johny1

I was in 2WD and got stuck in the snow. I first flipped the **** to 4x4 High and pressed the gas but only the rear tires are spinning. I then switched to 4x4 Low, felt the engagement but still only the rear tires were spinning. In both cases the light for 4x4 was coming on. Is this normal or NOT. Do my tires have to spin few full revolutions in order to engage the 4x4 or NOT? Thanks

abervintageman42

i think the front tires have to make a full rotation to lock into 4wd

dewman

I am not sure about the automatic 4x4. I have the manual hubs and the shift lever on the floor. I have not had a chance to try it yet, I just bought my truck in June, but I have been told that all I have to do is lock the hubs and shift into 4H and I am in 4 wheel drive. A guy I hunt with has a 99 F250 with the manual hubs and he got stuck in the sand in 2H and says all he did was lock the hubs and shift into 4H and he drove right out in 4x4.

johny1

My Ranger with locking hubs will engage right away too but I am not sure if the automatic one is the same. Thanks

johny1

I just took my F150 on dry pavement put it in 4x4 High and slowly made a very tight donut turn and I felt no pulling whatsoever – is it really in 4x4, should I feel a drag and pull/hop or not? I did the same in 4x4 Low with the same result. One dealer said I should feel the pull/drag and another one said I should not feel any difference. Thanks

dewman

My understanding is that on dry pavement you should feel pulling or hopping because the front wheels don't slip independent of each other in 4x4. That is why Ford does not recommend driving on dry pavement for any extended period while in 4x4. In snow/sand/mud the front wheels will spin in the snow/sand/mud and not cause this problem.

JTCNB

With my truck....as soon as I turn the **** to 4x4 H or L I hear the four wheel drive engaging. It does not need to move and inch and its in 4x4.

I can actually hear a sound....sounds similar to a shaft engaging or something sliding into place.

Snookin

I can also say my 99' does the same exact thing.

Maxk

The automatic hubs, do have to move some to engage,

mind you, some of what I know may be a hair off, I'm going off what I know from my 94 Bronco

The auto hubs have to move anywhere from a few inchs to a foot or two to engage, and the front wheels wheels pull, but act just like an open rear end, and should let the wheels spin freely when needed and turning, but won't always respond fast enough, so yes, you could feel a popping.

To unlock Auto hubs, drive in the oppssite direction for a few feet to dis-engage.

NGM

The truck does have to move with automatic 4WD. Manual hubs do not. They are engaged as soon as you turn them.