4wd high or low for snow?

[Stevo265]

My gravel driveway has a serious hill for 50 yards and I started to spin and slide sideways and became stuck while using 4wd high. The driveway was cut into the hillside with a dropoff on one side. Luckily it was sliding toward the bank. I put it into 4wd low and backed the passenger side wheels into the shallow ditch which was nearly dry and managed to get up the hill with the good traction on 2 wheels.

I googled the difference between 4wd low and high and it claimed the high setting gives better traction. Do you folks agree with this?

 

[Stevo265]

This is my driveway and the ditch.

 

[Magfan2]

Pretty close to my driveway, a third of a mile, a little better than 15° rise overall. First thing is to plow. I did have an issue with a UTV in the ditch, the old AWD always got me home - slow & steady. Haven't had a real challenge yet this year with the new to me RAM, but have been using Auto 4WD - seems to work. Planning to throw some useful weight in the bed for Winter - full sized spare and a couple of bags of grit / ice melt.

 

[diymirage]

I plow with my truck and I can count on one hand the times I needed to be in 4 low

Almost all of the time, 4 high will do the trick, like you did, back up, change approach is sometimes needed

But it sure is nice to have 4 low up your sleeve...just in case

 

[Rlaf75]

Good tires will make a difference

 

[Fatbob Frank]

The only time I ever use 4low is offroading...
In snow the extra power isn't your friend...

 

[crash68]

I started to spin and slide sideways and became stuck while using 4wd high.

Sounds like there's a lack of traction probably due to ice. As mentioned tires make a big difference, some people run dedicated winter tires. You might need to spread some sand on that driveway to add traction and you might want to consider plowing the snow.

 

[JJEH]

Looks like compacted snow that turned to ice overnight.

What tires do you have right now?
If it's a street tire I'd change that asap to at least an A/T tire.

4H should work, just remember to put some weight in the back and to turn off the traction control.

 

[BossHogg]

Sounds like there's a lack of traction probably due to ice.

I've never found a traction solution that negotiates ice since the days of studded tires, which are still legal in some areas.

The advantage of using a 4x low is a much lower wheel speed spin break-out. I've used this solution successfully a few times on the crazy dirt roads I live off of. They are highly crowned, and when they get to ice rink quality, all you do is slide to the edge. It isn't a fun situation.

 

[bcbouy]

I put mine in 4low,lock both front/rear diffs and off I go.my street doesn't see a plow until after it's packed to ice.

 

[rzr6-4]

Good tires, 4HI, and pin it to win it. Only time I have ever used 4Lo was when pulling a full sized combine (harvester, whatever), and a broken down forklift. If I was doing some technical crawling I would but I've never been in that situation. Otherwise I am a believer in momentum and wheel speed.

 

[Dean2]

Couple of things, 4 Lo completely defeats the SCS (Stability Control System) and the TCS (Traction Control System). Both of these can get in the way when trying to navigate deep snow or mud as both limit power to the wheels. TCS tries to stop wheel spin, and SCS tries to stop fish tailing. On my 2500, I can turn both off in 2 Hi or 4 Hi, by holding down the TCS button, near the tow haul and parking sensor buttons, for 10 seconds. First bing after a short push shows TCS off, if you continue to hold the button down it will then show SCS off.

Turning these two off will get you a whole bunch better performance if you don't want to use Lo for some reason.

 

[ppine]

4w high is normal for snow. 4w low is made for steep crappy roads. In low you have too much torque and tend to spin your wheels in snow.
Tires make a big difference. Big aftermarket mud tires are not good. In snow country people use relatively narrow tires with treads made for snow.
In the Rockies I used snow tires with the spikes in them for about 6 months out of the year when it was legal. Sand tires are the worst.

I was visiting Seattle to see family during a big snow dump. The City has little snow removal equipment. The locals have limited experience in snow unless they are skiers. The neighbors were having trouble getting up the hill to the house. I asked them what gear they were in automatic 4w Low was the answer. I told them to try using high gear instead. They all made it next time no problem. With a manual trans, sometimes it helps to start in second gear in snow.

 

[DILLIGAF]

2wd floor it and let the Eaton locker and 37s Toyo MTs do the work

 

[Magfan2]

That is a different spin on things.

 

[DILLIGAF]

That is a different spin on things.

I am retarded

 

[HEMIMANN]

low for snow PLOWING

 

[LouM]

I seldom use low range for snow driving. I do for going slow and steady in rough ground.
I have very good snow tires on my pickup and my wifes awd sedan.
Nokian studded snows, I also got rid of the wide 20's and went with a little bit narrower 18 that has the same OD.
My driveway can be a royal pain if it gets iced over or even just packed snow.

For any one interested here's a video of me coming down my 1/4 mile driveway
https://youtu.be/PSBqdk_hsCM?si=GC03S1JZvEeUKXdq

And this is what has no trouble in the driveway and has pulled a few vehicles up, and also acted as the brake for others when going down

 

[Rebel4Mo]

ICE is your enemy!Not the other ICE!
Even with proper tires they while slip and if the grade is sloped that doesn't help.

 

[SouthernBornRebel]

My gravel driveway has a serious hill for 50 yards and I started to spin and slide sideways and became stuck while using 4wd high. The driveway was cut into the hillside with a dropoff on one side. Luckily it was sliding toward the bank. I put it into 4wd low and backed the passenger side wheels into the shallow ditch which was nearly dry and managed to get up the hill with the good traction on 2 wheels.

I googled the difference between 4wd low and high and it claimed the high setting gives better traction. Do you folks agree with this?

4x4 Auto and let it do what it does...js