Educating a newb on 2H,4H,N and 4L

[ArmyJeepGuy666]

Okay so since Ive been driving my new gladiator, I've been driving it in 2H. I did googling and still don't quite understand these other wheel drives. Can you drive always in 4H? or Would that damage the vehicle? I know you can go more than a certain amount of speed on 4L? RIght?

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[FishChowder]

My basic understanding is 2H is for day to day driving on normal dry or wet roads. 4H and 4L is for use on roads that offer questionable traction (dirt, snow, mud, etc). 4L limits your speed compared to 4H. 4L would not be used on highways for example.

 

[361Sean]

2h for daily driving. 4h only on dirt, gravel or snow. 4l in situations when 4h isn't cutting it such as climbing rocks or deep sand or mud.

NEVER us 4wd on dry pavement the tires must have the ability to slip. If you use 4wd on dry pavement at some point a front tire and a back tire will want to spin at different rates due to turning and stuff.

Find a patch of sand and try out the different 4wd's.

 

[Jeepnoob34]

Also read the manual. It gives very specific instructions on acceptable speeds for each mode. It also gives a good tip to shift into 4h easier.

 

[ArmyJeepGuy666]

My basic understanding is 2H is for day to day driving on normal dry or wet roads. 4H and 4L is for use on roads that offer questionable traction (dirt, snow, mud, etc). 4L limits your speed compared to 4H. 4L would not be used on highways for example.

Yeah I was thinking the same but wasn't 100% sure.

2h for daily driving. 4h only on dirt, gravel or snow. 4l in situations when 4h isn't cutting it such as climbing rocks or deep sand or mud.

NEVER us 4wd on dry pavement the tires must have the ability to slip. If you use 4wd on dry pavement at some point a front tire and a back tire will want to spin at different rates due to turning and stuff.

Find a patch of sand and try out the different 4wd's.

This helps a lot, thank you.

Also read the manual. It gives very specific instructions on acceptable speeds for each mode. It also gives a good tip to shift into 4h easier.

Yep, I didn't have time lately to read the manual but thank you for reminding me. I need to be less lazy. Thanks.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

2H - rear wheel drive, suitable for all paved or improved surfaces.
4H - front and rear axles driven, fixed 50/50 power split. usable on all unimproved or loose surfaces such as very heavy rain or winter precipitation falling on paved or improved surfaces. Do not use on dry paved or improved surfaces or drive-line binding will occur. Push this binding far enough and you break driveline components.
4L - same as 4H but with increased gear multiplication. More gear multiplication mean more power per given ground speed. This in only for unimproved surfaces and very loose conditions or when greatly increase tractive effort is required. Conditions such as deep snow, mud, loose or wet gravel etc. Ground speeds will be limited and you'll know when you are in too low a gear.

It is best to attempt to shift the transfer case with as little driveline load as possible, typically this means rolling slowly and shifting to neutral and lifting throttle; this should allow a quick unfussy shift.

Advisable to shift through the ranges every so often to keep the bits from getting stuck or balky as well as make sure the hot gear lube is getting everywhere it needs to be.

 

[Jeepnoob34]

Yeah I was thinking the same but wasn't 100% sure.




This helps a lot, thank you.



Yep, I didn't have time lately to read the manual but thank you for reminding me. I need to be less lazy. Thanks.

I didn’t mean it in a “You’re a lazy pos” way lol. You could read through this manual 3 times and find something new each time. The manual actually gives specific speed ranges for each mode to be in. If you don’t like flipping through the hard copy, the “my Mopar” app has a pdf version too.

 

[ArmyJeepGuy666]

2H - rear wheel drive, suitable for all paved or improved surfaces.
4H - front and rear axles driven, fixed 50/50 power split. usable on all unimproved or loose surfaces such as very heavy rain or winter precipitation falling on paved or improved surfaces. Do not use on dry paved or improved surfaces or drive-line binding will occur. Push this binding far enough and you break driveline components.
4L - same as 4H but with increased gear multiplication. More gear multiplication mean more power per given ground speed. This in only for unimproved surfaces and very loose conditions or when greatly increase tractive effort is required. Conditions such as deep snow, mud, loose or wet gravel etc. Ground speeds will be limited and you'll know when you are in too low a gear.

It is best to attempt to shift the transfer case with as little driveline load as possible, typically this means rolling slowly and shifting to neutral and lifting throttle; this should allow a quick unfussy shift.

Advisable to shift through the ranges every so often to keep the bits from getting stuck or balky as well as make sure the hot gear lube is getting everywhere it needs to be.

Fantastic. Thank you.

I didn’t mean it in a “You’re a lazy pos” way lol. You could read through this manual 3 times and find something new each time. The manual actually gives specific speed ranges for each mode to be in. If you don’t like flipping through the hard copy, the “my Mopar” app has a pdf version too.

Yeah I got you; no problem. I'll check that app out too in case I lose my manual.

 

[xfyre101]

Also read the manual. It gives very specific instructions on acceptable speeds for each mode. It also gives a good tip to shift into 4h easier.

for those of us who are lazy.. can you share the tip to shift into 4h easier

 

[Weasel Caesar]

2H- I'm going grocery shopping!
4H- I got lost on a bad dirt road...
4L- I'm going to climb a mountain pass like a fleet goat!
N- for the in-between (allows shifting of t-case)

 

[Jeepnoob34]

for those of us who are lazy.. can you share the tip to shift into 4h easier

Haha. Yea. If you let off the accelerator right before you shift to 4H, it goes a lot smoother.

 

[sarcasm]

I hate to complicate it further but there are also other considerations depending you your build. If you got the Rubicon edition you may have lockers that may be used in certain situation. Some models come with a Limited Slip Differential (Trac Lok)

The Trac Lok would give your rear wheels better traction in wet and snow conditions. This option will sense when one wheel is spinning and will put power to the wheel with grip. This is a 2H drive tool buy can help if you do not have lockers in 4H, 4L. It may make 4H less necessary.

Locking differential would really be a more hard core off-road tool like a situation where you may have one wheel in the air going over rocks.

Find some a dirt road and experiment with all the modes. It will be easy to figure out why you don't want to be in 4H in good traction situations. 4L is not something you will use much.

Lastly: 4H does not help you stop. Don't be one of those idiots that goes way to fast in the snow or wet because they think 4 wheel drive makes it safe.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

As fast as necessary, as slow as possible!

 

[PyrPatriot]

Engineering Explained on Youtube has 2 great videos talking about the differences and showing them in application

 

[Racer_X]

As fast as necessary, as slow as possible!

See, I reverse that saying

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