Had to use 4x4 yesterday/truck is awesome

[DPKetchum]

Got invited to visit my brother in his new cabin. Said he would meet us at base of mountain. Well his cabin was 3. 5 miles of almost straight up,hairpin TIGHT curves etc. Had to finally use 4x4 but in HIGH. Truck would pull slow speeds on heavy gravel/wet red clay combo in 3RD gear with NO problem And in FIRST gear would creep/jerk(posi and front diff grabbing)just off idle with out lugging. 4x4 low range must be awesome but saw NO reason for it. Brother was on a 4 wheel that spun and truck never did. Some turns were so tight had to roll back some and manenver to stay out of ditch and up couldnt see anything but sky and tree limbs for a few seconds. It just chugged along amazinig how much TORQUE it had. Seems like low range would never be needed. Curious to how much torque truck could put out in LOW range.

 

[ttreibel]

I found that slipping back into 2WD is the best thing to do when you get to the end of the road and need to turn around.

I then drop it back into 4WD and go home. The low range is great you can creep at idle in almost any gear on the flats. I use 1 low when I want to creep up or down the steeps hardly touch the go peddle in low range I usually want to move real slow at that point.

 

[goodwid]

I have to use 4x4 almost everyday when it is wet. I work as a Oil & Gas Field Operations Technologist for a large Co. in Alberta.



Last month I had the opportunity to pull out a fellow operator (Ford 150 4x3) Anyway, he was stuck up to his axles in muck, I was on soft ground in 4wd Low. I did not even touch the peddle, just let out the clutch slowly and i just let the truck do its thing... sucked the ol'Ford right out of the muck.



After that was said and done I cut a path for him the rest of the way in so he would know where not to drive!



With that being said, I got the front end stuck the second day I had her. And the Ford came to my rescue, I probably would have got out on my own, but I only had 200 miles on her and I didn't want to abuse her when she wasn't even broken in yet! Thats my story anyway.

 

[navyramman]

I use my 4 WD allmost everyday. I back out of my driveway and turn around on a hill. lock it in just so I don't spinn the wheels on the rocks.

I used 4x4 low to pull down a shead I was tearing down. works great.

Greg

 

[JWerkheiser]

4x4 works great but when in sand (on the beach) it really started jumping. I couldn't hardly get out of there. I was afraid of blowing the rear end and/or driveshaft. Finally I just put it in 3rd 4x4 low, stomped it and got free. I was running the deep sand in 6th 4x4 low, and the engine was holding RPMs. What a torque monster! Still embarrassed by the difficulty getting out of the surf though. Lots of eyes on me. Maybe more weight in back? I don't know. I'd like to go out there again but don't want to get stuck.

 

[y-knot]

If you guys use your 4x4 so much, you should consider the 2wlow kits, they are wonderfull, and allow you to go in and out of fwd with a flick. I can kick myself in the a** for not adding it sooner.

 

[LightmanE300]

Generally you need to air down your tires considerably for sand, and not spin the tires. I see guys all the time with high air pressure getting stuck here at the beach launching jetskis etc. .

 

[goodwid]

hop

I have found that adding weight over your rear axles makes a huge difference!



My '02 Gasser did it but my current ride is way worse with no load on it.



"you should consider the 2wlow kits" what are these? I already have an electronic transfer case, how much easier can it get!

 

[ttreibel]

LightmanE300

Generally you need to air down your tires considerably for sand, and not spin the tires.





You aren't kidding I got my old 1990 F-250 stuck real bad near Warrenton, Oregon on the beach, an old timer came up and said let all the air out till the tires balloon out and then he pulled me with his Dodge 4x4 needless to say it worked and I drove 10 miles down the beach to a better exit with firmer sand near Gearhart.



The problem was finding a gas station that had strong enough air to re-inflate my truck tires to 80 PSI.

 

[MOConnor]

4x4

I fish from the beach so I use my 4wd a lot I air down to 17psi and use 4hi when not towing the trailer,when I take the trailer out on the beach for camping I use 4low and 17 psi in the trailer tires and I have no problems.

 

[JLockhart]

Originally posted by JWerkheiser

4x4 works great but when in sand (on the beach) it really started jumping. I couldn't hardly get out of there. I was afraid of blowing the rear end and/or driveshaft. Finally I just put it in 3rd 4x4 low, stomped it and got free. I was running the deep sand in 6th 4x4 low, and the engine was holding RPMs. What a torque monster! Still embarrassed by the difficulty getting out of the surf though. Lots of eyes on me. Maybe more weight in back? I don't know. I'd like to go out there again but don't want to get stuck.

You need to air down in the sand. 20-25psi in your Load Range E tires will do the trick.

 

[Rosco]

Originally posted by JWerkheiser

4x4 works great but when in sand (on the beach) it really started jumping. I couldn't hardly get out of there. I was afraid of blowing the rear end and/or driveshaft. Finally I just put it in 3rd 4x4 low, stomped it and got free. I was running the deep sand in 6th 4x4 low, and the engine was holding RPMs. What a torque monster! Still embarrassed by the difficulty getting out of the surf though. Lots of eyes on me. Maybe more weight in back? I don't know. I'd like to go out there again but don't want to get stuck.

With our trucks you will benefit by adding some weight over the rear axle. The Cummins is so heavy that on the sand the front axle does most of the work by "pulling" the truck. A park ranger on the beach in Cape Cod said "shovel sand into the bed of the truck, when you get tired of shoveling you should be good to go".



Also, as the others have already said you need to air down.

 

[smithinc]

gotta air down, oasis off road makes some tire buddies that look like valve stems. you can set them to shut off at a certain air pressure. I typically go down to 15-20lbs in all tires. you will have a hard time getting stuck with low pressure in the tires. stay under 20 mph.



I have been driving on the beaches of the east coast for about 15 years and have never gotten stuck, but then again I always let the air out. One time I pulled a grand marquis off the dune ramp, cant believe he made it about 300 yards in the sand with a 2 wd car that was dragging bottom the whole way

 

[JWerkheiser]

Thanks for the suggestions, I figured there was probably a secret to driving on the beaches that I as a midwesterner didn't know.



Now I can't wait to get back there and show off a little... .

 

[DF5152]

Re: 4x4

Originally posted by MOConnor

I fish from the beach so I use my 4wd a lot I air down to 17psi and use 4hi when not towing the trailer,when I take the trailer out on the beach for camping I use 4low and 17 psi in the trailer tires and I have no problems.

what beach do u hit?