In expectation of hitting spotty ice on the road is 4A okay or should I just go ahead and use 4 low?

 

4A is safe to use just about anytime (this is what i use when i am driving on the street but know that there is a chance of hitting slick spots)
4H is safe to use when roads are slick and you are moving high speeds
4L is safe to use when there is no traction and you are going very low speeds

My thought process

 

From the owner's manual:
4L (4X4 LOW)
Provides mechanically locked four-wheel drive power to both the front and rear wheels for use on low traction surfaces, but does so with additional gearing for increased torque multiplication. Intended only for off-road applications such as deep sand, steep grades, or pulling heavy objects. 4L (4X4 low) will not engage while your vehicle is moving above 5 km/h; this is normal and should be no reason for concern. Refer to Shifting to or from 4L (4X4 low) for proper operation.

 

If you hit ice, 4WD is pretty much irrelevant. You should leave it in 4A unless you are dealing with a situation that is constant (like heavy snow covered roads over a long drive), then you can use 4H, just keep in mind you can have binding and that if you try and turn and aren't on a slick surface.

Even bringing up 4 Low in such a situation implies you really need to read your manual so you don't cause severe damage to your truck or cause an accident.

 

Ice is Ice.. unless you have spikes your gonna slide..

 

Or unless its "spotty ice" like the OP said in which case your tires that AREN'T on the ice will continue to pull you forward. So yes, 4WD will help

 

I like to use 4A during and immediately after a snow storm. Great for normal driving but to keep things from getting hairy if I hit a patch of ice or polished snow. For me, if conditions are bad enough that I need 4H it means that conditions are bad enough that I'm keeping it under 50mph, If conditions are bad enough for 4L I'm keeping it under 25mph. Most important thing to remember about all the 4x4 settings is that they don't help you stop!

 

true, but you can engine brake with all 4 tires.

 

I've never used 4L. How fast can you drive while 4L is engaged?

 

I've only used it when hauling firewood from back in the woods up a steep grass and dirt grade. Literally for crawling offroad. "Intended only for off-road applications such as deep sand, steep grades, or pulling heavy objects."