I recently bought a 1996 F150 XLT, both wheels have a dial that you can turn from "free" to "lock" it also has a stick shift type thing on the floor that says 2H, 4H, Neutral(push down), and 4L... as my truck did not come with a manual I am not entirely sure how to use the 4 wheel drive. I plan to take it up to the snow this winter so any tips and advice would be great. Thanks!

 

So even though a 4X4 light appears on the dashboard when I put the stickshift into 4L with the hubs in the free position I am not really in 4 wheel drive?

 

yes, the hubs haves to be locked in to be in four wheel drive, btw 4 lo needs to be used for tourqe or pulling and not just driving. if you are just driving on traails it needs to be in 4 hi..

 

true, i usually only engage it on a as needed basis, like if on a trail keep the hubs locked and keep it in 2hi and if you need 4x4 then shift to 4hi or lo..........If you keep it in 4x all the time it does cause binding and could damage the transfer case.......

 

Just curious, is there anything wrong with using 4low in drive? Letting it shift when it wants to?

 

nothing wrong with using 4low as long as you are on a slippery surface where the tires can spin without binding. you just won't be able to go very fast because your engine will be spinning at a higher rpm.

 

I'll add that it is common for people in the snowbelt to lock the hubs when the sky dandruff begins to fly and just leave them that way the whole winter. You can then shift into and out of 4hi at will and even while moving.. as long as all wheels are spinning at the same speed.
There are 2 rules you absolutely must follow or driveline damage will occur.
1) You cannot use 4wd on clear pavement or very hard packed surfaces unless moving is a straight line only. So no driving around town in 4wd, but you can pull somebody out of a ditch.
2) Vehicle must be stopped and trans in neutral to engage or disengage 4low.

There should be a quick 4x4 guide/caution on the back of the drivers sun visor and there will be more info in the owners manual.

 

The dial things on the wheel are your manual locking hubs....

They lock the wheel to the axle....

The stick inside the truck, controls the transfercase:
2hi your in 2wd, meaning the transfer case is only powering the rear driveshaft and nothing else.

4hi, the transfer case is powering the rear drive shaft as well as the front one

neutral, the transfer case is not powering either drive shaft.

4lo, the transfer case is powering both driveshaft, but the power is coming from the transmission is gear reduced, so you get more pulling power to the ground, but you lose lots of wheel speed.


For the 4wd system to all work to gether the transfer case needs to be in 4wd, which turns both driveshaft and the driveshafts turn the axles, and the hubs need to be lock, which lock the axles to the wheels...

To access 4lo. you need to be completely stopped. have the truck in neutral, its sometimes easier if you shut the truck off as well, but still leave it in neutral...

As stated in winter months its quite popular thing to do, just lock the hubs into the locked position, which engages the axles... But leave the truck in 2hi.
When you need 4hi, you can just shift right into it and you dont have to worry about the hubs, you can do this at any reasonable speed as long as the wheels are moving the same speed.

4wd on dry pavement is going to add lots of wear to your 4wd system which will likely cause it to fail, right when you need it most....


Best of luck to you!!!!
Have fun with your new 4x4....
Also there should be a section in the owners manual that goes over the 4wd system...