"The current front wheel drives are usually better in all but the deepest snows than most 4X4's".
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We have seen that to be very questionable here o our court. There have been more than half a dozen FWDs get stuck, and the 4WDs pulling/pushing them out .

I am the only one who hasn't gotten stuck............and a lot of others on our "other" street has gotten stuck and 4WDs came to the rescue .

 

The current front wheel drives are usually better in all but the deepest snows than most 4X4's
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Sorry, but this hasn't been the case in our court. EVERYONE with FWDs has gotten stuck right in the court............except me. The 4WDs are the ones pushing/pulling them out.

I'm thankful that the truck I bought was a 4WD.....even though I wasn't looking for one.

Regards, Jim in Id (Alaska???)

 

this is why I love driving my wife's GX-470 in the snow with the center diff locked. Does way better than my FX4.

 

Love getting advice on driving in snow from someone from GA.

Yep, FWD is fine in much of it, however, the F-150 is my vehicle of choice in the snow. 4x4 has definite advantages when the roads get nasty.

 

Uh... I think there are some flaws in the logic here.

 

Some interesting opinions on the use of 4 wheel drive in this thread. I have owned both front wheel drive and 4 wheel drive and I have not driven or seen a front wheel drive that will best a 4x4 in the snow, period. If the roads are covered in snow and or ice I use 4x4, that is why I bought it, and it is fantastic in those conditions. If the roads are just wet or even a mixture of wet and snow I don't use it. I have never heard of someone just using 4x4 to take off and shifting out, seems crazy to me but to each his own. I see guys with 4x4's around here all the time that refuse to use it when conditions call for it, I call those people morons and believe they would be better off taking the bus.

 

Edit: whoops, wrong thread.

 

My XLT has 4H and 4L, but not 4A. Looking at the sticker, I could find no reference to the differential (Limited Slip, locking, etc).

Can someone explain how my truck will react if 1 wheel starts to slip in the snow/ice or mud/sand (I don’t intend to take it off rapids intentionally)? If a wheel starts to slip on the ice, is 4L the way to go?

 

If you don’t have a posi or locker that wheel will continue to spin but hopefully the front or rear wheel will grab and keep you going. A 4 wheel drive without a posi or locker if stuck will spin 2 wheels one in back and one in front.

 

What year is your truck? Newer trucks (at least '11 and newer, not sure about older) have a traction control system that works like a limited slip, applying brakes on the wheel that's slipping. But honestly, if you have 4x4, then an open rear diff is pretty good for driving on the snow. If you are in 2wd and both rear tires loose traction, you'll get sideways in a hurry. If only 1 rear looses tractions, you will loose momentum, but you'll still be in a straight line. With 4x4, the front tires will help keep you moving forward and in a straight line.

You shouldn't need 4L driving on a snowy street. If a wheel starts to slip, back off the throttle. If it happens when trying to take off, you can try manually shifting to 2nd and take off from that.