Driving in 4WD High

[farmboy12]

Yeah, I remember that one. We're in Brandywine, only got 1-1/2" at best. Sorry for hi-jacking the thread!


Kyle

 

[Builder]

How fast (with duration) is it acceptable to drive in 4wd high while driving?

I catch myself going 55-60 sometimes on partially snow covered roads for many miles at a time.

I do not want to hurt the truck, and wanted some guidance.

TIA

Yooper Dave

YooperDave,

hey, Builder here. You won't hurt anything. I drove thousands of times at that speed between snowplowing locations 50-60 MPH. Most of the time I would just kick the 4x4 lever up to 4x2, but when the plowing got real frantic, I'd forget.

No harm was ever caused.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I agree with the others. I believe you have a 08 F-150 and the manual states 55 as a max so you are right in the ball park on your speed. I have had my 07 F-150 in 4 wheel high about 80% of the time for the last month and a half due to our snow.

Chris

 

[Kubota_Guy48]

50-60 should not hurt your truck like others said dont run 4wd on dry roads its pointless and hurts fuel mileage.

 

[schmism]

i run my toyota in 4 high up to 65mph on long duration no issues for years.

all the new trucks with no manual hubs, all those front end components spin that fast anyway.

 

[NIXON]

It seems to Me that if You are able to drive at 50-60 Mph ,then You really don't need to be using 4wd . If it's so bad that You do need it ,then why all the speed ? I'd be more concerned over stopping distances . JMHO

 

[yooperdave]

Hi Nixon,

I am on the back roads going to work 40+ miles away at 0500.

Not many cars on the road at that time, but I want to be safer when the roads are snow covered and/or icy - so I leave my Camry home and fire up the 4wd truck.

Yooper Dave

 

[atgreene]

The 4 wd does nothing to help you stoping or controling the vehicle. If you allow the rear drive to hold you back when you let off the throttle, you have less of a risk of the rear coming around.

I go to a pile of motor vehicle accidents every winter and hear the same thing over and over again "But I had it in 4 wheel drive, I don't know what happened".

I plow 150 miles each storm, both of my trucks we only use the 4 wd to get out of trouble.

Kick it into 2 wd once you get moving, no point in wearing parts that aren't needed.

 

[WH401]

The 4 wd does nothing to help you stoping or controling the vehicle.

If that's so then what's the point of a manufacturer even offering it in their vehicle? In 4wd the front wheels turn slightly faster than the rears which help to pull you along, in any kind of slippery situation this makes a big difference in your ability to control the vehicle.

 

[atgreene]

If that's so then what's the point of a manufacturer even offering it in their vehicle? In 4wd the front wheels turn slightly faster than the rears which help to pull you along, in any kind of slippery situation this makes a big difference in your ability to control the vehicle.

Try it sometime. Let me know how it works out for you. When you let off and the front is holding back more than the rear, that rear end is coming around. Been there, done that, see it on a regular bassis. If you're driving along, why do you need it anyway? What is it helping?

I drive in snow and ice for a living, 4 wd gets a vehicle in more trouble that not. Unless you know what it will do and have tested it out in different settings, run it in 2 wd. It is not safer driving in 4 wd. I can show you hundreds of accidents caused by doing so where the driver didn't realize that the handling characteristics change dramatically in 4 wd.

But hey, if it makes you feel better, go ahead and run it. Just be prepared.