When to use 4WD and when not? Need to know..

[IdahoRanger]

I go by how the truck feels on a road like in your picture. I most likely would be in 2H in that picture. Like Duke said on side streets with lower speeds I usually am in 2H unless it is slippery and traction control wants to take over the vehicle. I have run HWY at 65mph in 4H when needed as the de-icer they use is sometimes more slippery than the snow.

Here is a video with me in 2H and at the stop sign when taking off you will hear traction control take over,

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[MXGOLF]

I just tested out my 4WD this morning with 3/4" of sleet. It's supposed to freezing rain later this afternoon. I went to the school and played around then to the golf course across from my house and played in there lot too! No one golfing today what's up with that. Man I really love this truck. I did use 4H and had absolutely no problems at all. If it's super icy I will just stay home. The stock Hankook's were pretty decent. I am not used to 4WD as my old taco was and is 2WD (I still own it), With that I had 4 studded snow tires and sand bags in the back and could go anywhere. That was my ski truck for 20 years. Did I say I really love my Ranger!!!!

 

[RaiderRanger13]

If the back end slips a little and your butt puckers up, put it in 4WD. If the back end slips a little and you think it was kind of fun, counter steer and give it a little more gas!

Use 4WD whenever it makes you more comfortable and driving safe. Only you can adequately judge the road conditions at the time, and they are constantly changing. When the Princess is in the truck, she wants it in “4 wheel go” if it just looks like it might rain!

Yes! ?? ??

 

[EJH]

If you haven't done so already the best thing you need to do is get a good set of tires. Also to sandbags in the bed of the truck will help him a lot. Do that and that'll make a huge difference as for the picture you have listed for the road I would stay in two wheel drive for that. Only time I would worry about four wheel drive as if the road is so slick and completely covered in snow and ice and going slow speed if you have to be at 4 wheel drive and high speed you need to slow down.

What Frenchy said.

In the OP's picture, I'd have no issue using 4WD once I started to feel a little slip in the rear. However, with my tires (Nokian Hakkas), I would not need 4WD on that road. YMMV based on your tire's grip.

IMHO, 4WD is fine anytime on dirt or a fully snow/ice covered road. On roads like that picture, I wait until I feel a little slip or loss of traction before using 4WD. At that point, no issue since I know the tires have enough slippage to not bind the 4WD up.

Also agree with @AzScorpion that is is a good idea to exercise 4WD every so often. If you don't drive on snow or dirt semi-regularly, using 4WD for a short while on a straight road seems like a good idea. I am also of the mindset that mechanical systems need to be regularly used to work optimal.

 

[9zero1790]

Hey guys. As this is my first truck, I have some questions regarding 4WD usage so that I do not hurt the vehicle. Its a '22 Ranger XLT sport 4WD.

I frequently have to use 4WD for 20 foot sections at a time such as a steep driveway with some slippery leaves on it. At these times, I dont steer (as much as possible) and return to 2WD asap.

However, it was snowy this morning and I needed to use 4WD (since 2H was slipping) to go up a slight incline and turn hard to the right. I put it back in regular 2WD as soon as I could since I obviously didn't want to harm anything.

What about roads like this? If you have 4WD on, is it ok to make turns? I think the front diff is open, so I dont see how it would harm anything.

just by looking at the picture i would say 4wd high is fine. looks like enough slip would happen not to hurt things. i would slow down though. 40 on wintery road seems fast to me. ( ive never seen much snow in my life lol). a way to think of it is if you are walking or running on the surface you intended to drive on and you risk a chance of slipping down or fallin on your face then 4wd is fine in high range. if you can dance with confidence on the surface not having any worry of slipping or falling then no 4wd. kinda like sex, when things glide smoothly good to go. if things dry out to much no fun for anyone lol. gradual turns in 4wd are not a problem. tight turns are where you want to be careful. if you are using the differential lockers turning needs to be careful and you must be on a surface that allows some slip of the tires. in 4wd low you will need to be easier in turns as well.

 

[Justin says...]

Thanks for all the input. In the mountains where I live, we don't get much snow, but, it doesn't take much sleet/ice/dusting of snow to make a road difficult. In the picture, I was in 2H and the truck never slid around. At home, I have a steep driveway where I did have to use 4H when 2H was stuck.

I guess my main concern was about turning and the consensus seems to be as long as the front wheels can slip some, 4H is ok.

Home, 6:44am

 

[RedDakooter05]

I usually engage it if I cannot gain speed or am losing speed due to snow.

That said we don't get much snow in this part of illinois so I have a 2wd ranger with the diff locker.

 

[Azhang253]

In my jeeps, I prefer to put a couple hundred lbs in the back and I usually will have no issues is 2WD around town (I use Firestone winter force UV2 tires). However on slippery slushy highways l will generally use 4 high. Here, the truckers and many other driver will still go 65-70mpg pretty much regardless of weather, and going slower feels very dangerous with everyone swerving around to pass you.

 

[NoTacos]

I don’t think it would hurt in 4Hi either on what the OP showed. I grew up in the interior in British Columbia so I’ve had my share of snow but it’s predictable up north. Down in the lower mainland of BC it is a bit different. With the weird Arctic front we have right now and the winds you move from snow covered to what looks like dry conditions down various sections of road quite quickly - at least in the valley here. I just kept it in 4Hi anyways for the majority of the roads cause it kept changing. I have also experience when it looks dry, but cold and windy with good amount of humidity it can still be slippery.

