Maximizing Your 4-Wheel Drive: Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Your Vehicle

Having a 4-wheel drive gives you more possibilities in terms of the terrain you can drive through. While these seemingly endless possibilities are exciting, a 4-wheel drive can be quite troublesome when you are not properly equipped to take care of it. 

So, to prevent this, it is best to understand some tips and tricks to help you make the most of your vehicle. 

Observe Your 4WD Before Your Start Driving

Photo by Christian Buehner from Unsplash

Who doesn’t love to hit the open road and begin an exciting trip across the country? However, before you embark on this journey, it is pivotal that you inspect your 4WD. Seeing as you are driving off-road, observing your car is essential to your safety. 

You can use this time to find any problems that might arise on your journey and fix them before you start driving. Doing this prevents you from getting stranded in an unknown environment. It can also save you from getting into an accident.

Firstly, confirm that all your fluids are filled up as required. This includes ensuring you have enough coolant fluid, wiper fluid, transmission fluid, and others. Checking of brake pads to confirm they have not deteriorated is also a fantastic idea.

In addition, you need to ascertain that your battery is powered efficiently. You don’t want to start your journey and realize your car battery is dead. To make matters worse, you might end up in an area where you cannot easily jump-start the dead battery.

Your lights should also be observed, especially when you plan on driving in the dark. Make sure to test all of them and verify that they are in pristine condition.

Lastly, inspect your tires and their pressure. This is important because good tires ensure your safety and are optimal for fuel efficiency. Furthermore, make sure your tires are properly rotated. Carrying a spare tire along is also essential so you are not helpless should one of the primary tires fail.

Purchase the Appropriate Accessories

When buying accessories, your first instinct might be to acquire items based on looks and not function. However, if you think about it, spending money on something that looks good but does nothing for your 4WD is not practical. Therefore, you must prioritize functionality or looks. After all, your 4WD probably already looks great.

One of the best items to purchase is a solid rooftop cargo carrier. This accessory can help you increase your vehicle’s storage capacity. With more capacity on top of your car, you have more space for people inside the vehicle. 

That being said, keep in mind that there is such a thing as too much weight. Thus, try and avoid this because it can lead to poor fuel efficiency and more stress on vital components such as the chassis, motor, and others. Additionally, excess weight can affect your vehicle’s ability to climb tough terrains. 

Every manufacturer states the maximum weight capacity for their vehicles, so be sure to confirm your vehicle’s capacity and not exceed it.

If you want to preserve the look of your 4WD, consider buying a bull bar. This functional accessory protects the front of your vehicle during an accident and absorbs impact, thereby protecting people inside.

Another accessory that can make your trip more enjoyable is a fridge. That said, ensure you have enough space for this equipment. Investing in a refrigerator would be a good idea if there is space, especially if you are going for a long drive. This way, you always have easy access to cold drinks, and the fridge can keep food cool and fresh.

Understand How to Utilize Your 4WD

Simpler and older versions of 4WD systems need to be engaged manually when the car is at a halt and in Park or Neutral. If you try to engage these systems when the vehicle is in motion, you risk damaging the car’s pricey parts. 

Now, most modern 4WD can be engaged and disengaged even when they are on the move. In fact, the most premium 4×4 vehicles can be fully automated. These vehicles automatically shift in and out of their 4WD systems when they detect that more traction is needed.

While an automatic 4WD is handy, you do not need to use it. You can still shift manually between 4H and 4L when driving. Sadly, some owners do not know when to use these settings. So, here’s everything you need to know about these 4WD system settings and when to use them.

4H 

You can drive fast using 4H (High) but should avoid going too fast. Most manufacturers suggest you keep the speed at 55 MPH and above. 

Nevertheless, this is a general suggestion, and there are various models and brands of 4WD, such as ATVs, so you can do more research to discover the speed that works for your vehicle, along with the  

4H is best used to gain traction when stuck on rocky, ice, muddy, or snowy roads. However, you can also engage this setting when you are driving on slippery surfaces or want to drive fast on a highway.

4L 

4L (Low) mode calls for slower speeds, so try not to increase your speed. This mode works best when you need your vehicle to move through water, heavy sand, muddy creek bed, and rock formations. 

In order to get maximal power and power, you need to take things slow, and this is where 4L excels. Note that using 4L when you are stuck in snow or mud is not a good idea because the extra torque may lead to your tires spinning.

AUTO 

When your car is in auto mode, it can switch between 2WD and  4WD. As mentioned earlier, your vehicle can detect when it needs to shift from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive and do so automatically. 

When your car enters 2WD, it sends all the power to either the front or back wheels. Then, when it detects specific road conditions, it will automatically switch to 4WD, in which all four wheels get power.

Other 4WD Tips to Consider

Here are other tips to consider and abide by to ensure you make the most of your 4WD.

Engage Your 4WD Regularly

If you do not engage your 4WD for a long time, you run the risk of damaging the system. The seals will get dry, and the gear might get sticky. So, in order to keep your 4WD in top shape, you should engage the system every few months.

4WD Does Not Improve Braking Ability

Most drivers believe that 4WD improves braking ability when making turns, but it does not, and this misconception can lead to accidents. Hence, you should treat your vehicle’s braking ability on 4WD as you would on 2WD.

Avoid Using 4WD on Dry Pavement

Do not use your 4×4 on dry, flat surfaces. This is because it can affect your vehicle’s fuel efficiency as well as your drivetrains.

Read Your Vehicle’s Instruction Manual

4-wheel drives have some general instructions that apply to all models and brands, but remember that the method of engaging and disengaging 4WD varies between vehicles. Hence, it would be best to refer to your car’s manual to get exact instructions for your model. 

Conclusion

A 4WD is a superb vehicle that can help you power through the toughest of terrains. However, they are not unstoppable and need to be taken care of properly to ensure their longevity. Hopefully, the tips and tricks in this article can help you make the most out of your vehicle.