4x4 all the time?

[Leblancchris]

I know I’m going to get blasted for this, but I don’t care.
I just bought my first Jeep… 2dr Sport
With winter coming up, I was wondering, is my Jeep always driving all 4 wheels? Or is it 2wd until I engage the 4x4?

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[aldo98229]

Yes, you are going to get blasted. So sit down, hold on and enjoy it.

To answer your question, unless you drive a 392, your Wrangler is in RWD until you decide to pull that lever next to your right knee and engage into 4WD.

Most Wranglers have the Command-Trac 4WD system, which is a strictly part-time 4x4. Meaning, you have to be on slippery surfaces, like loose dirt or snow-covered roads, to use it.

If you own a Rubicon, it will have the Rock-Trac 4WD system, which works similar to above but is harder to engage.

A smaller number of Sports, Willys and Saharas come with Selec-Trac 4WD, which has 2WD mode, Full-Time 4Hi Auto, and Part-Time 4Hi and 4Lo. Selec-Trac can be used all the time in either 2WD or in Auto mode.

An even smaller number still have the Rubicon’s full-time 4WD, with modes similar to the Selec-Trac.

Rubicon 392 comes with the Selec-Trac, but with 2WD mode disabled.

 

[jhackathorne]

Also, if you have snow and/or are always in snow, then leaving it in 4H would be fine. I see you’re in Canada but not sure how much snow you get. But it’s not a difficult task to swap back and forth as needed from 2H to 4H.

 

[Leblancchris]

Also, if you have snow and/or are always in snow, then leaving it in 4H would be fine. I see you’re in Canada but not sure how much snow you get. But it’s not a difficult task to swap back and forth as needed from 2H to 4H.

my sales person said that 4H should only be used up to 80km/h…. That true?
And yes, I live where we will have snow on the ground for months. Starting any day

 

[Xorak]

my sales person said that 4H should only be used up to 80km/h…. That true?
And yes, I live where we will have snow on the ground for months. Starting any day

That's pretty close. that's about 50mph and max should be 55mph.

 

[jhackathorne]

Manual does say 55MPH. I have driven both my JK and JL in speeds of up to 70 sustained. I leave it in 4H while in the mountains as you can go from clear to snow in a matter of seconds.

 

[Mikester86]

Where in the manual does it say not to exceed 55 MPH in 4 High? I cannot locate reference to that in mine. It says shifting from 2H to 4H Auto or 4H Auto to 2H can be made with the vehicle stopped or in motion. The preferred shifting speed would be 0 to 45 MPH.
Should not exceed 25 MPH in 4 Low. I see nothing on max speed in 4 High.

 

[keeperman13]

Where in the manual does it say not to exceed 55 MPH in 4 High? I cannot locate reference to that in mine. It says shifting from 2H to 4H Auto or 4H Auto to 2H can be made with the vehicle stopped or in motion. The preferred shifting speed would be 0 to 45 MPH.
Should not exceed 25 MPH in 4 Low. I see nothing on max speed in 4 High.

It seems like there was some confusion. Everything seems to point to shifting into and out 4WD can be accomplished up to 55mph (~88kph). I personally don't know of any limitation on speed while firmly in $WD like you are talking about. It seems like the two streams of conversation overlapped.

 

[DHW]

It seems like there was some confusion. Everything seems to point to shifting into and out 4WD can be accomplished up to 55mph (~88kph). I personally don't know of any limitation on speed while firmly in $WD like you are talking about. It seems like the two streams of conversation overlapped.

Actually probably won't be too long before Jeep starts calling it $WD.

I kid .

 

[Reinen]

Also, if you have snow and/or are always in snow, then leaving it in 4H would be fine. I see you’re in Canada but not sure how much snow you get. But it’s not a difficult task to swap back and forth as needed from 2H to 4H.

Woah, no it will not be fine!

