When to Use FOUR WHEEL DRIVE in Your Pickup Truck

In this episode, we guide first-time truck owners through the nuances of using four-wheel drive in half-ton to heavy-duty trucks. Learn the difference between four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, the various modes like four-high, four-low, and four-auto, and the best and worst times to use each. We also cover the impact of four-wheel drive on towing, fuel efficiency, and vehicle wear.

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00:00 Introduction
00:54 Understanding Four-Wheel Drive vs. All-Wheel Drive
01:23 Should You Get Four-Wheel Drive for Towing?
02:38 Common Misconceptions About Four-Wheel Drive
03:42 When to Use Four-Wheel Drive
04:12 Sponsored Message: RV Mattress
05:41 How Four-Wheel Drive Works
07:56 Different Four-Wheel Drive Modes
13:42 Shifting into Four-Wheel Drive
16:03 Tips for Getting Unstuck
17:14 Conclusion and Recap

[jeffb]

Good video. My dad use to say 4 wheel drive just gives you the chance to get stuck further in the woods than 2 wheel drive LOL

[jeffmallison]

In four years of trailer towing I've used FWD twice. Once to get out of my snowed in winter storage place to head south and once when the rear wheels were on wet grass. But I was happy I had it both times.

[ScottAllshouse]

Test your 4x4 modes (Hi and Lo) / drive modes once a month. It's okay, even on dry pavement for just one block. Use it in forward and reverse. The electronic acuatated modes are susceptible to failure if they are not used regularly. And, you'll be practiced in how to use it per the owners manual. Best case, you'll detect a failure before you really need the system. Use it or lose it.

[berthaduniverse]

It's also a good practice to run the 4x mode for a few minutes/miles once or twice every few months...

[GoingNoWhereFast]

You did pretty good Jason, but just a few corrections/added facts. "Traction Control" uses the "anti-Lock" brake system to apply braking on a slipping wheel to help transfer power to the non-slipping wheel. You should turn it off if your stuck and using 4x4 or you'll be fighting the brakes to get unstuck. Also, 4Low is much more power/Torque and so if your going slow and trying to get something to move (like maybe a stump or stuck vehicle) 4L is great. Better 4x4 traction happens with low tire pressure. We regular Off roaders like to reduce pressure down around 20lbs. Much better grip and smoother ride. You just have to have a way to fill them back up before you hit pavement. I spent many years building transfer cases for 4x4s and driving off road areas of the North east!

[dxradioman]

Keep your transfer case and diff lubed during long non use periods, find some dirt (not pavement) and drive for a mile or so. Then go back to 2 wheel drive.

[johnirwin]

I have lived in Indiana, Ill, South Dakota. I have never owned a 4x4 truck in my life. We had a 2wd truck in South Dakota for 9 years and no problems even tree hunting in black hill. Chains with a limited slip diff. worked great. The same truck came to Indiana in '87. Never a problem in the winters. My current 3500SRW and the previous 3 2wd trucks were and don't have 4x4. I don't tow in winter except on I 65 to Florida. Been towing an RV, s since 2000. I simple use common sense as to where I take my truck. Oh, by the way I grew up on a farm and all of Dad's trucks were 2wd. We had a tractor to feed the cattle in winter.

[ShouldersMoondog]

Nice subject to cover, you are right that new RV'ers and truck owners may not have a clue as to when to use 4 wheel drive. I've been driving for over 50 years now, didn't have 4 wheel drive for the first 20 years, only 2 wheel drive. (chains in the snow) now with 4 wheel drive, I only use it when needed (wet grass getting the camper out of storage, then turn it off!)

[rikwhitfield]

Jason, it is SOOOO hard to describe just when to use, let alone what 4LOW is really all about, FOR ME, it was a learning experiance! That even after years of “wheeling” many different opinions as to when, where, it is appropiate. From that i have determined being with like minded people to go out an “play with it” so you get a feel just what it can offer! I commend you for all you offer😎

[luminousveiws]

Nice advice for us non-truckers.
I did get a related RV related bit of advice that could have fit well here. When backing into a site with my trailer is tricky I use 4L. The slow speed is good of course, but also the extra torque gives me the control to ignore those bumps and dips that might otherwise make me hit the gas. All in all it's much easier for those 50'! Just don't forget to go back to 2H when leaving...

[kbrowning]

I have a 2021 F250 w/7.3 gas with a locking rear differential....not 4WD. I only use this vehicle for towing my 5th wheel or boat. Never thought I needed 4 WD but have always had limited slip differentials or a locker in this case on this truck. My locker has really worked well in certain conditions and the added benefit of having increased payload capacity (3450 lbs) . So many people have a misconception about 4WD trucks and believe they are the answer to duty, more payload, safer, etc. We live 3 miles in on a curvy steep grade two lane paved road and through the many years we have lived here I have seen far more 4WD vehicles sitting on top of the guard rail or in the ditch than 2WD. This video is very informative and I hope all those knuckle heads that laugh at me having a 2WD truck will see it!! Good video!!

