You can drive todays vehicle on highway in 4 wheel drive. Its the dry, clear pavement that will add to wear and tear on the vehicle and wear out tires faster. You can switch into 4 HI while moving faster then 40 mph. In the past you had to get out of the truck to lock the hubs and you cant do this whiel vehicle is moving . However using 4 lo is not necessary unless you need the pulling power, drive thru power in the mud, on ground when not on pavement. If you are ever on pavement in 4 lo, you better hope you dont need to turn since its hard to turn. With todays technolgy and poorly informed drivers, todays 4X4 is pretty much idiot proof. Trying to switch into 4 LO while moving too fast will not work and will revert back to last known gear. This should allievate your fears unless there is something else you like to share ?
I agree with you completely!!
I had a friend who borrowed his dad's 1987 diesel Dual Wheels 4X4 Ford F-350. We were going to Olathe, KS from Lenexa, KS and when we were approaching Olathe on hilly road. His truck suddenly refuse to go when accelerate, it felt like it was slipping in the tranny. We arrived at one nearest store and parked. He called his Dad about problem with his truck. 15 min later, His dad arrived and took a look to find out why his truck broke down. It turned out that the lock switch on hub was turned "locked" on one end and other end was "unlocked". It did damaged transaxle and tranny. He was soooooooo
and yelled at me and my friend assuming that we mess up the setting. We told him that we didn't do it. It turned out to be a vandalism at his condominuim community area. His dad had to shell out $3,500 for 4X4 repairs
As for some SUV, some allow engage 4X4 on the fly up to 50mph like Jeeps. My jeep Liberty allows me to pull lever to 4X4 up to 50mph but if it's over 50mph, I would have to slow down to pull lever or else it would do damage or won't engage. Once it's engaged, I will have to throttle up and down accelerator a bit to get a "lock" on transaxle before I can drive like normal highway speed or faster. I remmy I forgot to throttle the accelerator to lock the transaxle, it's tranaxle gear was grinding and I immediately slow down and speed up and finally got a "lock". Accelerator feels "mushy" when 4X4 is engaged.. MY liberty have "2WD, 4 Part Time, 4 Full Time, Neutral, 4 Low" (cuz it's a Limited edition) while Jeep Liberty Sport do not have "4 Part Time" selection.
I use 4 Full Time all the times when it's rainy, snow or icy out. I know you ask why
"Rainy!!!!" because my Jeep is light SUV and it can't go up hill from stop. It literally spinning tire standing still while I tried to accelerate easy and slow regardless and cars were honking behind me trying to tell me to "Move IT!!"
I had to engage 4X4 in order to 'claw' itself way up the hill on wet slippery pavement hot or cold day!!
Some SUV require pull over and turn on 4X4 then reverse then foward to get "lock" on transaxle (it's probably an old SUV back then). So you'll have to follow instruction manual.
Today's SUV just automatically engage 4X4 just press of the button. But still you may need to make sure the transaxle is "locked" tho either swerving it a bit or throttle up and down.
I'm soo glad that I didn't buy 2005 4X4 Durango!! (my is a plain o'l 2WD) It is an AWD but with 4WD lock within twist of the knob. I read online that Durango had an issue with 4X4 and it is funky. Once you see warning light on 4X4 section, you can't drive, it must be towed to service!
Catty
:Ohno: . My Jeep slid past nearly 10 ft past stop sign. All 4 tires have deep threads. So I had to be careful when driving 4X4 with common sense.
Is it drivable with a dent like that?
Happens to me when I ran over orange cone and it got stuck under my car for a mile. I pulled it off and it was nearly half gone cuz road act like 500 grit sandpaper.