4W HI or 4W LO Poll

[Dockboy]

Hey Guys and Gals:waving

A friend of mine called me to settle a bet between him and his father.

His father asked if we plowed in HI or LO. I have always plowed in HI(diesel and upgraded tranny) and have never needed LO even when pushing 30+" in one shot.

He said that when he was living in NH, everyone used LO and that If you didn't, you would kill the tranny. I told him my tranny temps have never exceeded 170 while plowing even with a stock Torque Converter.

So what do you think?????????????

[CNY Joe]

I plow in 4 Hi unless the snow is really wet and or deep.

[phillyplowking1]

I plow in 4Hi most of the time but it depends on the truck and the storm.

[W-n-K Landscaping]

It really depends on the truck- my '84 Ranger that I built I ran most of the time in 2 wheel, and that had an 8' blade on the front of it. My Suburban I usually ran in 4 high, and my Blazer now I run in 4 high, but have noticed with the BFG AT tires I need to use 4 low more often. I have new tires to install on it, I think tonight since we are supposed to be getting 6" starting later this evening, that I ran on my Ranger- they are much more aggressive, so I think that will make a big difference.

Bill

[jt5019]

Unless it's real wet and heavy i use 4 hi.

[Adams Plowing]

4 High unless i get stuck or have some really heavy wet snow thats making the truck struggle a bit...

[wyldman]

It really does depend a lot on site conditions and the truck being used.I don't think there is any "right" answer to te question.

A small 4 cyl truck will probably need 4LO most of the time,yet a big diesel may never need it.

With most of the trucks I have used,I use 4HI 99% of the time.If i need the extra power or traction,then I use 4LO.

[Mick]

4wd HI always. Haven't run up against anything yet that either the 1/2 or 1 ton couldn't handle in High.

[BWhite]

I use 4 HI unless I feel the truck straining . Then its time for 4LO . It doesnt happen to often

[Joey D]

4 high or 2 high if the conditions are right.

[Honest Mike]

4HI most always, except for heavy amounts of snow, such as that blizzard we had last year for instance. Mike :cool:

[Bob Van]

2HI for most of the time.

4HI the rest of the time.

[capt.craig]

4 high bbut in low gear. what's everyone's opinion on gear range? Craig

[Honest Mike]

Well I use an automatic, so when Im done backing up, the lever either ends up in D, or OD. But it doesnt make much difference what position the lever ends up in, because the truck usually never gets a chance to shift out of first, due to the slow snowplowing speed, and the short trips in a lot or driveway. Mike :)

[slplow]

Like most have said 4hi. lo heavy wet snow.

[wyldman]

I always drop it in D,or OD,whichever is the first below neutral on the truck I'm in.It would take me twice as long to get everything done if I only plowed in first gear. :D

[BWinkel]

I almost always plow in 4 High and use the forward momentum of the truck when I can. In some situations I will use 4 lo - deep wet snow that just piles in front of the blade. I don't think I could finish my route on time if I plowed 4 low all the time.

[EIB]

4WD all the time.

Everett

[EIB]

Sorry, forgot 4WD high.

Everett

[greensway]

4wh 95% of the time.

[windmill]

2WD most of the time with 4WD high when the situation warrants. I don't think my truck has been in low gear while plowing, ever.

[Snowboy]

What is the max speed you plow at. The snow is at 3" to 6" heavy wet snow. How about light fluffy snow like when its really cold outside.

What is the max speed you should go in 4wd Lo ? Is there a max speed for 4wd Hi ? I mean i wouldnt be doing Hi way speeds like 100km but is 80 or 90 ok ?

[paulsoccodato]

4wd high range always while plowing, low range only when trying to pull over a tree or unstick a machine.

[cardoctor]

first time in 20yrs ill be driving an auto
and since i fix what i break
whatever it takes to keep the trans from over heating
john:headwall

[sno-mover]

I'm a 4 hi man my self, lo seams to low the few times ive tried it. once and a while I'll put it in 1 or 2 if I have to make a long heavy push, but not with out pleanty of momentum:burnout :grinz

[EZSnow]

my 6.0 chevy cried for low range alot sooner than this ford ever will. The diesel has enough torque to easily push in high range. OD/D doesn't matter a lick- how many times has your transmission been 'hunting gears' while plowing? didn't think so.

