Need some quick intel? I posted the following under the towing/hauling section since it is towing related. However, that forum doesn't get monitored like this one. Would like some quick input.


Mama JJ is on the road with our 5ver toy hauler. Last night she engaged four wheel drive in order to get the camper into a campsite. This morning she drove for about 2 hours at 65-70 mph still in four wheel drive high. http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif She didn't realize the truck wouldn't disengage the 4x4 when she turned it off.


Tranny temp was 190, engine temp 200. http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif She was towing without overdrive engaged since she is in the foothills of Georgia. Last week I changed to transynd in the tranny and transfer case. Probably a good thing that I did.


Since she has the truck I don't have access to my owners manual. My concern is how fast can she drive in 4x4, and can/should we tow in four wheel drive? Any damage? http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ouch.gifShe commented that it was pulling hills with ease and she was passing semi-trucks. She's towing a 17k lb toy hauler. Geesh! Gotta slow Mama JJ down! http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

Don't worry about it,She will be fine.We do a lot of Snowmobile trips to U.P.and run 4x4 70-75 m.p.h. for 100 plus miles no problem http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

also tomac and all them guys with the big hp run them in 4wd all the time at the track and the pulls.

Thanks for the feedback. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gifInteresting intel I'm getting from the towing/trailering side of the house. Do the front tires/axles turn at a different ratio than the rear when in four wheel drive?http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif DMax Mike, have you noticed you are able to pull inclines better when in 4wd?


The wife only noticed she was in four wheel drive when she saw the light on the dash. I have noticed that when I'm parking the 5ver the D/A pushes it around much easier when in 4wd.


BEGS THE QUESTION: If there is no risk of damaging the tranny, axles, or transfer case why not run in 4wd when towing in hills or mountains. This way you are getting mo' power to all the wheels versus just the rear wheels? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif

BEGS THE QUESTION: If there is no risk of damaging the tranny, axles, or transfer case why not run in 4wd when towing in hills or mountains. This way you are getting mo' power to all the wheels versus just the rear wheels? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif


- very good question, anyone have some good info on this ?

The front and read are geared the same. There are two problems. One: the tires are never exactly the same diameter front and rear, so one of them has to skid to make up the difference. Two: Going around bends, the front tires take the long way around compaired to the back. So again, a tire somewhere has to skid to make up the difference.

The pressure it takes to skid a tire loads up all of the driveline but is a big burden in the transfer case. The pressure to skid a tire is even higher when you load up the truck Like when towing. It is possible to exceed the transfer cases ability to handle the extra load on hard packed good traction roads.

What fingers said.



Plus on dry pavement in summer you shouldn't see any improvement in performance in 4x4 as opposed to 2wd. In fact 4wd will likely decrease your performance due to all the added drag.

"OUT-FRICKIN-STANDING" INTEL FINGERS! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Hug.gif The few times I have maneuvered in 4wd I have noticed some lurching, sorta like all the wheels weren't moving in sync with each other. She likely didn't notice any difference due to the weight she is trailering and she is on the interstate. Thanks!


Update: She is back in 2wd somewhere in the hills of Tennessee heading toward Nashville. Dang woman should have been a truck driver. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif JJ

Yeah, you can run in 4wd all you want on pavement as long as you are going perfectly straight (and have the same size front and rear tires). The problem comes when you start making turns and the front tires start traveling further because they are making a longer arc.


Loose terrain allows the tires to slip a little and thus no strain is placed on driveline components.


It most likely didn't hurt anything , but I wouldn't do it a whole bunchhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

I usually drop mine into 4wd for my 30mi commute to work, at least once a month (weather permiting). I wait till the roads are wet,allowing the wheels to slip easier, unloading the drivetrain. I've done this with all my 4X4's.


I like to know it's working when I need it.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


JJ

these newer trucks are more forgiving to a degree, however I wouldn't go tempting fate. the 1990 ext cab 1 ton 4x4 that used to live at this house froze itself into 4 wheel drive within the first couple 1000 miles. of course the closest dealer we could get to didn't believe it. we dropped it off, next thing we heard was they were replacing the front differential as it had exploded like a hand grenade. they took it out and tromped on it on dry pavement and the back must have been running just a little faster than the front (tire sizes, tolerances in gear hobbing, etc) and the gears physically blew up. that is what can happen when you drive a vehicle that DOES NOT have a viscous coupling between the front diff and the rear diff to allow some slippage on completely dry pavement.