does flat ground damage 4x4?
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Colorado
does flat ground damage 4x4?
I've heard that runnin four by on flat ground can damge the drive train. If its used on the highway in hi of course for stability on ice will it damage it? Like I have to commute about fourty minutes to work...if I have it locked in...what kind of trouble could I be in?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Stephensville WI
No, flat ground does not damage your truck when in 4 wheel drive.
Dry pavement will damage the drive train. When in 4 wheel drive you need to be on a loose surface.
What I do (since I have a manual system) is lock my hubs, but only engage the transfer case into 4H when needed. That doesn't hurt anything.
Dry pavement will damage the drive train. When in 4 wheel drive you need to be on a loose surface.
What I do (since I have a manual system) is lock my hubs, but only engage the transfer case into 4H when needed. That doesn't hurt anything.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
Otherwise, us in Florida would have all kinds of 4wd issues.
The problem comes into as individual tire velocities. The diameter of each tire isn't exactly the same, so each tire travels a different distance per revolution. The driveline will try to spin all of the powered tires at the same velocity. Something has to give, either traction or the driveline. Then when you turn, all four tires travel at different speeds, something has to give again, either traction or driveline.
The problem comes into as individual tire velocities. The diameter of each tire isn't exactly the same, so each tire travels a different distance per revolution. The driveline will try to spin all of the powered tires at the same velocity. Something has to give, either traction or the driveline. Then when you turn, all four tires travel at different speeds, something has to give again, either traction or driveline.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
Driving on a flat, slippery surface won't hurt a thing. BUT if the ice isn't covering the entire road the driveline will bind whenever your front wheels aren't perfectly straight.
So unless the roads are completely covered it should stay in 2WD.
So unless the roads are completely covered it should stay in 2WD.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 287
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From: Calgary Alberta Canada
In reality, it takes a lot to damage a 4x4 system from driving on flat ground. (not that I recommend it)
I lock the hubs in when I even suspect the road may be slippery, and put the transfer case in 4h when necessary.
Many times the hubs are locked for months at a time.
Last friday I 4x4 to get my trailer pulled out of the snow, at lunch.
At 5:00 I left for home, (still in 4h) and drove 50 miles on dry roads, before turning a corner and feeling the tires slip.
No harm done though. It wasn't the first time I've done it. Won't be the last.
I lock the hubs in when I even suspect the road may be slippery, and put the transfer case in 4h when necessary.
Many times the hubs are locked for months at a time.
Last friday I 4x4 to get my trailer pulled out of the snow, at lunch.
At 5:00 I left for home, (still in 4h) and drove 50 miles on dry roads, before turning a corner and feeling the tires slip.
No harm done though. It wasn't the first time I've done it. Won't be the last.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Parker, CO
Not sure how many thousands of miles I've put on my truck driving in 4wd.
People drag race these trucks in 4wd.
Driving around in 4wd because of weather conditions is fine. It's not going to hurt anything.
Sit around a dry pavement parking lot doing sharp cornering and figure 8's while the truck is in 4wd, yeah something's going to get worn out sooner.
Jsparrow, don't worry about it. If you feel more comfortable driving to work in 4wd when the snow is on the ground, then by all means do it. No harm is going to come from it. Every time it snows and I have to drive my truck, I put it in 4wd.
People drag race these trucks in 4wd.
Driving around in 4wd because of weather conditions is fine. It's not going to hurt anything.
Sit around a dry pavement parking lot doing sharp cornering and figure 8's while the truck is in 4wd, yeah something's going to get worn out sooner.
Jsparrow, don't worry about it. If you feel more comfortable driving to work in 4wd when the snow is on the ground, then by all means do it. No harm is going to come from it. Every time it snows and I have to drive my truck, I put it in 4wd.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Eastern CT.
I, 2nd what Pocket says,,,Been plowing for many years,,,Hubs locked in for 2-3 months sometimes,,with a 9' Fisher hanging on the front end,,,,I can turn the steering wheel about 1/2 a turn,,on my 06' F-350,, before I feel it starting to bind in 4x4,,and many times driving to and from my plowing sites in 4x4, drive upon just wet roads,, without any issues,,,yeah if it seems clear for a while I push the shifter back to 2wd,,,as long as your going relatively straight,,and your tires are all the same size,,all is Good!
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,339
Likes: 350
From: Breckenridge, TX
You have a lot more room for error than most people seem to think, I think that even going 55 and changing lanes isn't enough to do any damage. The D60 and 10.5" axles aren't small, in a normal turn I'd bet that a stock tire will loose traction on dry pavement before anything mechanical breaks. At least the first few times, I wouldn't recommend doing it often.
Bleed Ford Blue
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,578
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From: Anchorage Alaska
my hubs have been locked since october '09 right now lol just recently when it warmed up to above freezing temps have i even switched it into 2wd since then. right now we have melting conditions where the roads are mostly wet pavment but with patches of ice. i have seen to many wrecks happen when people loose control in that one patch of ice. because of this i say better safe then sorry and i leave my truck locked in 4x4 unless i'm making tight turns on dry pavment..like in parking lots..ect otherwise i keep it in even when i could prolly get by with 2wd. no issues with any of my trucks running them like this. this includes making turns on city streets on went pavment in 4x4 and unless its very sharp theres no real binding..you can easily feel it binding and thats when its time to put it in 2wd..also no issues 80mph plus in 4x4.
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