To all the macho men with 4x4s...

[Engine09]

4x4s used to be so much cooler when you had to get out and physically lock the hubs.

But yeah, always on 2WD unless I'm on ice or a lot of snow. As soon as the street is dry and clear it's off 4WD.

[DuffMan]

My Jeep grand Cherokee makes the decisions for me, like AWD.

[PsnaP]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Studded Winter Tires + 4X4 = Safer Winter Driving

I don't see why it's considered "macho" to have a 4X4 when you live in a place that has winter like Calgary. Especially if you work outside or live rurally.

Snow tires is the most important thing.

I didnt mean anything by naming this thread macho... just that you see all these jacked up trucks running around town...

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

4x4s used to be so much cooler when you had to get out and physically lock the hubs.

.

These are still around! Ive got an 08 with manual hubs and the gear shift.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Kryzsky

4x4s used to be so much cooler when you had to get out and physically lock the hubs.

But yeah, always on 2WD unless I'm on ice or a lot of snow. As soon as the street is dry and clear it's off 4WD.

I had a Suzuki Samurai I had to do that on. Not sure how much cooler it was. Locking them was kind of cool I guess because you knew you were in some fun. Getting out and unlocking them, not so much.

[PsnaP]

Just leave em locked!

[Mad Mel]

What Pinner said is so important... if you drive in 4WD on dry pavement, you will destroy your drivetrain by winding up differing amounts of pressure on your axles and on the front and rear driveshafts.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by Pinner

You're diff's are trying to turn all the tires the same, unless you're driving in a straight line you are wearing on the clutch plates, diff's and or transfer case. On ice, the tires can slip reducing the wear.

This. Further more since something has to 'give' when cornering in 4wd you're actually better off on the highway being in 2wd. If the roads are icy your tires are going to give before your drivetrain gives potentially causing you to lose traction. 2wd unless stuck (or about to get stuck) is how a 4x4 is meant to be driven. Besides, most 4x4's tell you not to drive in 4x4 over 80km/hr anyways...

BTW, if you're leaving it in "4x4 All Time" or "4x4 Auto" you're not driving a 4x4 but rather an AWD vehicle.

AWD - Open centre differential that usually has an uneven front/rear power split.
4X4 - Closed centre differential with a 50/50 power split.

[burn_this_city]

I think it depends on the vehicle. Trucks with solid front axles definitely shouldnt drive on dry asphalt, if it has independent front suspension (cv shafts) it isnt as bad.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Mad Mel

What Pinner said is so important... if you drive in 4WD on dry pavement, you will destroy your drivetrain by winding up differing amounts of pressure on your axles and on the front and rear driveshafts.

Yep. I've seen some guys to a lot ($$$) of damage by leaving it on full time.

I've got an auto 4x4 (engages automatically, similar to traction control), so in the winter it usually stays there.

Driving in obviously poor conditions, especially in the mountains, I'll turn it to manual 4x4, so it doesn't take that extra second to swing over if I'm sliding.

Dry pavement or decent to moderate conditions it's in 4x2.

[TylerSVT]

Only when there is ice and i dont feel like dying. It can be a little nerve racking driving around and hitting a patch of ice in just 2wd with no weight in the back.

[Madman]

Pfft, weak - I leave mine in 4 Low all the time.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by TylerSVT

Only when there is ice and i dont feel like dying. It can be a little nerve racking driving around and hitting a patch of ice in just 2wd with no weight in the back.

When did they start making a 4wd mustang?

[PsnaP]

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by puckluck

Really? I doubt you've driven a 4x4 if you say that. Mine sure helps on ice. It doesn't help me stop on ice, but it helps me take off and it helps when I'm turning on ice.

Driven plenty of 4x4's and owned numerous Audi's and AWD sport cars.

Originally Posted by Pinner

Stand down PIM, we know what we are doing

I think some of you folks are forgetting that I spent plenty of time up north and played in the snow too.

I was basically saying that if you don't drive like a complete jackass you shouldn't need 4x4.

