4X4 Newbie

[WilliamS]

And lastly, FWIW, if you need 4WD in rain, you're probably going too fast...

4x4 does not help with going fast, thats a horrible way to get yourself in trouble. Just like saying you need 4wd on snow/ice roads. It can help you get out of being stuck but it wont keep you from sliding.

It does help greatly when making right turns or getting moving in heavy rain. I can tell you both those scenarios when there is standing water, 4-auto changes the driving dynamically.

 

[Skerj]

How do I know which transfer case I have? Also how can I detect when it needs to engage all four wheels? Sorry I have no knowledge of 4 x 4 or even 4 x 4 auto.


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44-44 is auto. 44-45 is not.

 

[Curlyp]

44-44 is auto. 44-45 is not.

As in an automatic transmission vs manual?


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[ScottFL]

As in an automatic transmission vs manual?


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If you have a button that says "4WD AUTO" you have the Borg Warner 44-44, nothing to do the the transmission.

 

[Curlyp]

If you have a button that says "4WD AUTO" you have the Borg Warner 44-44, nothing to do the the transmission.

[emoji106] thank you!


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[Skerj]

4x4 does not help with going fast, thats a horrible way to get yourself in trouble. Just like saying you need 4wd on snow/ice roads. It can help you get out of being stuck but it wont keep you from sliding.

It does help greatly when making right turns or getting moving in heavy rain. I can tell you both those scenarios when there is standing water, 4-auto changes the driving dynamically.

I wasn't suggesting that it be used to enable higher speeds, rather the opposite. And 4WD on snow, and rougher ice, will definitely help keep the vehicle straight; the wheels are pulling and pushing vs just pushing. Black ice; good luck...

I will standby in saying 4WD isn't needed in rain. If you're accelerating or at a speed to the point where you're experiencing loss of traction, whether in a turn (if 4wd kicks in, it will widen your turn anyway) or hydroplaning, its time to let off the go pedal.

 

[ScottFL]

I have been in front wheel drive cars / SUV's for a long time, my last rear wheel drive car was a 1995 Infiniti J30 and that was before traction control was around. That being said I had a couple white knuckle moments on slick roads when the rear end would kick out unexpectedly. Definitely not something I want to do in this big ole truck.

If mine came equipped with the anti spin rear diff I would probably not even worry about the rain but for all who have driven in these crazy Florida rains I will feel more comfortable engaging the 4 WD AUTO. Just looking to keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down....

 

[baum]

Wow a 3 page post on driving in the rain.. I guess i didnt know people put their truck into 4wd for a little water...

 

[BiGMERF]

Wow a 3 page post on driving in the rain.. I guess i didnt know people put their truck into 4wd for a little water...

have you experienced a florida sudden downpour, that most of the time drops 1-2 inches of rain in a half hour ? its no fun

 

[SilverRam11]

It's a miracle all these 2WD trucks make it anywhere in Florida rain. Sorry but I live in Florida and I am VERY familiar with our weather, and 4WD is not something you need in the rain. I would argue thinking that 4WD will make you safer in the rain is actually unsafe, because you will be overconfident instead of slowing down and driving the way you should.

 

[baum]

have you experienced a florida sudden downpour, that most of the time drops 1-2 inches of rain in a half hour ? its no fun

Yes I have! I have done it with smaller cars before.

 

[BiGMERF]

Yes I have! I have done it with smaller cars before.

i agree with you that it is completely manageable if you drive appropriately.. but you cannot deny that while driving carefully, engaging 4x4 while not necessary does make it that much safer

 

[ScottFL]

It's a miracle all these 2WD trucks make it anywhere in Florida rain. Sorry but I live in Florida and I am VERY familiar with our weather, and 4WD is not something you need in the rain. I would argue thinking that 4WD will make you safer in the rain is actually unsafe, because you will be overconfident instead of slowing down and driving the way you should.

I drive very safely, no accidents or tickets in 30 years...

Like I said in my post, if I had a LIMITED SLIP DIFF I would not worry about it... Sorry for asking about the capabilities of my truck, feel free not to read the thread......

P.S.
Torrential rains coming into work this afternoon, probably didn't drive faster than 40 MPH but I pushed the 4 WD AUTO, don't know if it did a thing but at least it was ready if it slipped...

 

[WilliamS]

I drive very safely, no accidents or tickets in 30 years...

Like I said in my post, if I had a LIMITED SLIP DIFF I would not worry about it... Sorry for asking about the capabilities of my truck, feel free not to read the thread......

P.S.
Torrential rains coming into work this afternoon, probably didn't drive faster than 40 MPH but I pushed the 4 WD AUTO, don't know if it did a thing but at least it was ready if it slipped...

