After all 4WD is just a piece of hardware!
The most common four-wheel-drive vehicles work in similar ways. They have a transfer case that can engage the front wheels and lower the rotation speed in a slow drive mode giving more power when needed for offroading.
In 2 high mode the front axle spins freely while full power is sent to the rear wheels. This is usually used for the highway and gives better fuel economy.
In 4 high mode the front and rear axles spin at equal speed and power is distributed between the axels. On most 4x4's the front and rear drive shafts lock together, but on some 4WD's especially those without 2 high mode you have the option of manually locking the center differential unit (diff lock). Using 4 high mode gives your truck the awesome traction needed for the off road. It is absolutely essential to use the 4 high mode only on slippery surfaces like snow and ice, gravel or other rugged terrain.
Shifting into 4 high while driving is possible in some 4x4s. Check with your trucks manual. If you can - you should keep a low constant speed and not engage it while the driveline is under strain.
In 4 low mode the 4x4 is ready for extreme off-road situations, like rock-crawling and heavy snow or sand. The lower differential gear ratio gives greatly increased power at the slow speed needed.
Some 4WD's come with locking hubs for the front axels. The manual type is usually much more robust and is preferred over the automatic one. If the truck is equipped with locking hubs they must be in the LOCK position to enable four wheeling. The FREE position can reduce wear on the differentials and can also come in handy if you break the front drive.
The wheels do not all spin at the same speed. When turning the inner wheels travel a shorter distance and must therefore turn slower, the rear wheels similarly turn slower. Differentials are used for applying the same torque to each wheel.
Standard 4WD sends power to the wheel that has the least traction. If for example one wheel is on ice and the other is on sturdy ground, that will be the wheel rotated! That way you might not move at all.
In order to spin all tires equally at all times you can consider installing lockers for the front and rear differentials. The most common ones are Detroit Locker, Lock Right and ARB air lockers.
Lockers are the secret ingredient to successful 4WD off-roading.
When you have lockers in your front drive, steering can be affected when the lockers are active. In fact for a 100% locked front drive turning on hard surface is practically impossible since all wheels are forced to turn at the same speed.
Owning a 4WD truck gives you freedom. Knowing how it works is essential for offroaders and gives you the chance to travel to the most remote areas and drive amazing trails.
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