Do I drive in 4WD High or Low for snow? Do I turn it on when still or starting to drive? Getting snow....?

Question

I have asked a few people and gotten different answers. I do not want to mess my truck up either. We are getting heavy snow here in Ohio and I have to do some must do errands in town here. Is it better to use high or low 4WD and which is for what? Also do I switch to it while still or in motion?

Answer 1

In 4 low you will only be able to travel about 5-10 mph depending on your vehicle. In 4 high you can trvel at road speeds usually up to about 50mph. Some vehicles can shift on the  fly(while moving). If you are not sure, stop first and shift into 4wd. Remember to shift out of 4wd if tehre in no snow or wet roads, as dry roads will cause damage to 4wd by binding up the drive train. Hope this helps, adn teh best thing for driving in snow is always slow down!!

Answer 2

4WD high is the answer you need.  Your owner's manual

covers switching between 2WD & 4WD.  You can expect it

to read "switch to or from 4Hi while moving at or below 50

mph."  Its also a good idea to do it with front wheels straight

ahead (even if it isn't necessary.)  4Lo is for climbing hills at

low speed.  Shifting to or from 4Lo should be done EXACTLY

as the manual specifies (probably barely moving in neutral.)

Answer 3

If you are on a road, use 4WD high. If off road, use 4WD low. You won't mess up your truck by using the wrong one, it's a ratio of torque vs speed and gas mileage.

Switching while still or in motion depends entirely on your particular truck. Find your user manual and look up 4WD or transmission. This is the part which is really important to get right. I screwed up a Jeep Grande Cherokee by switching while still.

Answer 4

Use 4whl hi for road driving.    Most vehicles you need to be sitting still to engage properly,  but this depends on the type system you have.   Check your owner's manual if you have it,  or call your local dealership  for best answer.

Remember too, when driving in snow or rain, please turn on your headlights to make you easier to see.

Answer 5

If you need to get out of a snow pack or a pile of snow than you can use low to get out of it. BUt you dont want to drive on the road using low. Low is for towing very heavy things short distances, and off roading. But if you are parked somewhere and there is snow around the tires and stuff and you need to get over the snow and you cant do it in high than you try low.

Answer 6

You would use 4WD high.  The low range is for off road and slow speeds.

Depending on the vehicle that you have shifting either way should be fine.  Some cars/trucks have manual hubs, that require you to go outside and dial the wheel into 4 wheel.  If yours has an automatic hub, then you just need to shift it into 4 wheel.

good luck -- drive safe.