How Do I Engage 4x4?

[bredlo]

So this '70 Wag is my first vehicle old enough to have anything besides push button or fulltime 4x4. Didn't come with a manual, so I'm stuck with the newbie question:

What's the proper way to get in and out of 4 wheel drive? :confused:

[billyrb]

lock the front hubs manually, then get in the truck, roll forward at about 2-3 mph in neutral, and pull the lever on the floor. Once it engages, put the trans back in gear and you are now in 4wd.

[dlowrance]

Not positive but I believe that'll have a D20 transfer case - lever sticking up out of the hump in the floor - more on the passenger side than the drivers - that's got 3 positions...2H, 4H and 4L.

I can't tell you what the 'book' recommends, I'm sure others here can, but if you're setup like my 70 with lock-outs, I roll like so...

Stop, shift in Park. Get out, lock hubs. Pull transfer case lever to 4H. Shift to Drive. Go. Same process backwards when you're out of the mud/snow. Good news on that style 4WD, it's stocky. Bad news, you run the risk of breaking something if you run it in 4WD on the road/solid dirt/etc very far. It's not designed to run full-time on hard surfaces...at least that's what I was taught years ago...if you drive it very far on solid ground you'll find it's hard to shift out of 4H.

I've rarely had to use 4L. Twice in something like 15 years of Jeep ownership. But I'm not one to look for places to get stuck. More the opposite.

[dlowrance]

neglected to ask, auto or manual transmission?

[bredlo]

Should've mentioned that, sorry. Automatic, the Buick 350 engine. I guess that since it's not great to use on roads, etc. for long distances, I may never end up using it.

This is really an around town and tow vehicle rather than an off-roader, but in case I end up in a really snowy conditions (likely here in Chicago) I wanted to be sure I could use it if I needed.

Thanks for the tips guys.

[turnkyle]

It's a sad sad day when people don't know how to engage 4x4 without a push button on the dash!

4x4 can be used con the road, just not dry hard surfaces. So if you have a wet, snowy, icy road you are good to use 4x4 but if you are on dry pavement or on a hard pack dirt road you don't want it engaged.

[bredlo]

Thanks for the tip. Hope you don't think I make the day sad, per se... it wasn't my fault that I turned 16 more than a decade after fulltime all wheel drive was invented! :)

At least my parents saw to it that I learn to drive a manual transmission, most people dont' even know how to do that! :(

[dlowrance]

Don't worry about it Brad...at least you're wanting to learn...you'll do fine here, just ask away. There are a few that burn the noobs but not NEARLY as bad as Pirate or others...for the most part it's a good group here. Use the tech archives and the search tool, there's a treasure trove of info here.

[turnkyle]

Thanks for the tip. Hope you don't think I make the day sad, per se... it wasn't my fault that I turned 16 more than a decade after fulltime all wheel drive was invented! :)

At least my parents saw to it that I learn to drive a manual transmission, most people dont' even know how to do that! :(

Wasn't trying to offend you or anything, more just a comment on how lazy us americans seem to be getting. That's good you know how to drive a manual, that is almost a dying art form anymore.

[bredlo]

Wasn't trying to offend you or anything, more just a comment on how lazy us americans seem to be getting. That's good you know how to drive a manual, that is almost a dying art form anymore.

No, no offense taken! Besides, I'm used to projects where I get in over my head first... then learn my way out.

Consider that when I'm not using the Wagoneer to tow a 1962 Airstream (11 years older than me), I'm probably riding our 1960 Vespa GS (13 years older than me), restoring our 1933 wood canoe (40 years older than me), and printmaking on a cast iron letterpress (80 years older than me).

So figuring out 4 wheel drive is a relatively slow day around here. :rolleyes:

[turnkyle]

There needs to be more 16 year olds like you! I would love to build myself an old school wooden canoe. Why buy something when you can make one 10 times cooler!

[HeavyIron]

No, no offense taken! Besides, I'm used to projects where I get in over my head first... then learn my way out.

Consider that when I'm not using the Wagoneer to tow a 1962 Airstream (11 years older than me), I'm probably riding our 1960 Vespa GS (13 years older than me), restoring our 1933 wood canoe (40 years older than me), and printmaking on a cast iron letterpress (80 years older than me).

So figuring out 4 wheel drive is a relatively slow day around here. :rolleyes:


Wouldn't that make him somewhere in the neighborhood of 35, not 16?

[bredlo]

Wouldn't that make him somewhere in the neighborhood of 35, not 16?

You're both right; 35 physically. 16 mentally.