Aside from inevitably finding patches of dry pavement and binding the drivetrain, being in 4WD on higher speed curves (35+ MPH) can send you skidding off the road in a dive-off crash.

4WD should only be engaged when it's needed to move forward in snow. At all other times it's detrimental and can cause skidding. Especially if you have All-Season tires. 4WD is not AWD.

 

[jhackathorne]

Woah, no it will not be fine!

Aside from inevitably finding patches of dry pavement and binding the drivetrain, being in 4WD on higher speed curves (35+ MPH) can send you skidding off the road in a dive-off crash.

4WD should only be engaged when it's needed to move forward in snow. At all other times it's detrimental and can cause skidding. Especially if you have All-Season tires. 4WD is not AWD.

Been driving this way for years and years and never had a "dive off crash" nor any drivetrain damage. Maybe I am just lucky according to you. I drive according to road conditions and never went off the highway either. Sounds like I should be surprised I'm still alive.

 

[Reinen]

Been driving this way for years and years and never had a "dive off crash" nor any drivetrain damage. Maybe I am just lucky according to you. I drive according to road conditions and never went off the highway either. Sounds like I should be surprised I'm still alive.

I see at least a half dozen 4WD drive-off accidents every winter because someone was in 4WD when they shouldn't have, such as travelling downhill on a curvy road. Granted, it's usually with 4WD pickup drivers who think their 4WD is invincible and their All-Season 3PMSF ATs are "great" in winter. But Jeeps are not immune and can fall into the same trap.

It's a fact, you can hold curves tighter and faster in 2WD than 4WD. 4WD forces a tire to skid in curves and once a tire skids, typically 2/3rds of the way through the turn, you suddenly have only one tire on that axle holding the curve instead of two. That can send you skidding right off the road.

Not saying it can't be done, but it's dangerous and a bad idea. Don't think you can take a turn as sharp and as fast as the AWD SUV in front of you. You can't. Or even that Jeep in front of you in 2WD.

 

[IdahoJOAT]

That's pretty close. that's about 50mph and max should be 55mph.

I told my wife 50 mph max in 4H. I also told her: "2WD is the rear axle only getting power. 4 high auto should really be called 4 Auto, like the Avalanche's and our trucks. 4 high part-time should just be 4H. Neutral is neutral and 4 low is 4L."

 

[BXFXJeep]

If you have the 4hi on, and go into covered/underground garages you would experience problems, basically only use 4wd if the surface requires it, and as soon as there isn't any snow/slip on the ground switch back to 2wd.

The GTA main roads rarely require 4wd unless the plows didn't get to it, residential does have snow cover for a while after snow fall.

Also if you are in 4wd means you are on slippery surfaces and probably should not be speeding just saying, 4wd can give a false sense of invincibility, in Toronto it's not uncommon to see more 4x4 in the ditches than non 4x4 vehicles.

 

[AcesandEights]

I see at least a half dozen 4WD drive-off accidents every winter because someone was in 4WD when they shouldn't have, such as travelling downhill on a curvy road. Granted, it's usually with 4WD pickup drivers who think their 4WD is invincible and their All-Season 3PMSF ATs are "great" in winter. But Jeeps are not immune and can fall into the same trap.

It's a fact, you can hold curves tighter and faster in 2WD than 4WD. 4WD forces a tire to skid in curves and once a tire skids, typically 2/3rds of the way through the turn, you suddenly have only one tire on that axle holding the curve instead of two. That can send you skidding right off the road.

Not saying it can't be done, but it's dangerous and a bad idea. Don't think you can take a turn as sharp and as fast as the AWD SUV in front of you. You can't. Or even that Jeep in front of you in 2WD.

This would be true if your axles were locked, otherwise a 4x4 is a 4x2.

I will say, I understand what you're saying, and the reasoning. When locked and driving on road speeds, especially, you'll find a 4x4 to be a crab-walking, low-side finding death machine, haha. The open differentials allow the vehicle to hold the line and not push sideways.

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