4WD and ice question

Minelson · #1 12/22/09, 06:54 PM

Does it make any difference (safety wise) to have my truck set on 4wd high when traveling on ice roads? Like on a hwy? Dh says it doesn't help any on ice...only snow. Hmmm...what do you think?

rean · #2 12/22/09, 06:55 PM

Hubby is correct. :0)

tiffnzacsmom · #3 12/22/09, 06:59 PM

Your husband is correct, on ice your vehicle is just a very heavy sled.

Minelson · #4 12/22/09, 07:01 PM

So I'm just wasting gas (uses more gas in 4wd) by turning it on...I hate it when he is right.

PhilJohnson · #5 12/22/09, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minelson

Does it make any difference (safety wise) to have my truck set on 4wd high when traveling on ice roads? Like on a hwy? Dh says it doesn't help any on ice...only snow. Hmmm...what do you think?

How icy are we talking about? Like ice everywhere or just patches here and there? Having driven full time 4x4s many winters I can say there is indeed a big difference. In 2wd your vehicle has a much better chance of spinning a tire causing a skid and loss of control. I know I have done it myself on the ice skating rink type roads around here

Four wheel drive helps on any slick surface, not just snow. A little patch of ice here and there isn't likely to cause much of a problem or when the temps dip real low (single digits or lower) the ice tends to provide better traction. If I was traveling on ice covered roads and the temp was near freezing I would probably throw my vehicle into four wheel drive.

ace admirer · #6 12/22/09, 07:16 PM

the world would be a better place if more 4wders knew like your hubby....we have a lot of wrecks caused around here by people that purchased sports utility "yeck" and think they can drive and stop on ice as if it were spring time.

Ed Norman · #7 12/22/09, 07:16 PM

I agree. If it is patchy ice and you are in 4hi, maybe one wheel has a good grip then another gets a grip, etc. That can keep you going straight. If it is solid ice, stay home away from the idiots.

Wis Bang · #8 12/22/09, 07:17 PM

Patch ice and mostly bare blacktop + 4X2 as you shouldn't be in 4x4 on dry road. Compacted snow that has frozen to an icy state can vary, my ranger has a limited slip rear differential and I find it helps more than 4x4 as it doesn't subtract from the amount of power available w/ the 3.slow engine...your mileage may vary.

rambler · #9 12/22/09, 07:27 PM

4wd high helps on slushy, snow covered roads. It does wear on the machine a little bit, tires anyhow. I prefer not to, but in stop & go situations it sure helps getting going from a stop!

On ice, your problem is stopping. The 4wd can give you a false sense of getting going - and then you can't stop. Bam! Best to stay in 2wd on ice so you realize how bad it is, and use the 4wd to get yourself out of that snowbank you slid into....

--->Paul

Wis Bang · #10 12/22/09, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

4wd high helps on slushy, snow covered roads. It does wear on the machine a little bit, tires anyhow. I prefer not to, but in stop & go situations it sure helps getting going from a stop!

On ice, your problem is stopping. The 4wd can give you a false sense of getting going - and then you can't stop. Bam! Best to stay in 2wd on ice so you realize how bad it is, and use the 4wd to get yourself out of that snowbank you slid into....

--->Paul

Great advise! I had a 62 Willys Jeep in college and I would drive on any dirt road I could find in 4x2 and would only get out and lock the Warn hubs when I needed 4x4 to get out.

Sawmill Jim · #11 12/22/09, 07:49 PM

Tried it every way there is in two wheel you can get in trouble fast yes on solid ice . Once you break traction in two wheel and the problems start you have a self created hazard that could been avoided . Big thing is stopping . I like these folks that tell me their two wheel drive will go on ice as good as my 4x4

If and when we get some ice there is a stop sign in our small town on a nice hill i have for fun stopped while gathering a known one of those folks behind me then take off and see how good they do .

Most times they have to back to the bottom of the hill and try again .

Me an a buddy one year ran Jeep liberty's doing escort an had to load these things up loading ramps on solid ice then on to drop deck trailers you don't try this in two wheel for sure .

tamsam · #12 12/22/09, 07:59 PM

My Ranger gets the hubs locked in in the fall when it gets cold and stays locked till spring. If I shift into 4wd hi at 50 mph I see no difference in rpms or speed so I am assuming that the mileage is very close to the same. I don't worry about ice because I stay home and out of trouble. Stay safe and drive carefully. Sam

Sawmill Jim · #13 12/22/09, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamsam

My Ranger gets the hubs locked in in the fall when it gets cold and stays locked till spring. If I shift into 4wd hi at 50 mph I see no difference in rpms or speed so I am assuming that the mileage is very close to the same. I don't worry about ice because I stay home and out of trouble. Stay safe and drive carefully. Sam

Yep this is the reason to have all the same brand an size tires on a 4x4 makes life good .

I get out and check on all the old folks around when it gets to icy for them has always been my thing and no charge either . Well maybe a

plowjockey · #14 12/22/09, 08:18 PM

You are correct.

2WD rear wheel drive only on ice, will break loose too easy, forcing the rearend, to the right or left.

With 4WD The front wheel(s) will "pull" the front end, taking some of the load off of the back wheels. Plus, since the engine weight is on the front wheels, they will get more stable traction.

Proved it once again at 3:30 this morning.

4WD

Old Vet · #15 12/22/09, 08:39 PM

4 wheel drive will get you moving no telling which way you will go on ice and it does not help in stopping at all. I have driven on lots of ice in both ways. I like the 4X4 to get moving slow and easy but the 4X4 does not help at all with stopping.

tinknal · #16 12/22/09, 09:53 PM

Ice 6 months a year here. The biggest problem I've found is deceleration. When you let off the gas while in 4WD on ice the wheels often break loose and slide instantly.

sulix · #17 12/22/09, 10:58 PM

Your husband is right. You will need 4x4 this week with all the snow we are supposed to be hit with this week.....

salmonslayer · #18 12/23/09, 12:24 AM

I drive on solid ice for much of the year, I use 4wd (3/4 ton pickup with just a tool box) and have no problems. If you are breaking loose and instantly sliding when you decelerate you are going too fast or need a new truck. I run all terrain load range E tires with no studs or chains and often drive from Haines to Anchorage in the winter...mountains, snow, ice like an ice cube and sometimes you see no one for hours.

If your on a maintained highway and just patchy ice and no snow you are destroying your truck by keeping it in 4wd.

Regardless you need to slow down and as others have said, getting going is one thing, stopping is another.

foxtrapper · #19 12/23/09, 07:46 AM

If your hubby was correct, than all the ice racing teams are wrong. Personally, I'd believe the ice racing teams.

fantasymaker · #20 12/23/09, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Vet

4 wheel drive will get you moving no telling which way you will go on ice and it does not help in stopping at all. I have driven on lots of ice in both ways. I like the 4X4 to get moving slow and easy but the 4X4 does not help at all with stopping.

I think you guys are WAY off on this one. I think 4 WD helps tons when stopping on ice.
Its more about evening out the power of the engine feeding to the wheels.
Think of it this way, have you ever had the situation in 2 WD where you slide the non powered wheels on ice because the engine is powering the others?
You know where you shift into neutral to make better stops?
Having a 4wd and having it engaged will help even the braking.
You may still have to shift to neutral for even better braking on ice.