[tomdt]

Out here in NM, we use our 4WD quite a bit on ranch and forest roads, towing or not. I've noticed that it reduces the tendency of the tail of the truck to skid on our dirt and gravel back country roads. Towing and climbing out of a deep arroyo, the 4WD L does the job and reduces wheel spin.

[DaviddoesStuff]

Good video! It IS 4 wheel braking, even 2 wheel drive cars have 4 wheel braking! LOL

I'm just giving you a hard time, I understand your meaning. Just because you take off better doesn't mean you can't stop better.

With 2wd you know how slick it is when you try to take off. 4wd gives you false confidence.

I drive 3500 miles a week in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana and if it snows and the wind is blowing there WILL BE a 4wd pickup in the ditch.

AWD is typically 70/30 or 60/40 front to rear ratio because that's the weight distribution on most vehicles. On a 4wd it's 50/50 with a mechanical lockup BUT the weight distribution is still forward biased.

4wd is great to get you moving but as soon as you get going turn it off.

The biggest problem is most people don't rotate their tires on a regular basis so the tires at one end of the truck has more wear than the other.

This effectively means the gear ratio between the front and rear are different. Another way to say it is the tires cover a different distance per revolution.

If the front tires are taller you are dragging the rear of the truck which reduces the traction so you actually have less traction than two wheel drive.

The more dangerous situation is if the rear tires are taller. You are trying to "push" the truck but since the weight bias is in the front and the front tires have more traction which means the rear tires are constantly spinning. It only takes a small amount of crosswind on snowpack to get you into a spin.

If you are pulling a trailer I wouldn't use 4wd on dry pavement at all.

You have the potential really cause a lot of wear. Even with new tires the rear tires will be carrying the bulk of the load which effectively makes them a tiny bit shorter and again get you into a situation where the front and rear tires have a different revolution count per mile.

The "rolling diameter" of the tire is different than the physical diameter.

To determine the rolling diameter you have to measure from the center of the axle to the ground x2 xπ.

You have to use the radius to the ground to "assume" the top of the tire is also squished down or there will be an error.

Basically what you will be doing is loading the back side of the ring gear as you were coasting downhill all the time you're driving.

It would destroy your fuel economy, tires and if you hit the diffs with an infrared thermometer you would see excess heat buildup.

Sorry for the rant. Have a great day and be safe out there!

[TheFreewheelinNomad]

Loved this guide! 🌟 Your breakdown of four-wheel vs. all-wheel drive and when to use each is so helpful. 🚙💨 As someone always on the road exploring, understanding these features makes a huge difference. Thanks for keeping it clear and practical—this is knowledge every truck owner needs! 💪🏾✌🏾

[NianticRiverWoodcraftingChrisN]

Great advice. One thing, most manufacturers recommend staying under a certain speed in 4 wheel drive. Check your manual

[markwiegard]

My camper is 6 tons and the truck 4.5 tons. I have used the 4 wheel drive in grass more than anything or backing the camper into awkwardly camp sites.

Early morning dew leaving a harvest host with a slit incline can cause the rear wheels to spin in grass as well as loose gravel backing into a site turning hard one way or the other.

[oldengineer]

I towed with a RWD F-150 for years. It did have a locking rear differential which I used once or twice to back up a loose gravel drive but that was it. However for the most part I never had a situation where I needed anything more.

My current F-150 is 4X4 but that's due to me wanting the max tow pkg and the dealers around here order all of those with the FX4 pkg. Since we don't have any snow to speak of I do take it occasionally to a nearby NFS camping area that caters to 4-wheelers so I can exercise the 4 wheel drive functions. I don't go out on the trails and stick to the loose dirt and sand roads. The only places around here that I can think of where 4-wheel would be useful on a regular basis are boat ramps. They can get pretty slick and being in 4H gets power to the front tires which are usually on dry pavement.

[-Pack]

The best information’s in the Owner’s Manual.

[Jasonrcsd]

I have used 4wd when towing our big 16k toy hauler down a steep grade to help hold back. It's slow going but it works. A lot of people out west tow long enclosed snowmobile trailers up and over mountain passes on bad roads and some of those times you do tow over 40-50 mph.

[DanMosqueda]

I tend to use 4WD for off-road driving when it’s slippery due to rocks, mud, sand, etc…, and of course for snow and wet. I do have a Subaru and never really have to think about it clearly, however, it also has “X-Drive, ” which one uses in gnarly situations and can only be used at very slow speeds. The fact is, a truck with 2WD often has greater towing capacity because the truck isn’t lugging all the extra equipment. I’ve had 2WD, AWD, and 4x4. I would always pick 4x4 for the pure utility of it. Great video, as always, Jason!