fast as the conditions allow. There is no mechanical related top speed for using 4 wheel drive.
In the summer months we only have 3 paved roads in our county which is larger than the state of Connecticut. A lot of my driving is on dirt roads that get mighty wash boarded from the logging trucks and RV's. Once again 4 wheel drive is a must or you just beat yourself up. Typical speed on most of the dirt roads is 45-55 mph.
You can drive in 4 wheel drive as fast as the conditions allow. There is no mechanical related top speed for using 4 wheel drive.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,244
Likes: 40
That may be the case in Oregon. In Colorado where it is very dry and not icy the roads can be snow packed for long periods of time up here in the mountains. Out here you typically drive 55-60 on snow pack. I sure wouldn't drive at those speeds in 2 wheel drive on snow pack. In 4 wheel drive you really don't notice the difference between snow packed roads and 2 wheel drive on dry roads. Just don't slam on the breaks.
In the summer months we only have 3 paved roads in our county which is larger than the state of Connecticut. A lot of my driving is on dirt roads that get mighty wash boarded from the logging trucks and RV's. Once again 4 wheel drive is a must or you just beat yourself up. Typical speed on most of the dirt roads is 45-55 mph.
You can drive in 4 wheel drive as fast as the conditions allow. There is no mechanical related top speed for using 4 wheel drive.
In the summer months we only have 3 paved roads in our county which is larger than the state of Connecticut. A lot of my driving is on dirt roads that get mighty wash boarded from the logging trucks and RV's. Once again 4 wheel drive is a must or you just beat yourself up. Typical speed on most of the dirt roads is 45-55 mph.
You can drive in 4 wheel drive as fast as the conditions allow. There is no mechanical related top speed for using 4 wheel drive.
Hell here two years ago we had a guy get decapitated because he was in 4x4 doing 60 in 4x4, came upon a slight corner and started to turn and he headed right across the center median. Semi coming the other way was all the way off the shoulder trying to avoid it and nearly flipped, when the toyota truck hit him. The crash broke the toyota bed mounts and the guy driver was instantly killed.
So just my humble advice from working EMS/fire, I don't like seeing dead people so take it easy even with 4x4.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 2
From: Wyoming
That is the issue is conditions allow. Just because you can go that fast doesn't mean you should. In my county every year we get tons of wrecks about 15-20 simply because people from out of state think they have 4x4 and they can go as fast as they want to. Jeeps, Subarus, and jacked up trucks are nearly always in the ditch. Little cars are very rarely in the ditch unless one of these hits them.
Hell here two years ago we had a guy get decapitated because he was in 4x4 doing 60 in 4x4, came upon a slight corner and started to turn and he headed right across the center median. Semi coming the other way was all the way off the shoulder trying to avoid it and nearly flipped, when the toyota truck hit him. The crash broke the toyota bed mounts and the guy driver was instantly killed.
So just my humble advice from working EMS/fire, I don't like seeing dead people so take it easy even with 4x4.
Hell here two years ago we had a guy get decapitated because he was in 4x4 doing 60 in 4x4, came upon a slight corner and started to turn and he headed right across the center median. Semi coming the other way was all the way off the shoulder trying to avoid it and nearly flipped, when the toyota truck hit him. The crash broke the toyota bed mounts and the guy driver was instantly killed.
So just my humble advice from working EMS/fire, I don't like seeing dead people so take it easy even with 4x4.
All it takes is just one time... Just once, even after 100,000 times of nothing happening!
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,244
Likes: 40
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
I second this! I try to not get on anyone about their driving style or preferences! However in every single driver's safety course I have had to go through including EVOC, the saying is; do not out drive what the conditions and vehicle are capable of. Increase distances of stopping and following, and slow down, plan more time for travel.
All it takes is just one time... Just once, even after 100,000 times of nothing happening!
All it takes is just one time... Just once, even after 100,000 times of nothing happening!
I know that driving in a straight line is easier in 4X4 than it is to try to make a hard to the lock turn. using a restaurants drive through is almost impossible in 4x4 because of the hard u turn that most of them have. it scared the crap outta me the first time it happened. it tends to bind up if youre stopped then try to make that hard of a turn. I also read in the manual about max speed in 4x4 dont remember the number though.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 1
From: Maysville, Kentucky
Had it in 4wd when it was snowing one night. Pulled in to get diesel and had forgotten what I had done and the awning covers the front of the building to the pumps.
It will scare the crap out of you.
It will scare the crap out of you.