[ShaolinFlame]

'98 Cherokee 5 Speed (Basic2R/4H/4L) - Definitely been using it less and less every year. This year only two days have I driven in 4x4 for longer than not being a jerkoff at an intersection. It is fun as hell to rip around in a foot of snow and not lose much traction, but the gas alone scares me away.

Boblobla makes a good point about slowing down in more control. This especially comes in handy when good 'ol Calgarians slam on their brakes in front of you on a bridge deck... As much as I hate to wear on my drivetrain like that my lack of 4 equally worn tires creates a little bit of havoc with braking/accelerating at times.

Also very important to follow the 80 km rule. But honestly, if the conditions safely allow you to drive over 80 KM/H you don't need 4wd to begin with.

I find the more I drive in 2wd in bad conditions, the better I become at handling my car in winter conditions. There are a few bad moments, like occasionally getting caught off guard and causing some backup at an intersection. Inefficient traffic flow is a big pet peeve of mine so I always feel pretty guilty for having to waste a few seconds ripping into 4x4.

In terms of accelerating, I rock 4wd intersections a lot in icy conditions. Mainly due to my aforementioned hatred of inefficiency, but also because my fuel system isn't the most efficient, which varies the amount of pressure you need to put on the gas peddle in relation to how full the tank is (think gravity)... You get used to it but at certain tank levels it's real easy throw a little too much gas through and wobble around like foolish Nucklehead in an inch of snow. I do dislike how it seems that in order to 'softly' disengage the 4wd I have to coast in neutral and let her baseline rev for a few seconds. People get confused and tailgate the crap out of me.

Another one that gets me, (take note NB DF drivers going downtown and slamming on your fataing brakes in the fast lane so you can rip accross 3 lanes to the memorial exit) is driving down the good ol DF to work trying to rock some 2wd in a 70 kmh middle lane traffic flow during snow. I know you have an AWD WRX with mad blizzacs and that the car in front of me is 100 yards up, but when you see my arse end kick out a half a foot over that tiny bridge before 17th you probably shouldn't drive 6 inches behind me and then cut me off for not rocking 90 in the middle lane over a bridge deck during a Christmas snowstorm. For reals guy, that's not cool.

Otherwise, I just want to say that as unsafe and embarrassing as it is to us, some people have to rock all seasons. Even though you can afford AWD and blizzacs, please understand that during winter driving conditions the rest of us may not be able to drive at or above the posted speed limit. Please utilize the lane to our left in order to pass us in a respectful and ultimately safe manner. Please do not drive less than 3 car lengths behind us at high speed, and do not show off your brakes in front of us. Please do not drift into the shoulder when there is a debris field of gravel.

Not all cars drive like yours, and you're being a dickhead when you assume they can!

PS - The guy from half arsed sanding company who didn't properly cover his load and fataed my windshield on DF can go fata himself. Fata.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I got a 01 Ford Escape. It's always in AUTO, outside of deep snow, which we rarely get in Vancouver. So, 4x4 gets used for maybe .5 percent of my overall driving.

[Jackpot_Smooth]

Auto setting for me too. if it's super deep i'll set it in high, packed and not too sketchy stuff though and i'll put it back into 2wd. i'm cheap. saves gas.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by PIMking

four, eight, or sixty four wheel drive isn't going to help anyone on ice.

Stick to schooling CP on guns, because you don't know jack about 4x4s.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Stick to schooling CP on guns, because you don't know jack about 4x4s.

Haha...maybe he's a cop, because those are the only guys that give me the "4-wheel drive doesn't help you when you're sliding" BS.

[TRIX]

4x4 on the bush roads if i need it, try not too though, only when going up in elevation like 1500ft in under 10 km's or something, or lots of snow and ice.

In town sometimes I have to use it if I have an empty box, because there's not enough weight for the torque amount and the rear's just spin example would be back alleys, side streets, up hill when at a stop light or sign which has had people spinning prior and polishing up the road.

4x4 was only "cooler" when you had to get out and lock them because you physically get cooler when it's -30 out and you have to F around with them...I'll take my Chev 4x4 system thank you very much!