Can I use 4 low while the front hubs are free? I needed to back up on ice, and i forgot to lock the front hubs.

 

Nope, if the hubs arent engaged then everything moves freely. The hubs lock in the gears in your front end and allow it to move as one. If you dont lock in your hubs, then you are essentially in two wheel drive.

 

In the back the wheels were spinning until I put it in low. Then i was able to back up. I'm guessing my non limited slip rear axle spins until i put it in low. Just woundering if thats ok to do again? Make any sense?

 

Makes sense to me, I don't think it would hurt anything. Your just putting a super low gear to the rear

 

how does switching the transfer case into 4 low have any effect on the rearend?

 

In a 4x4, all power to the axles comes from the transfer case, does it not? Otherwise when you went to 4x4Lo the rear would be spinning so much faster than the front.

 

i thought since the rear driveshaft comes out of the tranny and the front shaft out of the trans case that all power does not come through the transfer case. thats why you can only drive so fast in 4 low.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_case

See how the T-case mounts to the tranny (top right drawing)
http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d800a47ec.gif

 

yeah,thinking about it. with the t case in nuetral the truck wont move at all. so that explains it.

 

I've engaged 4L while backing my trailer around on pavement, but I didn't engage the hubs. I do it that way it's alot easier on the clutch, you can just let it out and let the engine idle and slowly manuever the trailer, it's like super granny gear.

 

will it harm anything having it in 4low and hubs unlocked, so that you can have a low range 2wd basically

 

No it won't hurt anything to use 4 wheel low with the hubs UNlocked.