Real dumb 4x4 activation question

[Thorgan112]

So I got a simple question here, to all you 3rd gen owners with a limited 02 or similar models: From what I have always thought in order to engage the 4wheel drive in our rigs we had to be moving, is this true?

Basically my question is, if I am stuck in (oh lets say deep sand) and I was in 2 wheel drive, can I get the rig into 4wheel without having motion?

stupid simple question that I admittedly should know the answer to, but I always operated under the assumption that the T4R had to be rolling in order for the differential to kick in.

I find our owners manuals a bit ambiguous....

 

[ajonesnv]

Yes.

You can shift into part-time-4wd and 4wd-hi while moving, but you have to be stopped and in neutral to shift into 4wd-lo.

 

[Thorgan112]

Yes.

You can shift into part-time-4wd and 4wd-hi while moving, but you have to be stopped and in neutral to shift into 4wd-lo.

That I already knew, but before stopping and shifting into 4-lo, does it need to be in part-time 4 wheel/4hi?..... so if i am two wheel, I come to a stop, put it in nuetral, and use the 4wd shifter and put it into 4lo, it will go in?

 

[jgue467]

My 01 will engage into 4hi while standing still (wouldn't at first cuz of non-use for years by po), I've never tried engaging directly into 4lo but i can't see why it wouldn't work. Have you tried it? I'll try mine after work today and report back....

 

[Thorgan112]

My 01 will engage into 4hi while standing still (wouldn't at first cuz of non-use for years by po), I've never tried engaging directly into 4lo but i can't see why it wouldn't work. Have you tried it? I'll try mine after work today and report back....

I have never tried it, I have always wanted to, but have had fear of grinding the gears if I do something wrong. I have tried pushing the "4wd" button on the shifter before while standing still, and it just continues to flash, and never locks in. As soon as I do it with a little bit of motion she jumps right in.

 

[mike85]

I just did it in my 01. stopped, and in park it will not engage into 4hi, but as soon as i put in in Drive, still stopped, it immediately engaged. 4lo did the same thing, shift to 4lo in N, then when shifting to Drive, it immediately engaged.

 

[ajonesnv]

That I already knew, but before stopping and shifting into 4-lo, does it need to be in part-time 4 wheel/4hi?..... so if i am two wheel, I come to a stop, put it in nuetral, and use the 4wd shifter and put it into 4lo, it will go in?

Sorry, what I meant was yes it will, however part-time and hi have the capability to engage while moving. (which you already understood)

The wheels are always live/locked with the drive train, so when you pull the lever or press the button its only locking the diff and the transfer case. It may not immediately engage due to the gears lining up, but once you rock a little bit it will engage. If you are stuck you can still turn the drive line to engage it.

 

[Unner]

Yeah my 01 requires a little movement as well to get 4WD to activate. You could probably get it to engage if you are able to get the tires to spin a little while you're stuck, but that would probably not be good for the drive train... Why not just run in 4WD when you are out in an area that you could possibly need it?