Love my 4x4 :)

[Rado]

We are having a real White Christmas this year , snow about 1/2" a hour :O This is the first time I really used my 4x4. other then short trips ! I just tooled along about 25/30 mph and my V6 and 4x4 was a smooth ride home while other's were stuck on hills or side of the road ! Glad I bought a 4x4 but you all know that already lol

 

[TRCM]

Just remember, that 4x4 will help ya get moving easier, but it really don't help with the stopping or turning.....lots forget this and get themselves into trouble.

Also, don't use it unless you have to....if you are in 2wd and start to get stuck, you simply put it in 4wd and keep moving........if you are in 4wd and get stuck....you'll likely have to call for help.

 

[MADDOG]

Yup, that 4x4 feature comes in real handy at times. We had a white Christmas Eve and I had a bit of running around to do.

Unfortunately, the white turned to ice overnight as some freezing rain came in. Thankfully I don't have to go running about in that!

 

[Pull Ya]

I had a very wise man tell me once that when you believe you'll never get stuck in a 4x4 you should have a shovel and chain with you. I have found through the years that was pretty good advise.
Jay

 

[CanadianNick]

Just remember, that 4x4 will help ya get moving easier, but it really don't help with the stopping or turning.....lots forget this and get themselves into trouble.

Also, don't use it unless you have to....if you are in 2wd and start to get stuck, you simply put it in 4wd and keep moving........if you are in 4wd and get stuck....you'll likely have to call for help.

I disagree, It definitely helps with turning. I almost never fishtail in snow storms when I’m 4x4 but if I’m in 2wd I’m all over the place unless I drive like an old lady. Agree about the stopping part though

 

[TRCM]

I disagree, It definitely helps with turning. I almost never fishtail in snow storms when I’m 4x4 but if I’m in 2wd I’m all over the place unless I drive like an old lady. Agree about the stopping part though

Part of why you don't fishtail in 4wd is only 1/2 the power is going to the rear axle....all of it is in 2wd.

It helps with turning as long as a front tire doesn't slip....if it does, then all bets are off. It all depends on speed and how hard/fast you turn.

With a 2wd, if a front tire slips, it can regain traction as it slows down cuz nothing is spinning it except it moving against the ground, but if a front tire on a 4wd slips, it is being spun by the engine, and it won't slow down to regain traction unless you let off the gas......which is not always the best thing to do.

Basically, in 2wd, nothing is forcing the front tire to spin...in 4wd, something is, and if it is slipping already, turning it is not gonna stop it.

 

[Rado]

What you all say is true,, I see people in a 4x4 all the time doing 60mph on the interstate when you and slipping and sliding all over the place ! Love it when I see them in a ditch later and no one is hurt :O , I also agree in 4x4 mode the steering is better in snow but as mentioned Ice is ice and wheels slid even if you have 6 wheel drive lol Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

 

[smiley]

I use 4wd a lot in the winter I like the way it straightens it out when I hit ice. I have 4wd auto which in that mode is garbage and I just skip it and go to 4wd. Since mine is older 4wd locks in nice and works like it should.

 

[Rado]

I use 4wd a lot in the winter I like the way it straightens it out when I hit ice. I have 4wd auto which in that mode is garbage and I just skip it and go to 4wd. Since mine is older 4wd locks in nice and works like it should.

It sure does help keep you straight on a slid I have only done a few short runs in 4x4 so this test was just great Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

 

[smiley]

It sure does help keep you straight on a slid I have only done a few short runs in 4x4 so this test was just great Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

A lot more predictable. I totally agree some people forget on ice you can’t stop well. With out trucks though on ice in 4wd and with tow/haul on the engine will help brake for you. And then you can downshift instead of braking and it really works well. I also have about 240 lbs of sand bags and then another 60 lbs in tools and gear in the bed and that makes the truck really do well on snow and ice as far as traction anyway.

Driving on ice is very normal here and if you can’t or won’t do it you won’t be able to work! I suggest to anyone not used to it or even at the beginning of the season go into a parking lot and practice what happens when braking or turning on ice. The more comfortable you can get with it the better you will be in a real situation.

Funny thing in South Dakota they ran a campaign something like “don’t jerk and drive” where they basically said if you freak out and jerk the wheel you will roll over. Look it up it is pretty funny.

 

[TRCM]

Stuff gets that bad, I drive the cherokee....it has a locked rear and front axle pulling, mud tires, and it's not gonna break the bank if I wreck it

 

[ColdCase]

With a 2wd, if a front tire slips, it can regain traction as it slows down cuz nothing is spinning it except it moving against the ground, but if a front tire on a 4wd slips, it is being spun by the engine, and it won't slow down to regain traction unless you let off the gas......which is not always the best thing to do.