 

[CB750F]

Since I live in the GWN, that road, I would do with all season & not be worried.
But tha't me, in Qc. In 4WD if it's slippery, like others said, you can turn.
I went from ice to dry pavemnt on a turn & now I know what not to do & how it feels/sounds(yuk!).
@MXGOLF , I also thought the Hankooks were ok, but after 20k miles, they are shit. Start looking
for dedicated winter rims/tires, night & day.
I like AZ, put in 4WD when I can(which is not often) to 'lubricate' things, can't hurt.
Just go out & play, best thing to do.

 

[gtyates]

Hey guys. As this is my first truck, I have some questions regarding 4WD usage so that I do not hurt the vehicle. Its a '22 Ranger XLT sport 4WD.

I frequently have to use 4WD for 20 foot sections at a time such as a steep driveway with some slippery leaves on it. At these times, I dont steer (as much as possible) and return to 2WD asap.

However, it was snowy this morning and I needed to use 4WD (since 2H was slipping) to go up a slight incline and turn hard to the right. I put it back in regular 2WD as soon as I could since I obviously didn't want to harm anything.

What about roads like this? If you have 4WD on, is it ok to make turns? I think the front diff is open, so I dont see how it would harm anything.

I see you are in NC. I am in TN, so we have similar winter weather. The issue for us is that often as the snow is occurring the temp is dropping fast, so what looks like a wet road under the snow is actually ice. For me, if I begin to feel some slippage then I hit the magic 4x4 button. Just today I used mine for the first time since I bought the truck in March of this year. I used 4x4 low to get down my very steep driveway, then 4x4 high to get out of my neighborhood. Once I got to some main roads I turrned it off for a few miles, but then hit a surprise stretch of icy road that did cause some slip, so 4x4 high was back on. I only needed it for about a 6 mile or so stretch, but it was nice to have. Ironically, one stretch of the road is a nice "S" curve, and as I was clearing the curve I passed a flatbed towtruck that had just pulled a jacked up Chevy 4x4 truck out of a ditch. Point is, 4x4 will definintely help you get where you are going, but it can't fix careless driving...

 

[JustinR]

I've been spoiled by the AWD in my Patriot and MKX - they both kind of take care of themselves, and do pretty well with it in snow. This is my first manual 4WD since my old Wrangler, and I didn't care if that bound in turns or not. I do care about the Ranger, so I decided that it can stay home if it's snowy this year. I've only had it for three months; I don't need to get it coated in salt its first winter. So, I will reserve judgement on its 4WD system until next summer, at the earliest, if it goes off-roading.
But to answer the original question, my opinion there is that on that road I concur 2WD is probably fine, but 4WD HI is OK if you are slipping.

 

[Dereku]

I've been spoiled by the AWD in my Patriot and MKX - they both kind of take care of themselves, and do pretty well with it in snow. This is my first manual 4WD since my old Wrangler, and I didn't care if that bound in turns or not. I do care about the Ranger, so I decided that it can stay home if it's snowy this year. I've only had it for three months; I don't need to get it coated in salt its first winter. So, I will reserve judgement on its 4WD system until next summer, at the earliest, if it goes off-roading.
But to answer the original question, my opinion there is that on that road I concur 2WD is probably fine, but 4WD HI is OK if you are slipping.

Find a sweet car wash for the winter with a monthly unlimited plan. Mine hits the wash daily now that I moved back north. $30 a month well spent.

 

[HenryMac]

Hey guys. As this is my first truck, I have some questions regarding 4WD usage so that I do not hurt the vehicle. Its a '22 Ranger XLT sport 4WD.

I frequently have to use 4WD for 20 foot sections at a time such as a steep driveway with some slippery leaves on it. At these times, I dont steer (as much as possible) and return to 2WD asap.

However, it was snowy this morning and I needed to use 4WD (since 2H was slipping) to go up a slight incline and turn hard to the right. I put it back in regular 2WD as soon as I could since I obviously didn't want to harm anything.

What about roads like this? If you have 4WD on, is it ok to make turns? I think the front diff is open, so I dont see how it would harm anything.

When in doubt, use it, that's what it is there for.

I've driven mid size 4x4's since 1992. I remember having the same questions as you are asking.

If the road has slick spots and dry spots, I don't hesitate to use 4 high. Now if I'm in 4 high and come to a curve in the road and the road looks to be dry I'll disengage the 4 high around the curve, then turn it back on if I see a slick spot.

Bottom line for me is my families personal safety is more important than wear and tear to the truck.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Hey guys. As this is my first truck, I have some questions regarding 4WD usage so that I do not hurt the vehicle. Its a '22 Ranger XLT sport 4WD.

I frequently have to use 4WD for 20 foot sections at a time such as a steep driveway with some slippery leaves on it. At these times, I dont steer (as much as possible) and return to 2WD asap.

However, it was snowy this morning and I needed to use 4WD (since 2H was slipping) to go up a slight incline and turn hard to the right. I put it back in regular 2WD as soon as I could since I obviously didn't want to harm anything.

What about roads like this? If you have 4WD on, is it ok to make turns? I think the front diff is open, so I dont see how it would harm anything.

Hi Justin,

Twenty eight posts on this. Wow! Simple determinator....When your A$$hole puckers...4WD...otherwise 2WD.

Best,
Phil

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