Running in 4X4 ever?

[SGhost]

Last diesel truck I had was a 2X4 Excursion. The new truck is 4 wheel drive SUPA DUPA off-road beast, however, I've never even taken it out of two wheel since I've owned it. I understand when in 4 wheel (low) its not supposed to be on pavement but I'm curious, does anyone out there take their truck out periodically off road to exercise the drive train in 4 wheel (lock the hubs, etc.)? I'd hate to need it and not have it working properly. Especially once we get beyond warranty... YIKES!

[F4Gary]

My '14 Silverado 1500 4x4 has an auto setting that doesn't lock the front axle vs 4 Hi. I use it every time it rains around here as the roads get slippery and I have no additional weight in my bed.

[Dave Pelletier]

My F350 also uses the standard part time 4x4 system. In our climate, I often use 4wd in the winter when there is snow and ice on the road so it gets used enough. If I lived somewhere where there was no winter, I'd go on a dirt road and exercise the 4x4 system a couple times a year. Unless you have a full time 4wd system or AWD, you should NOT run it in 4x4 on pavement.

2 cents,
Dave

[8.3Oilbuner]

Hi SGohost; I am going to presume your truck has the electric shift transfer case. I have done this for years of all the 4X4 trucks I have owned. At least one a month you want to run the 4X4 system. On yours you can just lock the hubs in and drive for a couple of miles. You need to do this to lube the parts in the front differential. You have the ring gear that sits halfway out of the oil in the diff. Rust can form on the ring gear if it is not rotated time to time along with the pinion and bearings. If I am going in a straight line in the road from a stop I will shift into 4X4 and run the system until I hit my first turn and then shift back to 2 wheel drive. This hurts nothing. Been doing it for almost 40 years and never a failure or a problem with the 4X4 system. You just don't want to run the system for a long time on hard surfaces as this causes binding in the 4X4 system. So just turn the hubs in a drive for a while. get all that gear lube splashed around and your good to go. Later when you stop dis engage the hubs. Hope this answers your question.

[Skip426]

I've had , two tow vehicles , for four 5th wheels , both 4x4 .

Over the years I towed the trailers , a couple of times I needed low range 4 wheel drive IN AN RV PARK to maneuver into a site on grass in the rain , next day there were several knocks on the door to help others leaving the park .

Yes 4x4s cost more to purchase and maintain , but there are situations where nothing else will do ; even if you don't venture off road.

[runamuck]

I always get 4wd when truck buying. have done so for many years. I use auto when driving in the rain and since we ski every season I have used 4hi a lot. 4lo just a few times when pulling someone out or crawling around off road in dicey terrain. probably could get by without it but they come that way. having it probably makes it more desirable at trade time I dont know but I have not been upside down at trade time since the 70's

[carybosse]

Even if you don't really need it, putting vehicle in 4WD mode occasionally is not a bad idea. Typically, 4WD High is pretty easy, but often 4WD Low requires a different procedure, read your owner's manual. I used to put my Wrangler in 4WD mode a few times a year even though I was rarely offroad. A good rain, a gravel road, anything that looked like a chance to use it.

[SGhost]

Thanks to all. Great information. My problem is I live in Florida and don't get "off road" that often so I'll need to look for a good dirt road to make sure I have the proper surface to test it out. Great to hear the specifics of the system from regular users. I'll read up and make sure I'm going through the proper procedures. I'm planning a trip up into the mountains in October so knowing it works and how to use it will be comforting.


Thanks again!

[deserteagle5]

If you have manual locking hubs then no need to put the rig in 4wd at all. Lock the hubs next time you go for a drive; that will cause all the front end components to turn and get things all lubed up. Won't hurt a thing - doesn't matter if you are on pavement or not because the transfer case is still in 2wd so front and rear drivelines are not physically connected. It DOES matter if you put it in 4wd (either high or low range) when on dry pavement - as others have said, that causes binding and a lot of stress on the drivetrain because then front and rear drivetrains are connected together.

[tuffr2]

In most 4x4 trucks when in 4x4 is engaged only 2 wheels will spin. One front and 1 rear. Unfortunately the wheels with the least traction. I have a 2WD with a locking rear differential so I also can have two wheels spinning. Both back wheels will spin on my truck.

But I have never engaged the locking rear differential - should I once in awhile?

[Tomahawk]

Like Oilburner I like to run mine every so often. I probably don't do it once a month more like every two. Any time I hit a dirt road I engage it, which is nearly every fishing trip. The gears and seals need to move and be lubed.
I don't think tuffr2 needs to lock his rear since it is always moving and getting lube.
My 2 cents.

[CamperLifer]

As long as you do not turn the front wheels, you can lock into 4 hi or 4 lo on dry asphalt or any surface.

[Fotoryder]

I wouldn't engage 4wd on any dry concrete/asphalt surface. You can still bind up the drive line because of differences in wheel/tire diameter. Even normal rain wet solid surfaces won't provide enough wheel slip to avoid binding the drive line. Save 4WD for gravel or dirt or mud surfaces.

[CamperLifer]

Huh ? Who has different size wheels and tires on 4wd vehicles nowadays ? It is absolutely fine to engage 4wd and drive straight on any surface for a block or a few hundred feet so to 'exercise' the system now and then. I do it at least once per month without any harm or any noise at all.