4x4 Driving advice
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,903
Likes: 2,372
Steering hard would be normal, you're setting up an awful gear bind so it wants to go straight.
Never use 4wd on dry surfaces and on semi slick conditions you still need to take it out if you're making tight turns unless you have to have it in to move. basically anytime you feel it binding or wanting to hop you need to pull it out. low range is the same just slower.
True 4wd has it's draw backs but it has advantages too.
Never use 4wd on dry surfaces and on semi slick conditions you still need to take it out if you're making tight turns unless you have to have it in to move. basically anytime you feel it binding or wanting to hop you need to pull it out. low range is the same just slower.
True 4wd has it's draw backs but it has advantages too.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 607
So when can you safely engage 4x4? Only when the road is slick with ice, deep snow or heavy rain? Is the differential locked permanently or can it be disengaged for smoother steering? Is the only difference between AWD and 4WD that in the latter the differential is locked? Not sure why I would want that unless I was driving over humongous boulders.
Snow covered, doesn't have to be deep
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 684
Likes: 84
From: Green Bay Wi
I have had nothing but trucks with part time 4wd going back to trucks from the 70s. My first truck was a 78 gmc. While I wouldn’t recommend running in 4wd on dry pavement, doing so won’t hurt it. If you can feel the drive train binding you shouldn’t be in 4wd. When driving on roads the have bare spots and slick stretches I just leave in in 4wd. I have yet to have to replace or even repair a transfer case. I did prefer have an actual lever to engage 4wd and manual hubs. But what we have now seems to work fine.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 172
Likes: 43
From: Reno, NV
Not to steal the thread, but I think the OP would appreciate this as well… As a newbie on the 4x4 wagon myself I would like to have a more expanded explanation about the manual front hubs lock. Is it more/better than just the 4x4? When do you use it? Alone or in conjunction with the 4x4?
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
Not to steal the thread, but I think the OP would appreciate this as well… As a newbie on the 4x4 wagon myself I would like to have a more expanded explanation about the manual front hubs lock. Is it more/better than just the 4x4? When do you use it? Alone or in conjunction with the 4x4?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,184
Likes: 8,058
From: Texas
Not to steal the thread, but I think the OP would appreciate this as well… As a newbie on the 4x4 wagon myself I would like to have a more expanded explanation about the manual front hubs lock. Is it more/better than just the 4x4? When do you use it? Alone or in conjunction with the 4x4?
Hope I made everything as clear as possible for you and didn’t confuse the hades from you!
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 2,970
Likes: 2,407
From: Ridgway, CO
My understanding is, the current vacuum system is very reliable in these trucks. I use 4wd a lot in the winter so we shall see. My last truck was manual hubs and a floor lever, I like that best... I do not see any advantage to locking the hubs manually as longs as the auto system is working. That said the "system" is composed of several parts, vac pump, elec solenoids, hoses any one of which could cause the hubs to not lock should they fail.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 172
Likes: 43
From: Reno, NV
The front hubs either engage the wheel to the axles, or dis-engage them. With them in the AUTO position, when you select 2H, they are dis-engaged……the wheel and the axle are not connected. When you switch to 4H a vacuum pulse makes them engage so the wheel and the axle are now connected, along with engaging the front driveshaft in the transfer case, so now you have all 4 wheels powered. With the hubs in the LOCK position, the wheels and the axle remain engaged regardless of the position of the 2H, 4H, and 4L selector. With this, yu can still leave the selecor in 2H for 2 wheel drive, but the front drive mechanism is turning all the time because it is still engaged to the wheels, 4H just engages to front driveshaft giving you 4WD, 4L gives you 4WD low range.
Hope I made everything as clear as possible for you and didn’t confuse the hades from you!
Hope I made everything as clear as possible for you and didn’t confuse the hades from you!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 329
From: Ontario
My understanding is, the current vacuum system is very reliable in these trucks. I use 4wd a lot in the winter so we shall see. My last truck was manual hubs and a floor lever, I like that best... I do not see any advantage to locking the hubs manually as longs as the auto system is working. That said the "system" is composed of several parts, vac pump, elec solenoids, hoses any one of which could cause the hubs to not lock should they fail.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,523
Likes: 483
From: Southern OH
The F150 has been using this vacuum system since at least 2004. That’s why I like to exercise the system a few times during the summer months. Just to make sure parts are moving properly when needed. I’ve never had a problem with the last two I’ve had other than having to replace a solenoid for the 4x4 switch in my 05.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,184
Likes: 8,058
From: Texas
Thanks! This is more or less what I thought, so from an operational standpoint a working 4H or a manual lock hub doesn’t really make any difference, right? it seems a little strange to have a redundant manual system just in case the automatic one doesn’t work, that’s not what you normally see…
Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 82
Likes: 1
Something to remember if you get stuck in 4wd because you drove on hard packed ground of any sort, stop leave it in 4 wd then backup about 15-20 feet then turn the **** back to 2h. Some 4wd systems wind up when they are driven on dry ground/pavement, or hard pack dry ground, you have to unwind them. Also when turning do not use a heavy foot on the gas, this will bind up the system also. 4 wheel drive systems even when they have the same ratio in both the front end and rear end the wheels do not turn at the same speed, due to tire size, which no two tires are the same outside size. Also turning and road conditions cause the front and rear ends/tires to rotate at different speeds, hence this allows the transfer case to wind up. This stops the transfer as to lock up and you cannot get it out of gear or shift it. Just backing it up for 15-20 feet will allow this to happen. I have seen a lot since I started driving a 1959 Ford f100 4x4 in 1970.
Smokeploe
Smokeploe
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,059
Likes: 426
From: Too close to Houston
We have simple u-joints on the ends of the front axle to allow steering, not the more complex CV (constant velocity) axle shafts as found on front wheel drive cars and AWD vehicles. This means that in a turn the front wheels are speeding up and slowing down relative to the front carrier speed during each revolution. It's very noticeable in our trucks with the traction provided by the heavy front ends unless you are on a seriously slippery surface.
I didn't notice it so much driving my '81 Bronco, but it is very pronounced with the SD.
I didn't notice it so much driving my '81 Bronco, but it is very pronounced with the SD.
Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 82
Likes: 1
We have simple u-joints on the ends of the front axle to allow steering, not the more complex CV (constant velocity) axle shafts as found on front wheel drive cars and AWD vehicles. This means that in a turn the front wheels are speeding up and slowing down relative to the front carrier speed during each revolution. It's very noticeable in our trucks with the traction provided by the heavy front ends unless you are on a seriously slippery surface.
I didn't notice it so much driving my '81 Bronco, but it is very pronounced with the SD.
I didn't notice it so much driving my '81 Bronco, but it is very pronounced with the SD.
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jkhaltom
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Feb 26, 2003 12:16 PM