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Snow: Shifting to 4WD?

Jeep4Life0112

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Hey everyone,

When driving in snowy road conditions (no visible pavement) at what speeds can I safely shift into an drive in 4-hi? Similar question for shifting back into 2wd.
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GreyFox

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Hey everyone,

When driving in snowy road conditions (no visible pavement) at what speeds can I safely shift into an drive in 4-hi? Similar question for shifting back into 2wd.
I believe the manual says between 0-45mph. If it's bad enough for you to need 4wd, then you probably shouldn't be driving fast.
 

Lockheed

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I live in Northern Michigan
if I'm on a snow covered road I shift into 4hi
no problem at any speed
i guess the fastest I've gone back and forth is about 60mph
 

D_JLU19

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Was driving home in the 2019 Wrangler JLU and ran into a bit of snow. I tell you what, it did feel odd to put the Jeep into 4H from 2H while traveling 35mph on the highway. Almost felt wrong - glad to see validation this can be done while the Jeep is in motion!

Man O' Man do I love Jeeps! :)
 

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Sean L

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Is it better to be moving vs at a stop??
you can do it at a stop but moving is just as good.

To shift from 4HI to 4 LO your transmission needs to be in neutral.
 

nerubi

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I believe the manual says between 0-45mph. If it's bad enough for you to need 4wd, then you probably shouldn't be driving fast.
Like Brandy says 0 - 45, not 50, not 60, not 70. 4LO shift at 2 - 3 mph while transmission in neutral, top speed in 4LO is 25 mph. All covered in manual as is everything else needed.
 

Andy2434

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While driving, I’ve shifted from 2wd into 4h and back a handful of times in the snow. However, I was driving on snow covered trails and was moving slowly. Nonetheless, it was a very smooth and a simple process.
 

Roky

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Says 0-45 in manual but I’ve done it at 50, wouldn’t recommend doing it that fast all the time, but if you have to it’s not going to hurt anything. Just make sure you let off the accelerator when you pull it in, makes transition smoother.
 

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johnnymiz

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i have always found moving to be an easier shift... as long as you arent on the gas and have released tension on the driveline.
 

McCloude

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you can do it at a stop but moving is just as good.

To shift from 4HI to 4 LO your transmission needs to be in neutral.
Ok, I was under the impression that I needed to be in neutral when going to 4H. (Manual Trans) and have clutch pressed.

So if I under stand everything right. Going into 4H does not require the clutch? and can be done while in gear, but under 50 mph.
Going to 4L, the same, but a slow crawl speed?
 

Sean L

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Ok, I was under the impression that I needed to be in neutral when going to 4H. (Manual Trans) and have clutch pressed.

So if I under stand everything right. Going into 4H does not require the clutch? and can be done while in gear, but under 50 mph.
Going to 4L, the same, but a slow crawl speed?
Going from 2HI to 4HI you can be in gear and does not require the clutch. You can be in motion up to 45MPH according to the manual.

Going from 4HI to 4LO you need to be in neutral
 

AlamedaJeep

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Going from 2HI to 4HI you can be in gear and does not require the clutch. You can be in motion up to 45MPH according to the manual.

Going from 4HI to 4LO you need to be in neutral
Or with the clutch pushed in for the shift to 4L with a Manual.

This is covered pretty well in the Owners Manual.
 
 



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