4x4 hi safe max speed

[JGrefenstette]

i was just wondering with the winter months here, if there is snow or ice on the road and i need to use 4hi, what speed is safe to run in 4x4?

 

[TBartlett1]

As long as the road is covered no limit on the vehicle, let common sense be your guide. I've run 70+ on interstates.

tim

 

[JGrefenstette]

70mph in 4x4hi??? i guess that answers my question then.

 

[tgordon]

Just don't be an idiot like the soccer moms. 4X4 only helps you speed up faster and steer better. But it will be worse for stopping.

 

[OKish]

wait... . did you say 4wd is worse for stopping???? I have never heard of this. I have always had better stopping power in 4wd, prevents the rear from locking up on you.

 

["Mad Max"]

It's the front locking up thats the problem. Being in 4wd will not make up for covered roads. The only way I have ever seen benefits by being in 4wd is by using the gears to slow down... and the brakes to stop.

- M2

 

[PToombs]

Go fast straight, slow down for curves and stops. Don't slow down fast! Let off quick and the front wheels slide, around she comes!

I learned this the hard way! (i learn most things the hard way!)

 

[JGrefenstette]

great, thanks yall this is exactly what i wanted to know.

 

[DodgeWarlock]

Remember that your diffs are locked together. If you drive aggressively in the turns it will slide around a lot on ice like a locked differential. At slower speeds it's less noticeable, but if you push it makes things worse. That was the beauty of the full time transfer cases in bad weather. They handled better in wet or icy conditions, then when you hit mud and heavy snow you just locked it up. Too bad they could not just allow you to shift out front and lock in rear(or vice versa) for 2wd.

 

[JGrefenstette]

yea that makes sense.



i have a totaly stupid question, but in the case of an emergencey, i was wondering, say for some reason possibly you had a rear u-joint seeze up or something, and you had just enough tools to remove the rear drive shaft, but you didnt have a new u-joint, could you (with the rear shaft out) put the truck in 4x4 and use it like a front wheel drive to get to the next rest area? just a thought... highly unlikely i know

 

[ColemanR]

I drove my jeep 120 miles on the frontend only(broke the spider gears on the Rubicon#@$%!) drives a little odd but not bad. Randy

 

[chunter]

I did not think it was a stupid question and yes I have done that with my 92 W250 and my 44 Willys MB.

 

[DodgeWarlock]

Works fine as long as you don't have a locked front end. That's the way my crewcab is getting around right now. It will handle differently in the corner, but it is driveable and will not hurt anything. Just remember that if you have a newer model without a fixed transfer case yoke, that they will leak without the shaft. If you have a 2-piece shaft, just leave the front section.

 

[JGrefenstette]

well thats very interesting. and how do you know if you have a locked front end? is the Dana 60 a locked front end?

very good to know, thanks guys

 

[DodgeWarlock]

If you haven't installed any kind of locker, then you should have an open front end. To check a differential simply jack up the front end and with the transfer case in neutral spin a tire by hand. The other tire will spin the opposite direction if it's open. Remember to lock in your hubs or axle disconnect. If you don't this won't work.

 

[Bob4x4]

yea that makes sense.



i have a totaly stupid question, but in the case of an emergencey, i was wondering, say for some reason possibly you had a rear u-joint seeze up or something, and you had just enough tools to remove the rear drive shaft, but you didnt have a new u-joint, could you (with the rear shaft out) put the truck in 4x4 and use it like a front wheel drive to get to the next rest area? just a thought... highly unlikely i know

With a slip yoke on the rear transfercase output you will need to make some type of cap to contain the transfer case lube or you will be creating another situation.



Bob

 

[JGrefenstette]

with an extended cab which has the carrier bearing, that should keep the shaft in the case i would assume, i cant see why not. but what you said sounds right for a regular cab.