well we all know vermont is inconcistant at best when it comes to maintaining its roads. and when doing any extended non highway driving you are bowned to go threw areas of well maintained roads, and then roads that haven't seen a plow all season. My question is, Is it better to just go two wheel drive until you get stuck, or is it ok to lock the hubs and go 4 wheel high, and just put it into two wheel when you have to take a tight corner?

I know it sounds like a noobie question, but this is my first truck, and first 4x4 vehicle.

I have a 88 F150 short bed with a 5l 302 and a M5OD and 33" wheels.
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You can leave the hubs locked for the whole trip but turn the 4x4 switch off in the cab while you are on dry roads.

 

Also. Sometimes by the time your stuck in 2wd 4x4 might not get you out.
Try not to stop in extra mucky spots either.

Personally I try to avoid the non plowed dirt roads if I'm alone or on a time schedule.

 

+1 4x4 is better at keeping you on the road than getting you out of the ditch when you don't use it.

 

A good set of tires and especially a few hundred extra pounds in the back make a world of difference. Also don't over drive the 4x4 either, its not a tank and when you are on ice it doesn't much matter if you are in 4x4 or 4x2. I personally when the roads are snow covered or snowing hard would rather drive the 98 escort wagon then my truck. Front wheel drives work better up to a point (like 4" or more).

You shouldn't need to take it out of 4x4 for corners, shouldn't be any that sharp.

 

Jim,
funny thing. I Drive the 02 Focus Wagon (with dedicated snow tires) most days and snowy days. 30+ MPG vs 19-20 in the Ranger. I will take the Ranger out in the middle of a snow storm as apposed to the Focus unless I'm doing a lot of driving that day for work.

But I don't bother with weight in the rear with 4x4. I know it helps but when I ditched driving 2wd in the snow and went 4x4 I never put weight in the rear. It lets me play a bit in the snow as well

Edit:
I just noticed your from VT. I'm used to seing everyone but locals posting in the New England sections.
It's slacked off a bit but for a while I was running from S. NH to Rouses Point NY a minimum of every other week. Pass your exit twice every time

 

Good points.

It's an old argument. Go 2wd and only use 4X4 if you get stuck......Or just leave in 4X4 on questionable ground and try not to get stuck to begin with.

I go with 4X4.......Unless on hard, dry ground......

 

thanks for the good info, I am really learning to LOVE 4 wheel drive. So I know when you lock the front hubs it makes it a solid axle and both left and right wheels turn at the same speed when you are in 4x4. what happens when you put your truck in 4 wheel drive without the hubs locked? does no power get to the front wheels?

 

Right. When the hubs are locked they drag the front axle and front drive shaft along. The only thing missing at that point is the drive connection between the front drive shaft and the transmission inside the t-case. Once you shift into 4x4 inside the cab the t-case shifts those together and now it's getting power to the front. If you were to look underneath when the front hubs were locked but the truck was still in 2-wheel drive you would still see all the shafts turning in front but they aren't being powered from the t-case.

 

The front drive shaft and axel shafts would turn but there would be no mechanical connection to the hubs so they would act as in 2 wheel drive. Basically wasting fuel because it is robbing power from the drivetrain to turn the extra mass of drive shafts/axels.

 

If it's snowing out or you know you are going to going in and out of 4x4 keep the hubs locked. If your tooling around town an nice days unlock them.

Remember with hubs unlocked you will never have the use of 4x4. If you shift into 4x4 with the hubs unlocked the motor will turn all the 4x4 stuff but the tires are not connected to the 4x4 system.

This is also assuming you have manual locking hubs.

Also just so you know 4x4 is technically 2 wheel drive unless you have limited slip or locked axles. And in the same way 2wd is technically one wheel drive. Hence the joke of when doing burnouts people say "nice one wheel peel".
Typically without limited slip and lockers the opposite tire works with 4x4 engaged. If the rear right pushes normally the front left will pull when in 4x4.

 

Something to bear in mind; when your hubs are locked, and your in 4wd, both wheels will not spin unless you have a locker in the front differential. The front is just like the rear, and you will notice this when you get stuck sometime.

So yes its a solid front axel,,,with a differential in the middle to allow for turning with out snapping joints or shafts.

 

Now that I read what I wrote! What I mean is when you get stuck, chances are only one wheel will spin up front, like in the rear.

 

If I have weight and good biters for tires I do not need 4X4..Lot of times if you use common sense 2 wd drive is just as good

 

depends on the roads you have to drive... they dont plow my road till after I get home even if it was snowing the night before.

I leave it in 4x4 and have mud tires on thoug I will probably get better ones in the near future when i can afford it. ive ben sliding down hill in 2wd put the front's on and can keep it straight when its ugly. love incliment weather... though the biggest thing is to know your vehicle 2 or 4 wd if you havent played on patchy ice etc you will blow it when you are really in need... best thing is to practice

when i was looking for houses I could get my geo in to places with 4-6" of snow that the realitors in jeeps etc couldent even touch.