BTW- what's with "I use 4L when I need more traction"? Traction is provided by the tires given the amount of weight on them. Low provides more torque, but I can't see how it adds ANY traction.
dont mean to be :argue just gotta hit the sack... no time- later!!

[Honest Mike]

I agree EZ, 4LO adds no traction whatsoever, just a heck of alot more torque! Mike :cool:

[Big Nate's Plowing]

believe it or not 4 low is alot harder on the drive train then pushing heavy in 4hi. example you do a push in 4 low and stop after your run and go to back up shifting from d to r will let the motor spin maybe 100 more rpm during the n- part of the shift. when it hits reverse the added speed/rotational torque from the motor-trans internals are multiplied 1.9-2.5 times with the transfer case and it transfers into a shockload on the ujoints/r&p and spider gears.

[MIdnightdozer]

Most of the time it is 4HI. Like most have said only use LO when Snow is wet.

Steve

[campi]

I use 4 hi almost all the time,unless i realy have put in 4 lo think 1n 10 yrs used 4 lo twice,Campi !!!!

[BWhite]

I always thought 4 Lo removed strain from some driveline parts( when pushing the same weight) increase in engine rpm would be one downside

[sonjaab]

Mostly 4w HI..........When its wet and heavy and I
have a big load in front with the wings on to push
waaay out back i use 4 lo................geo

[Eyesell]

4 High Baby !!!:burnout :burnout :burnout

[Honest Mike]

Nate, what you said makes sense. The truck does seem like it jerks more going from D to R or R to D in 4LO. I know this much, when you put it in reverse, in 4LO, and give the gas pedal a quick tap, it really jumps! :eek: Feels like it wants to pull a wheelie in reverse! Mike :cool:

[WalkingMan]

NEVER plow in 4LO.

[teeca]

for a full size truck 4hi is where you should be (v8, auto). when i started plowing i was using a 85 s-10 blazer (v6 auto), and it needed to be i 4lo, if the trans mission was going to last. then got a jeep (I6, auto) and i found it to do best in 4lo. got a 02' chevy 2500hd (v8, auto) does just fine i 4hi, 4lo hasen't been needed (yet).

[JohnnyU]

Most of the time I use 4hi, just because I shift in and out a lot. Shifting into and out of 4Low, means stoppiing, putting the truck in neutral, and grabbing and pulling, then shifting back into gear, takes a lof ot time, and we never get enough snow to put much of a strain on the driveline. But I do remember last year I used 4low for breaking some of the 3' drifts we had.....that was interesting to say the least. That guy was told to call someone before the end of the storm, still wouldnt sign a fulltiime contract either....:scramble

[gordyo]

NEVER plow in 4LO.

Walkingman,

Are you saying that you never plow in 4lo or that noone should plow in 4 lo ??

[KenP]

2wd til I need the 4wd then it's 4wd High. Can't think of ever using 4wd low:burnout

[FordPlow]

I'm curious why do people plow in 2wd ?

Why even give yourself a chance to get into a situation you can avoid by just starting in 4wd ?

as far as low range providing traction that may be a misnomer but the intent is the same. When i back my sled trailer up the driveway I always use 4lo so I dont break traction as I do in 2hi
or 4 hi when its icey. in 4lo I can ease out the clutch and make adjustments to my direction without having to feather the clutch.

While plowing I would say most applications would warrent 4wdHigh Range

Dean

[wyldman]

Originally posted by FordPlow
I'm curious why do people plow in 2wd ?



If's it's warm,and you have lots of traction,then 2WD is easier on the truck.It prevents driveline windup when making tight turns.

[windmill]

Yeah that's it! thanks Chris, I was thinking it was because I was old and forgot to put it into 4W, or would forget to take it out until sometime in the summer. :) :) You're right though it does add stress turning on the road when there is lots of traction and that is often the case here.

