When can I use 4H??

[EvBronco]

Hey guys I’m new to the 4 Wheel community and I have some questions. My 4dr black diamond should be here in the middle of April, I did not add the 4A option to my bronco because I live in Southern California and didn’t feel it was needed.
This past weekend I was in Big bear and wondered to myself at what point I would be able to switch into 4H when driving up the mountain. If there is quite a bit of ice on the road can you use 4H or should you still stay in 2H?? I am new to 4 wheel systems and would love some help!!

thank you!

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[BeerForMyHorses]

Oh my sweet summer child...

"It depends" is the truest answer. If you're driving on ice yes you should absolutely have it in 4H but nothing will save you on ice except for defensive driving. Understand 4wd is not a magic switch you turn on and you're suddenly invincible to weather conditions. If you're driving on snowy roads, put it in 4H.

If the roads are 50% snow, 50% normal, it's a gut check. In general, driving in 4H on normal roads will be bad for your 4wd system. Experience will dictate what you should do. Again, defensive driving will help the most.

Read the owner manual to understand what it says about the 4wd system, too. I'm sure there's good YouTube videos out there to help learn the basics.

Edited for clarity

 

[BadlandsA51]

Only use 4H if you need it, that is if you are in mud, snow, or sand where your rear wheels are losing traction. DON'T use it of pavement or on hard dirt or gravel roads. You will bind up your driveline and cause premature failure of some pretty expensive parts. If you have the Advanced 4 Wheel Drive option, it MAY release the 4 Hi clutch if you are binding up the driveline, but I'm not sure. If you have the part time 4 wheel drive, there is no clutch to release. So, smart money is on using 4 Hi or 4 Lo only when needed. Also, if you are always in 4 wheel drive and you get stuck, then you are stuck. If you start to get stuck while in 2 Hi, you still have 4 wheel drive to try to get out.

 

[malt_liqueur]

Understand 4wd is not a magic switch you turn on and you're invincible to weather conditions.

sir, this information in contradictory to everything I have been taught by TV and movies.

 

[E. J]

Doesn't the owner's manual detail the use of GOAT modes?

If not, this is out there:

https://www.ford.com/support/how-to...ission/ford-bronco-terrain-management-system/

 

[OhhhhhhSnap]

Only use 4H on soft surfaces (snow, sand, dirt, mud, etc) where all four tires can rotate at their own rates. Do not use on ridged/hard surfaces such concrete/asphalt.

Generally if you don't know if you need to engage 4H or not you probably don't need to use it.

 

[dgorsett]

Like folks have said it's kinda experience based training. If roads are consistently snowpacked: yes. If icy: Yes. If snowpacked with totaly clear two track: no. If one slick and one clear track: OK to use 4h. Anytime at least one wheel is on slick you're OK. Gravel: Ok. Hard pack dirt: maybe. Rainslick: maybe. If you make sharp turns in 4wd you will know if 4wd was appropriate. You can shift into and out of 4H at will and at speed so long as your traveling fairly straight with no wheel spin, back out of throttle to shift.

 

[Stampede.Offroad]

... I did not add the 4A option to my bronco because I live in Southern California and didn’t feel it was needed....

That's unfortunate, 4A is going to be more useful to more people than 4H and 4L. Not because the system does more, but because auto is easier to use correctly.

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

That's unfortunate, 4A is going to be more useful to more people than 4H and 4L. Not because the system does more, but because auto is easier to use correctly.

For sure!

I’d tell the OP to follow what others have said, as all good advice meaning, no 4 anything on the street unless the street is iced and that’ll only do so much.

Since you’re new (no shame in that, we all were there), definitely use the GOAT modes that you’ve paid for.

Never try to turn in 4H or with a front locker engaged. Bad for the tranny and creates a very large turning circle.

Use the GOAT modes and maybe try to learn what that’s doing in a given situation before testing yourself. 2H in most cases will get you out of whatever; otherwise, why are you on such a complex trail when new? 4L in off-road and slow situations is going to be your friend when new. Horsepower only really wrecks your rig and only for pros with sponsors or n00b jackasses with too much pride. Don’t be that guy……

 

[RimrockPaul]

Hey guys I’m new to the 4 Wheel community and I have some questions. My 4dr black diamond should be here in the middle of April, I did not add the 4A option to my bronco because I live in Southern California and didn’t feel it was needed.
This past weekend I was in Big bear and wondered to myself at what point I would be able to switch into 4H when driving up the mountain. If there is quite a bit of ice on the road can you use 4H or should you still stay in 2H?? I am new to 4 wheel systems and would love some help!!

thank you!

I have been driving 4x4 vehicles on mountain roads for over 40 years. Most vehicles have been 3/4 ton pickups. I typically throw it in 4h as soon as it's loose dirt. Reduced wheelspin and reduces washboard on roads. Often pull auto tyranny to manual in a fixed gear so it's not shifting a bunch.
In all these years I've NEVER had any drivetrain failures.
The new diesel trucks with a lot of torque need to be in 4x4 to reduce wheelspin and shredding of tires.
Waiting to go to 4x4 until you're stuck is not a smart move.
Also in4x4 you're engine braking goes to both axles, not just the rear.
Just don't run 4x4 on dry paved road and you'll be fine.
Paul

 

[[DELETED MEMBER 27901]]

I did not add the 4A option to my bronco because I live in Southern California and didn’t feel it was needed.

You made the right choice. Any owner of a pickup with part time 4WD needs to know the basics and you made a good move by asking instead of winging it!

Theres probably a ton of content published on this topic. But if you’re in SoCal you’ll never need it on asphalt if you’re anywhere near sea level.

 

[JPG]

To use 4H , ask yourself this question before : Can my wheels spin freely/slip ? If yes then you can use it , if No , then don't. Reason is that, if your wheels cannot spin freely, you are going to get binding, and that's not good. Look up 4x4 binding on YouTube.

 

[azbittel]

Only use 4H if you need it, that is if you are in mud, snow, or sand where your rear wheels are losing traction. DON'T use it of pavement or on hard dirt or gravel roads. You will bind up your driveline and cause premature failure of some pretty expensive parts. If you have the Advanced 4 Wheel Drive option, it MAY release the 4 Hi clutch if you are binding up the driveline, but I'm not sure. If you have the part time 4 wheel drive, there is no clutch to release. So, smart money is on using 4 Hi or 4 Lo only when needed. Also, if you are always in 4 wheel drive and you get stuck, then you are stuck. If you start to get stuck while in 2 Hi, you still have 4 wheel drive to try to get out.

4A is much safer to use in a wide range of circumstances as it will vary power to the front and rear as necessary. This is the default config for sport mode and auto switches from 2Hi to 4A when that goat mode is selected.

 

[BadlandsA51]

4A is much safer to use in a wide range of circumstances as it will vary power to the front and rear as necessary. This is the default config for sport mode and auto switches from 2Hi to 4A when that goat mode is selected.

Agreed, if you have 4 Auto then that's the way to go if you don't understand the function and purpose of 4 wheel drive. (And many people don't from my years of experience in the automotive business)

 

[lwilliams34]

Another newbie here.. thanks for the input...
.

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