2011 Ford F-150 FX4

[SlimKlim]

No reason to be in low unless you're really stuck.

Growing up with the F-250 I was always trying to find places to justify using 4Lo but I think you'd have to be driving the goddamn thing straight up a cliff for it to really be necessary.

[Senor_Taylor]

No reason to be in low unless you're really stuck.

Growing up with the F-250 I was always trying to find places to justify using 4Lo but I think you'd have to be driving the goddamn thing straight up a cliff for it to really be necessary.

Mine is such a hassle to get in and out of Lo I rarely bother with it. If I do switch to it, I'm in it for a while. It's definitely very useful when trying to negotiate tricky stuff.

[V1GiLaNtE]

No reason to be in low unless you're really stuck.

Growing up with the F-250 I was always trying to find places to justify using 4Lo but I think you'd have to be driving the goddamn thing straight up a cliff for it to really be necessary.

Mine is such a hassle to get in and out of Lo I rarely bother with it. If I do switch to it, I'm in it for a while. It's definitely very useful when trying to negotiate tricky stuff.

Likely intentional so you don't grenade your transfercase.. :thumbup: OR maybe need to use it more? :dunno:

[D_Eclipse9916]

Have to imagine 4-lo for rock climbing or trail running is great.

With the 6-speed in mine, 4-lo makes it super super short. Off hand I can think of only a couple times I have used it.

MM History: MM snow/ski trip to Canaan Valley, Garret Hughes WRX was going up a hill, lost traction and went backwards into a ditch. Brought my truck over, hooked up the tow strap, and pulled him out in 4-low without even touching the throttle pedal. Turned around, hooked up the strap, and let it idle/limit his wrx down the hill the other way. Very useful in that situation.

Can't remember if it doubles or triples your "effective torque" using the gear ratios. Mine does not have the "part-time" locked. Its either RWD or full locked 4WD, the part time would be nice. Trust me, you will know immediately if you left it in locked 4wd the second you turn the wheel.

Ice fishing..yes. Becomes a little less fun the bigger the car/truck gets FYI.

[Senor_Taylor]

Mine does not have the "part-time" locked. Its either RWD or full locked 4WD, the part time would be nice. Trust me, you will know immediately if you left it in locked 4wd the second you turn the wheel.

Ice fishing..yes. Becomes a little less fun the bigger the car/truck gets FYI.

You've got it backwards. Full time 4WD is equatable to AWD.

Part time is what you are describing.

Well, I guess the words are all interchangeable in the end. That's the problem with talking about trucks. Almost everything can mean anything.

[ispoonwithmugen]

MM History: MM snow/ski trip to Canaan Valley, Garret Hughes WRX was going up a hill, lost traction and went backwards into a ditch. Brought my truck over, hooked up the tow strap, and pulled him out in 4-low without even touching the throttle pedal. Turned around, hooked up the strap, and let it idle/limit his wrx down the hill the other way. Very useful in that situation.

Ah good times, ha!

[D_Eclipse9916]

Mine does not have the "part-time" locked. Its either RWD or full locked 4WD, the part time would be nice. Trust me, you will know immediately if you left it in locked 4wd the second you turn the wheel.

Ice fishing..yes. Becomes a little less fun the bigger the car/truck gets FYI.

You've got it backwards. Full time 4WD is equatable to AWD.

Part time is what you are describing.

Well, I guess the words are all interchangeable in the end. That's the problem with talking about trucks. Almost everything can mean anything.

We are talking about trucks here :wink: Mine is either full locked...or RWD. I got it right the firs time :thumbup:

Edit: I know what you are getting at. But a fully locked 4wd full time is NOT awd. AWD has a LSD center, not locked center.

