Its that time of the year up here were 4x4 trucks come in real handy. I've been meaning to ask this question for a while now.

Is it ok to leave the truck in 4hi for extended periods of time? The roads up here were realy bad today(they weren't plowed when I was driving) and we got about 5" in 8 hours or so. When the roads are horrible like that I usualy put it in 4hi and just drive as I would in 2wd. This is mixed with stop & go traffic, highway speeds at 35-40mph and turning down streets and whatnot, basically everyday driving as you would in 2wd.

This isn't going to cause damage to the T-Case is it?

I'm aware about the turning situation, I avoid U-turns or realy cranking the wheels when 4x4 is engaged. I guess it puts a real bind on components, atleast when on dry surfaces anyway.

 

Take it out of 4 wheel drive when you are on dry asphalt or cement. Only use it when you have a situation where the tires can spin a little if they need to.

 

Yea, in my case I needed it for my whole drive home(about 14 miles). There was so much slush and snow on the road if it wasen't in 4x4 I would of been in a ditch like every other car in front of me.

I hate trying to leave a stop light or turn a corner and spinning out. There is no weight at all in the rear of these trucks. Only a thin sheet metal box, some rubber and a rear axel.

Is it ok to being driving down the road, put the truck in neutral and put it back in 2wd if need be? I do not have a electronically controlled shifter, it is the manual one which I perfer.

 

you should be able to swith from 2hi to 4hi with out stopping or shifting to neutral...sometimes you might have to give it a bit of gas and let off or burb the throttle if the roads are kinda dry..other then that you should have no issues.. shifting from 4hi to 4low or back and you will need to stop to shift.

as far as driving for long periods of time if 4wd that aslso should not be an issue..just keep your dive shafts and axle joints lubed (if you have xerk fittings) and all should be well..

 

It is no problem running in 4 wheel drive mode for extended lengths of time. Even on mixed wet and dry pavement in mostly straight line driving as longs as the tires are worn evenly. If not you will start to scuff the tires and they will wear much faster.

It is hard on the drive train if it is dry and you make a slow tight turn but other then that it is safer to use it wheb you need it (like on slush, snow and ice) and if it does wear something out sooner it is just the price you pay to be safe.

 

I've ran 4x4 for 6,000 miles at a stretch!

 

Running in 4wd when its necessary won't hurt a thing. I just ran 125 miles in 4wd last weekend.

 

Oh yea they are worn evenly, evenly bald. Im in need for a new set. Just got to save up a little so I don't charge it to a account.

But thanks for all the replies fellas, I appreciate it. Yea im not to worried about stressing out other components, they will bust eventually. Especially with the lift and extra sized tires. I just like that piece of mind having it in 4wd, keeps me outta the ditch.

Now oin 4hi, only 1 front wheel and 1 rear wheel are turning right? 4lo all 4 tires are moving at the same time(she's real torquey in 4lo)?

 

In 4wd,unless you have locking diffs you have one tire on each axle with traction. With locking diffs (limited slip to a point) you have both tires with traction. If you have both front and rear diffs with a locker,you have true 4wd.

4hi means the front driveshaft is supplying power to front diff. 4lo means the gearing in the transfer case has changed to a lower gear,thus the feeling of more power. Which tires have traction has nothing to do with 4hi or 4lo. Its all about the type of diffs you have.

 

i have a manual 4wd to you said you can shift while on the go but to shift back i have to completly stop and put transmisson in nuetral? sorry just wondering ive been just shifting on the fly to 4 hi or back to 2wd

 

camperandy is correct. in the summer, i'll put the truck in four wheel drive and take a 5-6 mile drive down the road-just to lube things up. (i have locking hubs)

 

Do just what your doin....it's fine...no need to stop....

 

That has to be a record! Dry road running too?

 

You do not need to stop or shift into neutral to go from 2hi to 4hi or back (as long as you are below 50mph). I usually let off the throttle as I am shifting in and out of 4hi. Seems to make switch easier that way.

You do need to stop and put it in neutral to switch from 4hi/2hi into 4lo.

 

Once I had to drive from SD to CO in a wicked snowstorm. 750 miles of 4wd and 30-50 mph the entire way. Could have taken it out of 4wd for the dry spots but I would have been shifting every five miles or so. I'd leave it in 4wd as long as your not driving long DRY curvy distances in between snotty spots.

Had to make the trip in two days the highway patrol shut down the interstate, that was one wicked storm.