How fast can I go with 4X4 engaged?

I spent some time searching but could not find a thread with this answer already but I could have missed it... if I did please link to it if possible.

Basically I try to run my truck in 4X4 for 16 miles a month as the manual suggest but since I lost my manual a few moves ago I do not recall if there was a do not exceed speed when in 4X4. For some reason I remember reading not to go faster than 50mph although that is what the placard on the sun visor says is the not to exceed speed for shift on the fly.

So yea basically should I be sticking below a certain speed with 4X4 is engaged? It is also worth mentioning that my truck is bone stock.

--Dan

 

Some people say you can go as fast as you want, but I myself never exceed 55mph in 4wd. If the conditions are bad enough to where you need it, you surely don't need to be going over 55 anyway. I only engage/disengage mine at speeds under 45 also.

 

I've been in 4x4 at 60mph before and it didn't hurt anything. I didn't mean to, I just forgot to take it out of 4x4. I wouldn't suggest it though. And like was said above...if you're in conditions requiring 4x4, you should not be going 65mph anyway.

 

As fast as you want.
There is no upper limit once engaged that I know of.

 

I would think you would be overheating things at anything above 55mph because things are geared and conditioned for slower speeds so going fast will overtax the cooling systems for things and in the long run over time it will shorten the lifespan of things

 

No limit for any 4wd in high that I know of. Recommended speeds though probably.

 

No speed limits in 4x4 other than posted limits and being somewhat safety conscious. You can't stop or corner any better. 75mph in 4-high on the interstate in CO is a pretty common thing.

 

^ This

OP - I believe the 50 mph warning you are thinking of is the speed at which you can engage 4-hi.

 

I just drove two hours on slick roads at 65 today in 4x4... I've also been up around 75 with it engaged in the dirt. Just keep it under 45 when engaging and disengaging.

 

No more than 50 here. The short shafts on that front diff take a beating when you get that zinging. CV boot grease takes more wear and heat when ran extended like that, no matter what the outside temp.

Spin it as fast as your checkbook allows.

 

The cv's are always spinning whether you're in four wheel drive or not. We don't have hubs that lock and unlock, ours are always locked so our cv axles are always turning when moving. No difference whether you're in two wheel drive or four.

 

I was not going to go bananas with 4X4 on, but I like to run it monthly just to keep everything nice and oiled / lubed whatever you call it. It's just easier to run it once a month on my way to work which is about 20 miles... I usually keep it below 60 just wanted to make sure I wasn't causing any harm going on the highway with it.

I know its not AWD instead 4WD but keeping it turning once in a while can't be all that bad for the 4X4 system.

--Dan

 

to me it feels like if the conditions merit being in 4x4 there is no reason to be doing any faster than 50mph.

 

its not always about conditions though, i mash through the desert and the dunes sometimes at over 90mph with 4x4 engaged because i can and because its fun.. there is no speed limit or recommended speed limit on this 4wd system.

 

All true, except for the last part. There is a big difference when loaded(and extra unloading now when you let off), as opposed to floating along for the ride when not engaged. There is no discussion on that. Not starting a pissin war because it is pointless,,just saying based on what I have experienced.

But hey, I could be wrong. Sometimes finding out the hard way,,is the best way.

Definitely keep up on the fluid changes, and whatever else makes you feel better. I paid the price years ago for zinging along in 4wdh for 3 weeks straight once,,wont do that again. Cool that it took that kind of punishment and a testament, but it sucked not having my truck when it broke.

 

Not always true for the cvs as this is a 1st gen thread. I have manual hubs not sure if the op does

 

my bad on that one. being canadian i'm always using personal experience to weigh in on these topics and my 4x4 is primarily used to manage driving in snow and ice. never even considered a dry, high speed scenario.

 

^this^ I do it all the time on the way to the mountains.

 

same parts in the front diff that are in the back diff so if it was bad to go fast for the front axle the same could be said for the rear axle. Also Like mentioned if you don't have manual hubs the CV shafts are always turning the same speed whether in 2x or 4x. Pretty sure most if not all 4x4 vehicles now days are like that, even the few solid axle rigs that are left no longer use manual hubs so even on them the front axle is always turning whether locked in or not. Go as fast as you want, the only thing I would recomend not doing is making tight turns on dry pavement while in 4x4, this can cause binding in the front end and tear shit up.

 

Not quite, the Ford 3/4 and 1 tons diesels and gas trucks still have manual hubs. Reason being, manual hubs are much more durable for extreme use and conditions that those trucks are put through on the oil fields and such.