[teeca]

ok, lets get this right.. 4lo just reduces's the gear ratio to the wheels, meaing gear reduction (torque). it does not help with traction, so to speak. if your pushing snow (or whatever it may be) and it comes to the point that the vehicle just won't move any more (tires not spinning). then you put it in 4lo, a lower gear ratio (i.e. going from say 3.73 to 8.73) it will apply more torque to the wheels. the reason for plowing in 4lo is to not over heat the transmission, yes it may cause more wear on the driveline, but remenber the weakest link (the most affected by plowing) is the transmission. and here is something that i hear all the time and drives me crazy! "i put my truck in 1st gear and it pulled like never before" or "i put my car down in 1st gear and it took off like a bat out oh hell". just keep talking....:o , you just might start looking as dumb as you look, standing there talking about non-sence:burnout there's no special device connected to the front and rear diff's that know the difference between 4hi and 4lo, no instant 'detroit locker' 'possi track' that comes to life when it's shifted in and out of.... just my $.02:shades

[campi]

:confused: I would like to hear some more input on this 4 lo discussion, very interesting in what teeca had to say, i am by far no expert on gear ratios and such, would be interesting what you mechanics think, has me wondering now??? thanks Campi !!!!plowing! :cash let it snow!!!!!

[Mick]

The one place I use 4lo is going down an ice covered hill, especially with the sander. The gear ratio holds the engine speed down without using the brake resulting in better control.

[teeca]

heres somthing to keep in mind if you plow in 2wd. 2wd plowing is ok as long as you don't get alot of wheel spin. wheel spin is most likly the act that will tear up a transmission and drivline faster then any on thing i.e., when your spining your wheels, look at the speedometer and double what ever it indicates 40mph/kpm = 80mph/kph (kph for the canadians:) ) this free wheeling, no load speed is bad, very bad, and will tear up a tranny in no time, same as your engine. no load rpm's are killer!

[bud16415]

This is a really tough question. Like most have said it depends on so many factors. I plow with a ¾ ton GMC with a 7 foot trailbuster blade so I’m a little different to start. But light snow a inch or two just a clean up I stay in 2WD most deeper snow 4 Hi and the heavy lake affect snows up here on lake Erie its maybe 4 Lo a half dozen times last year. I do a fair amount of dirt dozing in the summer and that is 4 Lo all the way. I have walked thru at an idle 3 foot dirt ridges full blade width while back filling ditches in 4 Lo. Its unreal how much wheel torque these machines can make.
Bud

[Got Snow?]

most of the time it's 4hi for me. usually with a full balast and some steeper drives where i need to back up i'll put it in 4lo.

"heres somthing to keep in mind if you plow in 2wd. 2wd plowing is ok as long as you don't get alot of wheel spin. wheel spin is most likly the act that will tear up a transmission and drivline faster then any on thing i.e., when your spining your wheels, look at the speedometer and double what ever it indicates 40mph/kpm = 80mph/kph (kph for the canadians ) this free wheeling, no load speed is bad, very bad, and will tear up a tranny in no time, same as your engine. no load rpm's are killer!"

if your truck has some traction i wouldn't call it "freewheeling", also i've heard this theory about doubleing the wheel speed if your tire is spinning. how is this possible?it seems as though the gear ratios are fixed no matter if one or two tires are spinning. wyldman any opinion?

as far as speeds.....
i'd say around 35mph in 4lo is about the max safe speed. you can really hear the transfer case whining
i'd say in 4hi your good to go highway speeds, just don't shift in and out of 4hi/2hi faster than around 50mph
(check your trucks owners manual for exact numbers....)

interestingly i have also found myself using 2lo in certain situations (it's nice to have manual hubs pimp )

[cardoctor]

35mph in lo range
thats not the trans making noise thats the engine coming apart

john

[teeca]

the double the indicated speed is something we did way back in high school shop class. raised a wheel off the ground (NON-POSSI) and had a portable dyno and spun the wheel with the dyno, which had its own speedo. compaired it to the speedo in the car and it was twice the speed. and yes we tried it on several vehicles rear and front wheel drive. can't remenber why the instructor said it happend that way, but remember the speed doubled. something to do with the spider gears only needing to spin half the differential.

as for 2wh lo? man that is not a good thing! how did you do that? must of been with lock-outs not engauged? that seems like it would totaly through the entire drivetrain out of :confused: your transfer case must be singing??? i can only imagine the vibrating, free wheeling front drive shaft with no load on it??? could be wrong? but i think i'm not. any way i have a chevy with out lock outs, so i won't be testing this.