LOL yeah, dont use a feature that will make your truck better in adverse weather. No tickets or accidents on my account either. I will use every device that gives me a traction advantage possible.

After a soaker the oil on the roads is more than enough to get annoying trying to pull from a light without my 1 tire spinning out at nearly any throttle. Add in 4-auto and now my truck drives without sitting still or the traction control trying to leave me standing still.

Ive driving plenty of non AWD/4WD cars, and no matter what anyone claims, there is a much different feeling with all 4 tires powered vs 2. Has nothing to do with speed or racing, has everything to do with control.

 

[7777xm]

The 44-44 is not a bad TC. Sure, it's lot perfect but for the majority, it will do just fine.

I love the 4 auto. If the roads are wet, 4auto is on. I guess some like to play the gas pedal game on wet surfaces and making turns but I do that have that issue. It's not driving to fast for conditions, it's just being able to pull out into traffic. Out where I'm at, most of our roads are 55 mph highways and nobody has time playing spin the tire in the rain.

OP, don't look down on this tcase yet. Give it a honest trial and I bet you will be happy with it. Not unless you plan on idling on some ice uphill and complaining 4x4 doesn't work.

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[crzywyteboi]

You can drive in auto always. I've forgotten mine for weeks

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I have noticed if I use 4X4 auto lock the tires kinda grab when turning. Doesn't seem like something I would want on all the time

 

[BiGMERF]

I drive very safely, no accidents or tickets in 30 years...

Like I said in my post, if I had a LIMITED SLIP DIFF I would not worry about it... Sorry for asking about the capabilities of my truck, feel free not to read the thread......

P.S.
Torrential rains coming into work this afternoon, probably didn't drive faster than 40 MPH but I pushed the 4 WD AUTO, don't know if it did a thing but at least it was ready if it slipped...

dont tell me you live in south Forida? cause the man upstairs opened the faucet on high there for the last 2 days

 

[SilverRam11]

I drive very safely, no accidents or tickets in 30 years...

Like I said in my post, if I had a LIMITED SLIP DIFF I would not worry about it... Sorry for asking about the capabilities of my truck, feel free not to read the thread......

P.S.
Torrential rains coming into work this afternoon, probably didn't drive faster than 40 MPH but I pushed the 4 WD AUTO, don't know if it did a thing but at least it was ready if it slipped...

LOL yeah, dont use a feature that will make your truck better in adverse weather. No tickets or accidents on my account either. I will use every device that gives me a traction advantage possible.

After a soaker the oil on the roads is more than enough to get annoying trying to pull from a light without my 1 tire spinning out at nearly any throttle. Add in 4-auto and now my truck drives without sitting still or the traction control trying to leave me standing still.

Ive driving plenty of non AWD/4WD cars, and no matter what anyone claims, there is a much different feeling with all 4 tires powered vs 2. Has nothing to do with speed or racing, has everything to do with control.

You said you were a truck newbie and a 4WD newbie and you asked about using 4WD in the rain, I have driven many trucks in the rain so I gave you my opinion on the matter. I'm not sure how that was taken so offensively. I stand by my statement that you don't need to use 4WD in the rain, you need to drive appropriately. You can choose to use it if you feel more comfortable with it, but again using 4WD to gain more traction off the line isn't going to make your truck "safer" in the rain. 4WD may get you moving, it doesn't stop you moving and it doesn't change how your tires react to wet roads. That is just my thought on the matter, feel free to ignore me but don't ask for advice and then act like I insulted you.

 

[ScottFL]

SilverRam11, I apologize. I was taking my frustration out on you and another fellow who complained about "wow, three pages of driving in the rain".....

As the OP all I wanted was some information on driving my new truck.

For the record, I drive like a grandpa and love to maximize fuel economy. I have noticed that on my 25 X 2 mile commute my tach rarely goes over 2k unless I am feeling a little frisky.

As I mentioned my last RWD car tended to get loose and I'm no drifter and want to avoid those situations.

I drive responsibly and reduce my speed in inclement weather but if my truck has features that may come to my rescue I intend to use them to my advantage.

Happy trucking all, and to those who complain about threads like these just remember trucks popularity are at an all time high and us newbies have questions and that is the purpose of these forums, is it not?

 

[Murphy Slaw]

As the OP all I wanted was some information on driving my new truck.

Happy trucking all, and to those who complain about threads like these just remember trucks popularity are at an all time high and us newbies have questions and that is the purpose of these forums, is it not?

I say feel free to ask any damned question you want at any time.

Yes, that is the purpose for these forums.

Well, that and to sell Catch Cans and talk about oil..........