Basically, in 2wd, nothing is forcing the front tire to spin...in 4wd, something is, and if it is slipping already, turning it is not gonna stop it.

When an unpowered front tire hits a puddle or slush, its going to slow down and hydroplane. If its powered its going to spin through the puddle or slush and pull you through safely. 4x4 (real lock) is going to pull you through, just have to remember to give it a little gas. Throwing it into 4x4 in any slippery or mixed conditions will help some, much safer than using 2wd and waiting till you wish you had 4x4. I'm perhaps not an expert, but I've driven near 300,000 miles in adverse conditions.

Front wheel drives handle hydroplane conditions better than RWD for the same reason.

 

[TRCM]

When an unpowered front tire hits a puddle or slush, its going to slow down and hydroplane. If its powered its going to spin through the puddle or slush and pull you through safely. 4x4 (real lock) is going to pull you through, just have to remember to give it a little gas. Throwing it into 4x4 in any slippery or mixed conditions will help some, much safer than using 2wd and waiting till you wish you had 4x4. I'm perhaps not an expert, but I've driven near 300,000 miles in adverse conditions.

Front wheel drives handle hydroplane conditions better than RWD for the same reason.

An open front diff, like all rams....if one tire starts to spin, it is gonna get all the power & keep spinning. Not sure if the traction control will help much on the front axle....I know it is annoying on the rear axle if you need to spin the tires.

All I am saying, is in a 2wd, the speed of the front tire spinning is directly related to traction...if there is no traction it stops spinning and just slides, if there is traction, it spins at the speed the vehicle is moving, no faster, no slower.

If in 4wd, and a front tire loses traction, it is no longer spinning in relation to the traction available, but in relation to the engine speed, and that can be faster than it should or slower than it should, and either way, you have no traction...and in that case, it's better to let off the gas to let it regain traction, then get back on slowly.

Not claiming to be no expert here either, but I've driven more than a few thousand, and most of it was in 2wd...only using 4wd when needed. Whether it is mud or snow.

1 thing I have noticed in my Ram, if a front tire starts spinning in snow/ice, and you give it gas, it keeps spinning...let off the gas, it stops.

 

[smiley]

The Traction control stuff controls the fish tailing and excessive spinning too.

 

[01Ram2500]

My current Ram is the first truck I have owned in 50 years that does not have 4 wheel drive. Didn't really need it down here in sunny FL. Saved some money with the 2 wheel drive on initial cost and on maintenance as well. If I ever moved back up north, I would trade it for a 4X4. As we used to say in Alaska, all 4 wheel drive does for you is get you stuck farther back in the woods.

 

[ColdCase]

An open front diff, like all rams....if one tire starts to spin, it is gonna get all the power & keep spinning. Not sure if the traction control will help much on the front axle....I know it is annoying on the rear axle if you need to spin the tires.

All I am saying, is in a 2wd, the speed of the front tire spinning is directly related to traction...if there is no traction it stops spinning and just slides, if there is traction, it spins at the speed the vehicle is moving, no faster, no slower.

Then why is using 4WD and some throttle result in a more stable ride in hydroplaning conditions? Thats a fact, not a guess. My theory is that when traveling at say 40 mph, and run into a hydroplane type condition where a wedge is built up under the tire, the powered spinning tire will allow the tread to shed water/slush out of the wedge, perhaps digging down toward the pavement. This provides much more traction and stability for that instant. Otherwise you are sledding with coasting tires. Providing most of the power to the tire happens to be a good thing because that will shed the slush faster. Due to driveline friction for that initial spin up there is some torque applied to both sides. Try it sometime, you may like it . It is more effective on an open axle and before the advent of brake traction control but even with BTC, the hydroplaning tire will spin/rotate a bit.

All I'm saying is that its better to be prepared with 4WD engaged than to try to switch when you need it... as you will be too late in the example I described. Slush build up between lanes during snow storms is a common occurrence in this area.

 

[TRCM]

You are talking slush & water, hence the term hydroplaning (I don't think I used that term)..I am talking ice.

 

[ColdCase]

Thats my point.

 

[huntergreen]

2or 4wd, tires and skill still play a crucial role.

 

[TRCM]

2or 4wd, tires and skill still play a crucial role.

Very Very true......I've driven many a place in 2wd that everyone else had to use 4wd.......especially when hunting