Right, so I bought my truck a couple of months ago. The other day driving home in a really bad rainstorm, I switched into 4x4. I noticed significant problems while turning. Doing an internet search I came upon lurching while in 4x4. http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/def_turnpart.html

So I had a toyota 4x4 truck and never had this sort of situation, Goggling further, folks said to switch out of 4x4 when turning to avoid busting things up in the 4x4 transfer case.. I live in a part where there can be significant snow falls.

MY QUESTION IS: (thanks for being patient) when in snow, can I leave the truck in 4x4 full time while driving to where I need to go, or switch out of it situationally.

Thanks so much

 

We get a lot of downpours here in the south. I've never used 4wd in the rain.

You won't have that issue in the snow

 

I'm assuming you don't have a Lariat or higher model with 4A (Automatic 4 wheel mode) and that your truck is a 2015 or newer. You can switch from 2H to 4H at any speed. I always take my foot of the accelerator when I switch drive modes. You should not leave the truck in 4H if on pavement unless it is completely snow covered. If the road is covered with snow, then clear, then snow covered again, you should switch back and forth.

Now, if you have a Lariat or higher model, you can shift to 4A and leave it there for as long as you like since the drive to all four wheels is computer controlled.

 

If its snow covered your fine, but if its bare pavement you need to turn it off. Never use it in rain. One of the Ford options is Auto 4x4, it would be like your Toyota.

 

I wouldn't drive around on pavement, including turns, in 4-Hi in the rain. Leave traction control on and put it into wet/snow mode if you have it, if you have a Lariat or up put it into 4-Auto.

If there is snow on the ground, everywhere, as in snow has accumulated and stuck to the roads and hasn't been plowed etc, you should be able to leave it in 4-Hi.

The bottom line is that if the surface is slippery enough the tires will spin easily it's okay. If there is decent traction and you notice when turning that you're in 4WD, you probably shouldn't be in a fixed 4WD setting

 

You don't need 4x4 in rain. The reason it lurches is because in a turn the front wheels turn at a different speed than the rear wheels, when it's locked into 4x4 the front and rear wheels are essentially locked together and cant turn at different speeds forcing the wheels to skip, causing the lurching. When the truck is on dirt,ice or snow the wheels can easily slip allowing for a smooth turn.

 

As long as one is not turning is it okay to put the vehicle in 4H moving slowly on dry pavement just for a short distance to get the parts moving every so often? I rarely have my truck in 4WD. How often is it suggested to do this? Is it better to go find a gravel road to put it in 4WD?

Thanks!

 

It’ll sure wear down your tires if you run 4WD on dry pavement. ��

 

Every 6 months you should engage the 4x4 system. You can simply go to a dirt lot to exercise the equipment. It will need to roll forward to engage sometimes. Simply turning the switch won't do it.

 

I noticed the same thing when I was first getting into the F150 market a few years ago. Test drove a few used current gens and they all sounded like garbage when I kicked on 4wd. Came from a lifetime of GM trucks / suv’s that never sounded or felt like that even on dry surface. Little snowfall and it’s fine. Odd, but just the way these trucks are.