[Adams Plowing]

Running in 2 low by just not having the front hubs locked in sounds like it could tear up a truck rather well... for the extra minute or so i think i'd rather get out and lock the hubs... then again i dont have locking hubs so it really wouldnt be an option for me i like being able to just drop it into 4 high 4 low without having to get out in the cold or mud...

[W-n-K Landscaping]

I have the locking hubs on my Blazer and I really like that. During the summer months I can disengage the hubs completely for all of the highway miles that I do, and in the winter I just lock them in and leave them locked unless I have a longer highway drive and it's not snowing out. Yes it takes a minute to get out and lock them in, but it's not really that big of a deal. I use 4lo, but I have a short wheelbase, and when it comes to the heavier lake effect snows I need to put it in 4lo to be able to push. I can then run the truck at lower rpm's and not worry about spinning by getting them too high. Most of the time I run in 4 hi though, and if it's just a quick cleanup job I use 2 hi until I start to spin. As soon as I feel the truck get even a little loose then I know it's time to stop and engage the 4hi. Never had a problem plowing this way.

Bill

[TLS]

I only use 4LO when its real heavy or deep. If I'm straining the torque converter, I'll drop into 4LO.

But you really have to watch Low Range as with traction and weight and torque, come broken truck pieces! With a full pallet of salt, 4LO on dry pavement, if I were to STOMP it hard (454/400) I'd likely either be picking up that entire pallet of salt (it'd be on the ground with the taligate) or I'd be strapping up one or both of my driveshafts after they spit out the universal joints. Just way too much torque multiplication than is really needed in most situations.

[Got Snow?]

you need to have a feel for 2wh lo. i wouldn't recommend it to everyone but it has it's uses. yes you can tear stuff up, but you can also tear stuff up in 4lo or 4hi. you have to know how to drive.

with manual hubs you just keep them in the unlocked position and then engage the transfer case in 4lo.

every try to backup a heavy trailer up a hill on the dry pavement? 2wh lo works great for this because your able to turn sharply on the pavemnet without working the TC.

i'd still like a better understanding of the double wheel speed thing. i have heard of this before but forget the explaination.

[TLS]

You want multiplication......

Think about this....

A full time transfer case, no posi diffs.

3 tires on Pavement, 1 on a patch of ice. Then spin your driveline to say what would normally be 60 MPH. That 1 tire can actually be traveling 180 MPH and self destruct!

There's actually a warning in my 1975 Suburbans owners manual describing such a situation.

A differential splits your torque into two. Stop one and the other goes twice as fast.

A full time T-Case in 4HI (not LOCK) is in essence a differential.


Does any of this make any sense?

[Got Snow?]

sort of, i'm not disagreeing with you. what i'm trying to understand is what is going on to in crease speed 2x(even 3x as you descibe)

i see this happening:
assuming 1:1 for tranny and transfer case, the output speed front and back should be the same, even the same as the tranny. assuming open diffs and 3:1 r&p, the axel shafts should be spinning 1/3 the speed of the driveshaft. how does the speed double because my wheel is spinning/slipping?

when you get traction you dont jump ahead 2x faster.

you 4wh drive example is confusing because at least 2 wheels are spinning in 4wd.

i'm interested in learning more!

[TLS]

Well, maybe your not looking at it right.

We're assuming all OPEN Differentials here.

In a standard 2 or 4 Wheel drive on the REAR axle. One wheel is on dry pavement, and the other is on a sheet of ice. Because the one is STATIONARY, the other now must transfer BOTH sides of its motion to only ONE wheel. 2:1


Now on my FULL TIME 4WD scenario, the transfer case has a differential inside of it.

Its getting power from your transmission, and it normally sends it to the FRONT and the REAR. BUT, the REAR axle has both wheels on dry pavement, and the FRONT axle only has ONE wheel on dry pavement and the other on a sheet of ICE. Since nothing is going to spin in the rear, your now spinning the front drive shaft TWICE as fast as normal. Then because only ONE wheel can spin (the sheet of ice one) it is then spinning TWICE as fast. So, as your transmission spins 60 MPH, your front driveshaft is spinning 120, and that wheel on the sheet of ice is now spinning at 180 mph!!!!