[Ryan T]

4hi is full time four wheel drive when you are in it in the F150. You can also shift into 4hi while going up to like..25mph and keep it in there up to 50mph, although there is no reason you should be going 50mph and still needing 4x4. 4lo you have to come to a complete stop and shift the transmission into neutral before it will engage 4lo (at least that's how it is in my F150). Only time I've ever had to use 4lo is pulling stumps out of the ground or some other time when you needs loads of torque at very low speeds. Around here (and I'd say its the same up there) when the weather gets bad intersections will be especially slick but there will generally be a somewhat clear travel lane once you get going. For that reason I find myself putting it in 4x4 at red lights so I don't spin in the slush pulling out then putting it back in 2wd once I get going 15-20mph. That way if you slow down to turn in somewhere that the pavement is exposed you don't find your truck lurching and kicking on the pavement because it is still in 4x4.

You're a smart dude and a good driver, just use your judgement. If you can see the pavement underneath the snow you are probably ok to be in 2wd. If the entire road is white 4hi is probably best. If you find yourself on the road with a need for 4lo...there better be video!

Another good idea, when you are shoveling your driveway, throw that snow in the bed of your truck. The extra weight will help with traction and it'll melt once you don't need it anymore.

[Jake]

Good tip on the "snow in bed" Ryan! Going to do that this weekend.

I took the truck out for groceries late last night and did the flip-flop thing between 2WD and 4High, seemed to work well.

[HAULN-SS]

I usually shovel the driveway into the bed of the truck, if you're leaving after it has already snowed..takes care of itself in a couple days

dafuq my internet props at???

[Ryan T]

I usually shovel the driveway into the bed of the truck, if you're leaving after it has already snowed..takes care of itself in a couple days

dafuq my internet props at???

:thumbup: to pickup drivers doing the same thing.

[PDenbigh]

Lock the diff in 2wd and have a hoot ice fishing. OR grass fishing, gravel fishing, dirt fishing, or anytime you want to hoon around.

[PDenbigh]

Oh, and that little 4x4 dash display is actually really useful in the snow when you loose track of which way your wheels are pointing, or if they're straight.

[Jake]

I don't think I can lock the diff in 2WD, has to be in 4x4

[V1GiLaNtE]

I don't think I can lock the diff in 2WD, has to be in 4x4

There has to be a tune/hack for that.

[Jake]

I don't think I can lock the diff in 2WD, has to be in 4x4

There has to be a tune/hack for that.

I think some people swap in the switch from a Raptor and flash something in the ECU... need to read more.

[D_Eclipse9916]

I don't think I can lock the diff in 2WD, has to be in 4x4

There has to be a tune/hack for that.

I think some people swap in the switch from a Raptor and flash something in the ECU... need to read more.

The diff locking that is "on the switch" is the center differential. Pete is talking about the rear differential. If you have 4WD and a locking rear...sick and yes #donuts.

[Jake]

I think some people swap in the switch from a Raptor and flash something in the ECU... need to read more.

The diff locking that is "on the switch" is the center differential. Pete is talking about the rear differential. If you have 4WD and a locking rear...sick and yes #donuts.

No it's not. It is an electronically locking rear diff, standard on FX4 and Raptor. FX4 allows it locked when you are in 4x4, Raptor allows it to also be locked in 2WD.

[*insertusernamehere*]

I am so fucking confused. I feel like you can make an entire semester class on this.

[Jake]

I am so fucking confused. I feel like you can make an entire semester class on this.

Most trucks' 4x4 systems have open diffs for the front and rear axles. You know what an open diff is. When you put the truck in 4WD "High" mode, it locks the center diff so that power goes to both front and rear axles. But! You still have open diffs front/rear, which means the same follies as always apply - if one wheel has traction and the other does not, on the same axle, all the power will shoot over to the wheel that is slipping.

Having a locking rear diff will then lock both sides of the rear axle together (think of a drift car with a welded diff) so that the rear axle has to spin both wheels at the same rate of speed.

Some trucks have a limited-slip rear diff. That's how my Denali was set up. Better than open, but only works as it decides to. The FX4 will let me lock the rear at will, assuming I'm in 4WD already.