Howdy guys.

My truck is a 98, and every now 'n then it grinds when shifting into 4L. When transfering over its in neutral like its suppose to be. Its happened twice out of maybe 8 shifts, I dont use it too often. Just want to know if this is something I should worry about, before it comes a bigger problem in the future?

Also total newb question, when is it better to use 4L or 4H? Im guessing 4H when ur coming up on something unexpected while driving and u just drop it down to 4H? And when you plan on off-roading for a period of time go into 4L? If so, why not use 4H even if you plan on using it for awhile?

 

The grinding is normal. If you don't want it to happen put the truck in neutral then shut it off. Shift it and turn it back on. or have it rolling just about a mile per hour in neutral. Don't try to shift it into 4-lo in park or ever in gear. 4 high is fine when you need all 4 wheels. 4-lo is good for going up steep hills , through deep mud, and for pulling someone else out of the mud. Torques out in 4 lo. Wouldn't use 4 lo on the road though unless theres like 2 feet of snow.

 

Watcha mean 4H is good when you need all four wheels [Example or twoplease]? And thanks for rest of advice! Im guessing when you see **** coming at you and u dont have time to go in neutral and use 4L? Just kick it into 4H?

 

No. 4 lo is only if you need a buttload of torque.

4 highis for anything that sucks just bad enough to get your back wheels spinning, like snow, flooded roads, wet grass, dirt roads, hell even if the roads arerealwet and you're stopped on a hill.

 

If I'm reading that the way I think you meant it, don't ever do that. That'll tear things out of your truck in a hurry.

Cereal has got it on. You can run 4H in snowy conditions on pavement or 4-wheeling. I've run it on the interstate to go up skiing. You only use and engage in 4L from a stop and never go over 10 - 15 mph. I use this on steep hills and harder wheeling. For me, to engage 4L, it's always been easier to come to a complete stop, put the transmission in N, shift the transfer case into 4H, put the transmission in R and go a couple a feet, put it back in N, shift the transfer case into 4L, transmission in R and go a couple a feet, then go do what you need to do. It's not necessary to do that all the time but it goes in a lot easier.

 

There is no "kicking it into 4 lo" Ever. You have to stoped to get it in...so if your driving down the road in 4h and want to go to 4l, you HAVE to STOP (be rolling 1-3mph) and have it in Nuetral (or push the clutch in). Otherwise, it'll grind and if your going fast enougn in gear, something will break.

Putting it in 4L makes a big gear reduction, so you'll only be able to go about 40 miles an hour and you'll be in Overdrive at a high RPM.

Plain and simple, if its snowy and slippery out, put it in 4H. On dry pavement you'll never really need 4H. Its only for slippery surfaces. Also, don't turn the steering wheel all the way to lock and stand on the throttle in 4H, unless you want to replace some u-joints and shafts.

Use 4L when your pulling somebody out, or going up a really steep hill. Now I don't mean your driving down a paved snow covered road and you get to a hill... on back roads, on really steep hills is all you need it for.

 

Shoot guys, I have only used 4 low three times, (with this truck), once was pulling a tractor trailer up a hill in the snow, (hwy) the other time I was pullin my buddys buried CJ out of the sand, and he was freakin buried, and the third time I was tryin to go up a slimy muddy incline that none of us ever made to the top....4 hi works unless you really need the torque..

 

I spent a good 5 hours in 4 low today
Climbing these snowy hills in my buddies field and they are steep.
These tires are the ***** in the snow. My buddy just got Buckshot mudders on his truck, and they also do well from what I saw. He doesn't get around as good as me but he has an 95F-150 with a 300 V6, 5spd so it's already comparing apples and oranges.

We hit this back *** trail I've never been before too. It was really nice down, the snow actually made everything seem brighter than it was. Whichwas nice cause i don't have KC lights or anything. 4 low really helps in deep mud and water too, and since we never go that fast on the trail I just leave it in low gear most of the time incase we run into asteep hill. I have two open diffrential but I have noticed that when it's in 4 low it spins all 4 tires alost constantly even when it's stuck. Usually only if I get a tire off the ground will the other one stop spinning completley. I'm not sure whatcauses this pheomenon, maybesomene else can.Can't imagne needing it on the road for anything ever unless you're towing something way to heavy up a hill.Itwould be nice on a boat launch too. Otherwise it's only good for the slop and climbing rocks (if you're into breaking your ****).