Now remember this is only on a FULL TIME transfer case that is NOT locked.

So full time 4WD technically only has ONE wheel drive, while if you lock the transfercase or use a REGULAR P/T transfer case, you have TWO wheel drive. With a LOCKER in the rear, you'd have 3 Wheel Drive.


Are you confused less or more? 2x's as confused or 3x's as confused??? :burnout

[Got Snow?]

i'm confused x3:confused: :confused: :confused:

i'm trying to understand the differential speed increase, but i'm begining to disagree with your examples of 4wd.

if the truck has 3 wheels on the pavement and one on ice theres no way your going to spin any wheels, as you will just drive off.

hello wyldman are you reading this? can you clarify?

[TLS]

Originally posted by Got Snow?


if the truck has 3 wheels on the pavement and one on ice theres no way your going to spin any wheels, as you will just drive off.


In "REAL LIFE", yeah, your probably right. BUT, under certain circumstances (pushing a BIG LOAD of snow, or pulling a heavy trailer up a steep driveway, it can and has happened. The power flows to the wheel with the LEAST resistance, thats the "sheet of ice" wheel.

Sorry to confuse you, I just don't have the words available to type it out better.

[EZSnow]

TLS's 4x4, 180 mph example assumes an open center diff, which would create the same effect as an open in an axle. I think he's right.

In an open diff, the spider gears are bound to the carrier. Free to rotate on the cross-shaft, but they will travel at the speed of the carrier. Given equal loads on the two axle (driven) gears, the spider gears don't rotate, they just transfer torque to the axle gears. If one of those axles stops, then the carrier is still rotating at the same speed, but now those spider gears are spinning to make up for the difference in wheel speed.

So let's say that the speedo reads 30. Both tires are going 30. then one tire is stopped, while the other spins freely. The spider gears are following the carrier at the same speed, but they now have to spin to accomodate the stopped gear. The spider gears are connected to both drive gears all the time, so this HAS to effect the other drive gear- right? SO- not only is the carrier spinning the one driven gear at 30mph, the spider gears are essentially being driven by rotating around the stopped gear, which, in turn, drives the spinning wheel even faster. I'm not confident that it turns it 2x, but it has to turn it faster, for sure.


I'm beginning to wonder if anyone else will understand all the ramblings that I just typed... Welcome to the inside of my head- pull up a chair... just don't leave any beer cans behind!

[TLS]

Now that I think of it, it would be 240 mph!

[teeca]

i'm glad that i rembered something from high school shop class when i went from memory explaining this here.. teacher would be proud.. thanks TLS

[shaper]

4 Hi most always, tried 4 lo a few days ago in deep snow and is not very smooth, no truck I have had has been smooth shifting in 4 lo but with the Allison tranny it seems to be more severe then normal

[TLS]

With the Allison's LOW 1st and Reverse gearing, Low range isn't really needed. You almost need a 2nd reverse gear its so low! My buddies big block/allison screams in reverse at about 20 mph!

[wyldman]

OK,it's late,and I'm tired,but most of what I have read so far is correct.

When spinning one wheel on an open diff,that wheel is going twice the indicated speed.This is correct.

Same deal goes for a full-time 4WD transfer case,in full time mode,without the center differential locked.One spinning wheel (with open diffs) is all it takes to leave it stranded.When this happens,the center differential in the transfer case is doing the same thing as the example above.So that half of the driveline that is spinning is going twice as fast.Then the spinning wheel gets it's speed double again at the diff.You could get some serious wheel speed if your not careful.A good driver will recognize this before it ever happens though.

Most full-time systems will have either a lock feature,or a part-time position to prevent this from happening,and allowing you to get unstuck.

