4WD questions
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Professional
Joined: Feb 2022
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4WD questions
I have a 17 Rebel. The blast of snow the past couple days brought a couple 4WD questions to mind.
As I recall, the front wheels on a farm tractor turn at about a 3% different speed than the rear wheels when the 4WD is engaged. Do trucks do the same thing or do the fronts and the rears turn at the same speed?
Is there a maximum speed that you should drive with the 4WD engaged to prevent damaging drive train components? ie. is it ok to drive 50 or 60 mph?
As I recall, the front wheels on a farm tractor turn at about a 3% different speed than the rear wheels when the 4WD is engaged. Do trucks do the same thing or do the fronts and the rears turn at the same speed?
Is there a maximum speed that you should drive with the 4WD engaged to prevent damaging drive train components? ie. is it ok to drive 50 or 60 mph?
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,397
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From: Clayton MI
Front and rear tires should turn at the same speed. Drive as fast as you care to in 4wd..... at least, drive according to the conditions you currently see. (50mph on ice just isn't a good idea. 
) Also, ONLY use 4wd if the road is snow covered. Running in 4wd on high traction surfaces tend to cause things to break. Expensive things...... Bear in mind, that while 4wd will help you accelerate in low traction situations, it will NOT help you slow down...... Too many people learn that the hard way, and I end up pulling them out of ditches. 
) Also, ONLY use 4wd if the road is snow covered. Running in 4wd on high traction surfaces tend to cause things to break. Expensive things...... Bear in mind, that while 4wd will help you accelerate in low traction situations, it will NOT help you slow down...... Too many people learn that the hard way, and I end up pulling them out of ditches.
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Professional
Joined: Feb 2022
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Thanks HeyYou. Ya, I get it that 4WD doesn’t help you stop. And I don’t use it on bare road. Yesterday our back roads, while paved, were completely snow covered. The highways were salted so they were bare but our municipality only salts the intersections, between intersections you’re on your own. My last truck was an 03 GMC and it had auto 4WD so if the back wheels spun the fronts engaged. Then they would disengage when not needed. I loved that, just turn it on auto in snowy conditions and drive on. The Ram doesn’t have that. It’s either on or off. 😤
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,397
Likes: 4,213
From: Clayton MI
Thanks HeyYou. Ya, I get it that 4WD doesn’t help you stop. And I don’t use it on bare road. Yesterday our back roads, while paved, were completely snow covered. The highways were salted so they were bare but our municipality only salts the intersections, between intersections you’re on your own. My last truck was an 03 GMC and it had auto 4WD so if the back wheels spun the fronts engaged. Then they would disengage when not needed. I loved that, just turn it on auto in snowy conditions and drive on. The Ram doesn’t have that. It’s either on or off. 😤
I would LOVE that feature on my truck..... and if the 242 wasn't weaker than the 241, I would have done the conversion a long time ago. 
Grand Champion
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,146
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From: S.W. Indiana
I have a 17 Rebel. The blast of snow the past couple days brought a couple 4WD questions to mind.
As I recall, the front wheels on a farm tractor turn at about a 3% different speed than the rear wheels when the 4WD is engaged. Do trucks do the same thing or do the fronts and the rears turn at the same speed?
Is there a maximum speed that you should drive with the 4WD engaged to prevent damaging drive train components? ie. is it ok to drive 50 or 60 mph?
As I recall, the front wheels on a farm tractor turn at about a 3% different speed than the rear wheels when the 4WD is engaged. Do trucks do the same thing or do the fronts and the rears turn at the same speed?
Is there a maximum speed that you should drive with the 4WD engaged to prevent damaging drive train components? ie. is it ok to drive 50 or 60 mph?
Quite often the gear ratio in the front is just slightly lower than the rear. If your rear axle is 3.55 gearing, your front is usually 3.54. This keeep the chain (if you have one) inside the transfer case taut and not let it over run the rear.