Road Warriors-Activating All the Drive Modes

[B-rad351]

Other than a few months of some Winter snow, my ‘24 Badlands is basically a road warrior.
Shouldn’t all the drive modes and the switches for locking the differentials, unhooking the sway bar, etc, be done periodically to keep them working well?
What’s the best way to accomplish this?

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[zoober]

I am a firm believer in working equipment so that fluids fluid, seals seal, etc.. this keeps things from drying out and hardening.
simple treks off road, doesn’t need to be extreme. just some loose traction spots.
i need to remind my wife of this as she is a mall queen in her JK

 

[Brian_B]

What’s the best way to accomplish this?

Flip the switches?

 

[B-rad351]

I am a firm believer in working equipment so that fluids fluid, seals seal, etc.. this keeps things from drying out and hardening.
simple treks off road, doesn’t need to be extreme. just some loose traction spots.
i need to remind my wife of this as she is a mall queen in her JK

zoober, I was raised the same way. Thanks for sharing.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

Other than a few months of some Winter snow, my ‘24 Badlands is basically a road warrior.
Shouldn’t all the drive modes and the switches for locking the differentials, unhooking the sway bar, etc, be done periodically to keep them working well?
What’s the best way to accomplish this?

4WD should absolutely be activated on a regular basis. It was in the owners manual of my 2k Tacoma that it should be driven in 4WD every MONTH. To keep everything lubed. As for the modes, I don’t know if they all need to be exercised since some are just programming.

Eco mode can atrophy and die for all I care.

 

[B-rad351]

Flip the switches?

Yes, there are a bank of switches that let you lock the front and/or rear differentials, disconnect the front stabilizer bar for rock climbing, use the trail turning mode and more.

 

[B-rad351]

4WD should absolutely be activated on a regular basis. It was in the owners manual of my 2k Tacoma that it should be driven in 4WD every MONTH. To keep everything lubed. As for the modes, I don’t know if they all need to be exercised since some are just programming.

Eco mode can atrophy and die for all I care.

Agreed. Thanks for your input.

 

[eighty6gt]

What's wrong with eco mode? I normally use sport mode on the work truck.

 

[CV428]

What's wrong with eco mode? I normally use sport mode on the work truck.

It reduces throttle response and changes shift points to supposedly increase fuel economy, but the effects are debatable. I used it almost exclusively for a month, switched back to normal mode, and saw no measurable difference in fuel economy. Then again, I'm a firm believer in "smooth and gentle inputs" from driving fast cars and bikes for a long time. If you're a twitchy driver that stabs the gas, Eco mode might "neuter" the throttle enough to have a noticeable difference in mpg.

 

[NC_Pinz]

Yes you should put your drivetrain components through their paces on a regular basis. No need to do it through the drive modes, but use the transfer case buttons and switches on the dash. I try to do it once a month or every 2 months at most. I try to do this on the gravel road leading to my RV storage or similar.

 

[B-rad351]

Yes you should put your drivetrain components through their paces on a regular basis. No need to do it through the drive modes, but use the transfer case buttons and switches on the dash. I try to do it once a month or every 2 months at most. I try to do this on the gravel road leading to my RV storage or similar.

Thank you for your input. Seems to be the general consensus. I will find a place around here where I can do this.

 

[Astronaut]

I agree with all the comments here…here is my use it or loose it story. I used to have a 2008 F-150 and only used 4x4 a few times during winter. I lived on a street with a 5-10 degree slope and you needed 4H to make it up the street in the snow. One winter when the truck was 5 years old…I backed out of the driveway to go to work, pushed 4H and it did not engage. Tried 4A and nothing. I couldn’t get out of my neighborhood! At the dealer the mechanic told me he replaced the solenoid that activates the differential because it was stuck. He advised me to use 4A or 4H once a month to prevent the solenoid from sticking.

 

[B-rad351]

I agree with all the comments here…here is my use it or loose it story. I used to have a 2008 F-150 and only used 4x4 a few times during winter. I lived on a street with a 5-10 degree slope and you needed 4H to make it up the street in the snow. One winter when the truck was 5 years old…I backed out of the driveway to go to work, pushed 4H and it did not engage. Tried 4A and nothing. I couldn’t get out of my neighborhood! At the dealer the mechanic told me he replaced the solenoid that activates the differential because it was stuck. He advised me to use 4A or 4H once a month to prevent the solenoid from sticking.

Wow, okay. You are right…use it or lose it. Thanks for sharing.

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