[Honest Mike]

Last weeks snowstorm, I used 4HI the whole time, and we got alot of snow, about 14" I think. It pushed it with ease, I was somewhat surprised, I thought 4LO was going to be needed. :cool: There is some big office buildings near where I live with pretty big parking lots. I pulled in one that wasnt plowed yet. I stopped as soon as I pulled into the lot. Made the plow perfectly straight, dropped the plow and drove the whole length of the lot slowly with the plow straight, just to see if the truck could do it. It did it with ease, it felt really good to be able to do that. I guess maybe any truck could though, I dont know. It was a feeling of power I must say, the snow was really building up in front of the plow and when I got to the other end of the lot to put the snow up to the curb, the pile was HUGE. :shades Whoever plows that lot is gonna be wondering who was in there, :D, but I bet they will appreciate the little bit of free help, lol! Mike

[WoofsPlow]

I voted for 4W-Low. I do all driveways, most very steep. If I was doing any kind of road or lot I would go with 4W-H, depth and type of snow also become a factor.

[Joey D]

I don't get the wheel spinning twice as fast part in an open diff. How is it possible?

[TLS]

I guess you guys never had LEGO Expert Builder series as a kid?

I don't know how to explain it in words, but it does.

[Prosno]

My 250 pickup with Blizzard 810 4WD hi always, low isnt needed and when you shift foward to reverse it falls into gear hard using low range. f-350 diesel dual wheel one ton flatbed w/sander loaded 2WD always unless I'm having a problem. Just easier on the truck and really dont need 4WD. Now as far as the 2lo thing its true and okay if your not an animal. I have had to back into steep drives or tight spots with the 1 ton flat bed with a 22' trailer and its a 5 spd manual so if its a little steep I chuck it in 2 lo hubs unlocked and let the truck idle to where I want it moved. This way I'm not riding the clutch.

[WalkingMan]

4 HIGH ...........

Lo for emergency.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by Mike 97 SS
Last weeks snowstorm, I used 4HI the whole time, and we got alot of snow, about 14" I think. It pushed it with ease, I was somewhat surprised, I thought 4LO was going to be needed. :cool: D, but I bet they will appreciate the little bit of free help, lol! Mike

Me too, Mike. 14" no problem. Furthermore, you really might want to try a bigger plow. I have my 9' on and still could push right through a 200' drive (or forever) without an strain.
Pete.... In New Jersey.

[GMC Driver]

4H almost all the time. On cleanups (night after), usually get away with 2wd, as most pavement is already bare. This prevents the strain on the front u-joints while turning. Plus, the ton of salt bags gives plenty of ballast and weight for traction.

[norrod]

I have only used 4-lo on a couple of pushes that were real heavy , on a straight run. I run 2WD when possible, then slide into 4HI when I need the traction.

I can still remember the day that my dad thought me the meaning of gearing-up! Uh-oh, story time !

Many-many moons ago...It was a snowy day, and I had slid off the road in my 69-Roadrunner. I tried to drive it back on the road , but couldn't. I walked home to get DAD and the truck to pull me out. We got to the scene, and I saw dad smiling. He said, I but you $10 I can drive that car out of that ditch. I said you're on, I tried, no can do. My roadrunner had a 4speed stick. He got in it, and and started gently rocking it back and forth in 1st gear, then he shifted to 2nd and worked the friction zone to rock it back and forth some more, and when he started to make a little headway forward, he up shifted to 3rd gear and slipped the clutch and walked it right out of the ditch. He got out, and said these words.... "Gear Up for traction, gear down for torque"

[crashz]

Good example norrod! I've used that technique a few times in my F150, starting off on wet hills. Use second gear and the truck don't spin as easily.

On the oppposite side of the coin, we had an 86 1 ton dump with the 350/ th400/ np205 combo. The dump body was steel with an additional steel liner, we had a 2 yd V box, and 9' Fisher plow. The truck weighed in a 11,000 lbs empty. And traditionally we lost two transmissions per year. Most of the time it was heat damage, but we broke a fair share of hard parts too. When I started driving it, the transmissions lasted a few seasons. The trick was using low range. Since our jobs were within a mile or two of the shop, I left it in low range all the time. Never broke traction due to the weight, and never lost another transmission. But it still was a gas hog and was replaced with our current 95 F350 PS dump.

[norrod]

I hear you crashz.

I had the same I am pulling my skidsteer or excavator. I have a tight turn around to back the rig into my driveway. I have to back it up a small hill turning it 90 degrees around a corner. 4LO lets me walk right up it where 2-4HI have me beating up the trucks.

[derekbroerse]

LOL holy old post Batman! Dec. 2003...

