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2L, 4H, N, 4L..... Which is better for DD, Snow, Rain, Nice Out???

18K views 6 replies 7 participants last post by  Stu Olson 
#1 ·
Quick question about 4x4, just bought a 2004 Rubicon, owned a 85 cj7 at one point also, My 4x4 shifter has the following labels on it(Currently in 2L)
2L
4H
N
4L
Now I know what all of them mean. But I though all jeeps were 4x4 all the time(AWD) Also what is the best for Daily driving nice conditions, Also what about DD Snowing Conditions, DD, Raining conditions.


Thanks
 
#3 ·
Wranglers have a part time 4WD system. NEVER use 4H or 4L on dry pavement. Loose conditions are necessary in 4WD to allow some wheel spin so that the drivetrain doesn't bind up. I use 4H in the snow, and I don't find 4WD necessary in the rain except under extreme conditions. 4L is really only for off-road crawling when you want to go slow over rocks or other obstacles. Top speed in low gear is only around 25mph. Rubicons have 2L?
 
#4 ·
03jeeper78 said:
Wranglers have a part time 4WD system. NEVER use 4H or 4L on dry pavement. Loose conditions are necessary in 4WD to allow some wheel spin so that the drivetrain doesn't bind up. I use 4H in the snow, and I don't find 4WD necessary in the rain except under extreme conditions. 4L is really only for off-road crawling when you want to go slow over rocks or other obstacles. Top speed in low gear is only around 25mph. Rubicons have 2L?
I think he means 2H.
 
#5 ·
Should be 2H, as in 2 wheel high.

TJ's have old school mechanical 4wd systems that are made for real off roading, not quadra trac awd which is controlled by a computer.

2H is for DD.

NEVER use 4H (four wheel high) unless you are going to be in slippery conditions, i.e. heavy rain, snow, off roading, etc.

4L is a low gear or "granny gear" for making your tj literally crawl up or down steep decents, rock rawls, etc.

You also have an axle lock (lucky sob). Its used for getting even more traction then is needed in most conditions, like going through rivers or going up steep inclines off road. If you want a mechanical explenation; an axle lock makes both of the wheels connected to the axle spin at the same speed as if they were connected to the same shaft without a differential. The benefit of this is , when your stuck, instead of having one wheel spin like crazy while the other is motionless, they both spin, hence getting you out of being stuck, or keeping you from getting stuck (hopefully). dont use that over 10-15mph.
 
#6 ·
03jeeper78 said:
Wranglers have a part time 4WD system. NEVER use 4H or 4L on dry pavement. Loose conditions are necessary in 4WD to allow some wheel spin so that the drivetrain doesn't bind up.
How bad is ocassional binding on the drivetrain? There's been a couple times where I forgot to take it out of 4H, when I was pulling out of a trail and onto a paved highway, and I could hear things popping briefly. I mean would binding just a couple times going to kill your transfer case?
 
#7 ·
loudog3114 said:
NEVER use 4H (four wheel high) unless you are going to be in slippery conditions, i.e. heavy rain, snow, off roading, etc.
.....or unless you are going to be wheelin' at Moab or the Rubicon trail or maybe even the Dusy-Ershim trail, all which have amazingly high traction surfaces. But I agree that you wouldn't normally be doing 4WD for daily driver situations.
 
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