When should I engage 4x4
#1
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When should I engage 4x4
I know it's not a good idea to drive down the road in 4h everyday. If slick conditions exist like icy roads, is it going to be okay to run down the road at 45 mph in 4h? I drove home from work in the snow tonight for the first time in my Jeep and I had it in 2h and could not seem to get any traction at all.
#2
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Year: 1999
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I know it's not a good idea to drive down the road in 4h everyday. If slick conditions exist like icy roads, is it going to be okay to run down the road at 45 mph in 4h? I drove home from work in the snow tonight for the first time in my Jeep and I had it in 2h and could not seem to get any traction at all.
#3
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#4
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Year: 1999
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I have Westlake a/t tires (http://westlaketireusa.com/tires/suvrlt/westlake.html). They came on my Jeep from the po and I'm fairly sure they're cheap brand all terrains. So far they've been great in mud but water/ice is treacherous. I've read a few reviews and they're kinda known for it... Scary but I think I'm just gonna toss a few sand bags in and limp it for the rest of winter.
#5
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NEcherokee,
I'm a NE jeeper. Even with miserable storms, and a 80 mile/day daily commute, I will probably use my 4wd/HI about 30 minutes a year. Its good for slowly working through deepening snow in white-out conditions, when the plows are outnumbered. But for everything else, the TIRES are what really matter. They are what will keep you on the road and give you most of your traction, most of the time.
Basically, if the conditions allow for me doing more than 45mph, then they are also normally good enough for me to disengage 4wd. But you can run the 4wd between 55-60mph without damaging the transfer case, as long as you are not doing it on dry pavement (I wouldn't do it on rain either though). So light snow and ice, however, doing 60 in those conditions is just asking for it.
If you have marginal tires, then keep an eye on craigslist, sometimes people dump entire sets of very good tires as they upgrade to their own preferences. Also, a local tire shop can sometimes hook you up with good deals when customers are taking certain brands off, to replace with others. But you may have to let the shop know that you are on the lookout for a new set, so that they remember to let you know.
Ok, shameless plug, the Hankook Dynapro ATMs have been a very good performer in the ice/snow at a reasonable cost. They are basically the reason that I never need 4wd engaged.
I'm a NE jeeper. Even with miserable storms, and a 80 mile/day daily commute, I will probably use my 4wd/HI about 30 minutes a year. Its good for slowly working through deepening snow in white-out conditions, when the plows are outnumbered. But for everything else, the TIRES are what really matter. They are what will keep you on the road and give you most of your traction, most of the time.
Basically, if the conditions allow for me doing more than 45mph, then they are also normally good enough for me to disengage 4wd. But you can run the 4wd between 55-60mph without damaging the transfer case, as long as you are not doing it on dry pavement (I wouldn't do it on rain either though). So light snow and ice, however, doing 60 in those conditions is just asking for it.
If you have marginal tires, then keep an eye on craigslist, sometimes people dump entire sets of very good tires as they upgrade to their own preferences. Also, a local tire shop can sometimes hook you up with good deals when customers are taking certain brands off, to replace with others. But you may have to let the shop know that you are on the lookout for a new set, so that they remember to let you know.
Ok, shameless plug, the Hankook Dynapro ATMs have been a very good performer in the ice/snow at a reasonable cost. They are basically the reason that I never need 4wd engaged.
#7
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It's best to save 4WD to back out of whatever you're stuck in because when you get 4WD stuck it's usually bulldozer time. 4wd doesn't make it safer to drive in treacherous conditions contrary to Facebook belief.
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#9
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I don't live where it snows but talking purely about the mechanical aspect of "can you" drive in 4H on the highway when there is snow or ice? Absolutely! When you are off-roading in 4H there are many times, like on rocks or hard dirt, where all four tires have good traction and it does not harm the 4x4 components. That is what they were designed for. Snow or ice has less traction than dry rocks or dirt, so it would do even less wear and tear on the drivetrain. But I do agree that tires (and/or tire chains/cables) make a huge difference when it comes to vehicle control.
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