Predates me even being here! :p For that reason, and since it has been resurrected, I'll add my two cents.

2wd whenever possible, then 4hi. 4lo I only use for backing heavy trailers or when really stuck and trying to regulate wheelspin.

I don't know why guys with a 6.0 would need to work in low range. I realize my truck is geared a lot lower than average but still (SM465 6.5:1 first gear and 4.56 gears)...

I'll probably find out trying to plow with the S15 with its 3.08's and V6 automatic....:D

[chevytruck85]

4 lo is less stress on 1/2 ton transmissions i think

[BrahmaBull]

Joey D
In an open differential........

Both wheels turning:
The power transfers from the pinion to the ring gear, the ringear to the carrier, the carrier to the spider gear pin. pin to the spider gears (pin and gears as one unit, gears not turning), spider gears to the side gears, side gears to the axle, so it is geared what the ring and pinion is rated... another words the axle is turning the same speed as the carrier..

One wheel stoped:
The power goes from the pinion to the ring gear, ringear to the carrier, carrier to the spider gear pin, pin to the spider gear ( spider gear turning), spider gear to the side gear. Here is where the speed is multiplied**** we will say left tire is stoped and right is turning. Side gear on left is stoped causing the spider gear to turn, spider gear drives the right side gear twice as fast because of the planetary type effect through the spider gears.
So the carrier is spinning the pin, plus the (stoped left side gear) is causing the spider gear to turn on the pin which is multiplying your gear ratio and making the right side gear go twice as fast...

EZSnow you really are ok!!! Great minds think alike the rest of the world is just screwed up...

[NoStockBikes!!]

For some reason, I was under the impression that 4 lo locked everything up, kinda like having posi front and rear. I know that I've been sitting in muddy greasy clay with one wheel in an auger hole with 4-hi doing nothing. Put it in 4-Lo and good things happened. Could have been explained by the lower speed of the Lo helping to limit wheelspin which improved my traction, but I thought it seemed like a more significant difference.

[PSDF350]

Originally posted by NoStockBikes!!
For some reason, I was under the impression that 4 lo locked everything up, kinda like having posi front and rear. I know that I've been sitting in muddy greasy clay with one wheel in an auger hole with 4-hi doing nothing. Put it in 4-Lo and good things happened. Could have been explained by the lower speed of the Lo helping to limit wheelspin which improved my traction, but I thought it seemed like a more significant difference.
the only thing the transfer case does is transfer power to front diff. an open differential is always open no matter 4 hi or 4 low.

[Mowerpan]

I plow in 4wd Hi. If the snows a little heavier just need more momentum. Usually the problem is traction over power, and even with 4wd Lo it doesn't help.

[JGresko]

Always 4 Hi, I have yet to even put the X-Case in 4lo.If i need for 4wd it is always easier to pull the leaver back into 4hi then haveing to stop completly and slip it into 4lo.

Jeff

[RibbleConstruction]

I use 2wd most of the time. 4 wheel when I need it. And in an occasion or two I have used 4 lo. But most of the time its in 2wd. I figure its less strain on everything. But when I need it I use it. Thats why I have it.

[itsgottobegreen]

Hmm 4x4??? Whats that. I still haven't figure out what this big shifter looking thinging on the floor is for? :rolleyes:

Its call 2wd and 2 tons of weight. AKA 2x2. Works great. I lock my hubs and only use 4x4 to get out of my uphill driveway when we go plowing cause I am towing a trailer. Other wise I never use it again unless really needed.

In the last big storm I only had the truck in 4x4HI for 3 hours of 21 hour I was out plowing. The only reason I was in 4x4 is because we had 3" an hour and I had trouble getting from lot to lot on the roads. Going down the road sideways with a truck weighting in at 15,000lbs in 4x4 just shows how bad the roads really where. Everyone else was plowing in 4x4 the entire time cause their trucks didn't have enought counter weight. :haha :grinz

[chewky]

I use 4 low so I can keep up the rpm on my alternator. I run dual batteries and it helps charge them quicker. I'm still running the stock size alternator though. The output is more at higher revs. The Blizzard Speedwing draws 145 amps, and it pulls the batteries down.

