I was told I should turn my 4X4 on every once in a while since I don't use it much. Yesterday I turned it on at about 10 mph in a parking lot and went to make a turn and the vehicle came to a stop but if I straighten the wheel it rolls again. Is this normal??

 

That is normal, but you do not want to put into 4wd on dry pavement. Even if you do ever so often, the dry pavement will tear up all kinds of stuff making for an expensive repair bill (probably not covered under warranty). The owner's manual states that 4wd should not be used like this.

It is good to put into 4wd ever so often just to make sure that everything still works and to cycle the fluid in your t-case. But just be sure to do it on a gravel or dirt surface.

Duck

 

Thanks for the info, Duck.

 

Being that I'm new to the whole 4x4 thing. Can someone please explain why turning on your 4x4 drive on dry pavement compared to a dirt surface or a gravel road is a bad thing. If you only turn it on for a second to get the fluid running through the transfer case, whats the problem?. I'm really confused by this.

 

turning it on while on dry pavement is one thing. Just don't turn the left or right. 4x4 mode doesn't like it so much when you turn. On gravel or dirt, it allows the front wheels to slip which will keep the gears turning. Dry pavement has too much traction which binds the gears so to speak and the truck just doesn't seem to like it. that's just a basic run down.

 

To clarify, when you put it in 4x4, your differentials are locked up. All 4 wheels want to turn at the same rate and not slip... Engaging it on a dry surface and going any direction other than straight is going to put unwanted strain on the system. Actually, I'd imagine even going straight you could still strain things if 1 wheel does manage to slip.

 

hi, i am new be here, just got a 2006 dodge ram qc 5.7 5 speed auto trx 4, red and silver lower end with 20's on it

just checking are u saing there is no differential on the front? shouldn't there be a way to drive with 4X4 like u would an allwheel drive vehicle?
mine doesn't have any 4X4 tags, has the the electronic shift on the fly transfer case

ok sorry for my rambeling

but are u sure? cuze then i am out of the ram( nodiffarential means i break it if i am too fast at a not slipery enough corner)

 

There is a diff in the front.... It free floats when you're in 2wd mode. It locks up and engages the front wheels in 4wd mode.
You won't find a 4x4 that I know of that slips in the front diff when engaged. There's quite a difference between an AWD vehicle and a 4x4.
When you put a REAL 4x4 into 4wd, your gearboxes are locked, and all 4 wheels will want to spin at the same speed, hence all the HUGE warnings in the manual about using 4wd on a solid surface..... bad juju whether your truck was made by Dodge, Ford, Chevy, or the Almighty.
If this is a problem for you, and you want to sell your TRX, I'll give you $15,000 for it.

 

The front diff does not lock in 4wd. If it did, you could not drive it on dry pavement.

The front diff is just an open diff with no means of locking.

When you put it into 4wd, the transfer case locks the front and rear diffs together, that's it.

So in reality, with an open rear, you have 2 wheel drive, one in front the other in the rear.

With a posi rear, you get 3wd.

In answer to the original question. You should never engage your 4wd on dry pavement unless you are going to go perfectly straight.

When you make a turn, the outside wheel has to cover more ground than the inside wheel. That means they have to spin at different speeds. In 4wd, they can't.

If you want to engage it now and then to move the oil, do it only going straight, slowly and only on a very wet/slippery pavement or off road on gravel, dirt, etc.

 

Interesting, as I've never been able to light off just 1 front wheel...
I was always under the impression (lead by design) that the front diff locked up when 4x4 was engaged, hence the issues trying to turn on a dry/hard surface... As the wheels couldn't rotate independantly of one another. Front-to-back lockup wouldn't/shouldn't lead to as much bucking while turning, but still produces strain on the transfer case.

I freely admit I could be wrong though... Sure wouldn't be the first time, and I doubt it would be the last...
I still stand by offer of $15k if he wants to part with his TRX...