[backlash63]

I use 4 low most of the time. i have like two accounts out of 50 that are flat. when i travel from site to site it 4wd unless its a sand only run in the boonies and the roads are fine except that account. two out of four of our trucks are autos and are out of warranty. and if the tranny shop says its a good idea to run it in 4 low while pushing then thats all i needed to hear.

[SIPLOWGUY]

Last storm 4Wlow was needed.

[Joey D]

Joey D
In an open differential........

Both wheels turning:
The power transfers from the pinion to the ring gear, the ringear to the carrier, the carrier to the spider gear pin. pin to the spider gears (pin and gears as one unit, gears not turning), spider gears to the side gears, side gears to the axle, so it is geared what the ring and pinion is rated... another words the axle is turning the same speed as the carrier..

One wheel stoped:
The power goes from the pinion to the ring gear, ringear to the carrier, carrier to the spider gear pin, pin to the spider gear ( spider gear turning), spider gear to the side gear. Here is where the speed is multiplied**** we will say left tire is stoped and right is turning. Side gear on left is stoped causing the spider gear to turn, spider gear drives the right side gear twice as fast because of the planetary type effect through the spider gears.
So the carrier is spinning the pin, plus the (stoped left side gear) is causing the spider gear to turn on the pin which is multiplying your gear ratio and making the right side gear go twice as fast...

EZSnow you really are ok!!! Great minds think alike the rest of the world is just screwed up...

I honestly do not think the wheel spins twice as fast. I have had my old car, open diff doing a smoker with the speedo pinned aover 120mph while sitting still, making the wheel moving doing 240mph? It would have exploded into a million pieces. I am not sure how but i will come up with a way to check this.
Any hints here? If I had the hydo pimp setup on the car I would just three wheel it and adjust the brakes all the way out to keep the raised wheel still and check it out by going the same speed as another vehicle.
More to follow...

[TLS]

I was always undere the assumption that the tire DOES go twice the speed.

Thats why in a full-time 4x4 situation with 3 tires on pavement and 1 on ice, it WILL desinigrate the tire.

[Honest Mike]

Im replying again because I have a different truck now. The new truck, I havent used the 4LO yet, not even in that blizzard. 4HI is all I have used. 4HI pushed all that snow so easily, that it didnt even enter my mind to even try the LO. :cool: My old truck I would put it in LO because it felt like it needed that extra oomph in those kinds of conditions, so I got that extra oomph with 4LO. I bet this truck would feel quite torquey though in 4LO, considering the 430 gears in it. :nodd Mike

[jcesar]

I usually leave it in 4 hi. Never had to use 4 low. Not yet anyways.

[MURPH]

You should always push in Hi unless you over working the motor, such as having the pedal 1/2 way to the floor to move a full bite of wet snow.
Then Lo is a must. But remember heat kills transmissions, and shifting creates heat. meaning in Lo your tranny shifts thru the gears quickly creating heat, so use it wisely
Murph

[azumakitlawncare]

I use 4 hi for the f 250 sd or 2 hi for the chevy3500dump never had a problem yet!:smoking

[scaper27]

I have actually used 2wd sometimes, but otherwise always 4hi. Never had a use for 4 lo

[GuzmanProperties]

I use 4wd HI

[JGresko]

I replied up a little farther but I guess I can again after last winter. With the 88 Yard truck it needs to be in 4wd all the time when the plow is on(no ballest) well towards the end of the seasons when we had late storms(read: heavy and wet), I still plowed in 4hi. I plowed me g/fs drive(before she was my g/f, had to get on her parents good side:wink:D),is about 200ft long and you need to back in push everything out to the road and then into the ditch. I would plow that when it was done snowing the one day I went up and their was 15" of wet heavey snow, I drove in and cleaned up the parking area and then turned around, dropped the trans in 2nd and started pushing, that V6 pushed that with no problem in 4hi, I did try 4lo but the tires just spun.

I never really seen a need for 4lo, the only time I put the truck in 4lo is when teh guy was coming to pick up the skidloader and trailer that my dad sold and we hook to to the back(minus skidloader) to pull it out from under the 4 ft of snow straight up the hill out the drive. That was the first time I put it in 4low for anything.

One thing I like about my Diesel is the front axle is on a switch, so I have 2Hi,2Lo,4Hi,4Lo.