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Dirt Roads

9K views 37 replies 22 participants last post by  billiebob 
#1 ·
I do a lot of fishing where I drive dirt roads. Here in Michigan they are fairly decent, mostly gravel. I find myself usually cruising 40-50mph. Would you run in 4 wheel drive for added control? I always run in two wheel drive but the thought crosses my mind frequently.
 
#2 ·
My though, if you think you need more control and think about going in 4wd, is to slow down. As you probably know, 4wd might give you better control, but it will not reduce your braking distance, and if you starte slipping and you do not have any room, you will loose it even in 4wd. If road is hard enough to go fast, then 2 wd is good enough.

But 4wd does help a lot in washboard road.

Unsless what you want is rallye racing in en event, just slow down, it will be safer for every one.

But it is just my opinion.
 
#4 ·
My though, if you think you need more control and think about going in 4wd, is to slow down. As you probably know, 4wd might give you better control, but it will not reduce your braking distance, and if you starte slipping and you do not have any room, you will loose it even in 4wd. If road is hard enough to go fast, then 2 wd is good enough.

Unsless what you want is rallye racing in en event, just slow down, it will be safer for every one.

But it is just my opinion.
Exactly. If you're going more than 35, you likely don't need four wheel drive, whether you're in snow, rain, ice, mud, or dirt.
 
#5 ·
I drive relatively fast on long straight dirt roads and find 4wd H helps. There is a video out there somewhere by an "expert" and he claims 4 wd adds a lot of control on gravel roads. Less fishtailing and so on. Seems true to me.
 
#8 ·
I live in MI too (well for another week or so!) and I was shocked at how well-maintained most dirt roads are here when the paved ones suck so much! haha. I haven't used 4WD out here on dirt roads but back in NH on slower ones I actually would use 4WD so I could also use the front sway disconnect. It seemed like it smoothed out the washboards some.
 
#9 ·
Sometimes I get on dirt and it feels smoother lol
 
#10 ·
I live on a 3 1/2 mile long dirt road. It's very hilly, and does have quite a bit of washboard. I just go slower on the washboard.....never use 4wd. The short wheelbase on the JK responds harshly to the washboard whether in 2 or 4wd, and I don't think that 4wd gives me more control. That being said..... the speed limit is 35mph, as there are lots of curves and steep hills. I don't do 45 or 50, so for me, 2hi is just fine.
 
#11 ·
4WD only increases traction.If you experience wheel spin accelerating or rear whell lock when decelerating yes, use 4WD. If you need 100 horsepower to accelerate, 2WD delivers 50HP to each rear wheel. 4WD delivers 25HP to each wheel. If you lose traction at 35HP 2WD will result in wheelspin. 4WD keeps you below that traction threshold..... same thing with using 4WD vs 2WD when decelerating.

There is no reason to NOT use 4WD on a gravel road. Use which ever makes you feel more secure, more in control. I use 4WD lots.
 
#18 ·
This really more or less describes how all wheel drive works not 4 wheel drive, unless you have both the front and the rear locked then, your really only supplying power to one front tire and one rear tire in 4x4 (that's how open diff operate) if you have limited slip thats different as well, but unless your drivig around locked your not supplying 25 percent to each tire.

Also to biker (I'm not an engineer just have been researching for a new vehicle for the wife) and I'm pretty certain that most of the modern all wheel drive vehicles (with the exception of a few... mainly Subaru) are front wheel drive and only apply power to the rear wheels once slippage is detected then varying amounts of power are sent to each tire depending on what the computer determines is needed. Even on Subarus its a pretty small amount sent to the rear on normal driving (if I remember correctly).

As far as the ops question goes, since I bought my Jeep I have been working on natural gas rigs so I would say atleast 40 percent of my driving is done on dirt roads and I have never put it in 4 wheel drive for a dirt road (only if it's snow covered and even then only if I feel I need it). I mean with traction control on you have to really work to even get the rear to slide some on dirt (it will but not very far before it's corrected) its never happened to me when I wasn't trying. Infact I run two track mountain roads and trails allow time in 2 wheel. I usually only engage 4 wheel when I'm wheeling or if the snowy condition call for it.

Just my take on it, your not gonna bother me if you want to run it in 4x4.

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk
 
#14 ·
At speed 4WD adds control but going slow and turning tight corners 4WD makes the rear axle push thru corners resulting in understeer as the rear axle pushes the front axle straight. In 4WD both axles are locked to turn at the same speed... and both axles want to travel the same distance.

This is where shift on the fly is real handy. Shift to 2WD before the switchback and engage 4WD as you come out of the corner so you can accelerate without wheelspin. 4WD is not always the best choice but it sure beats trying to control a fish tailing rear end.
 
#15 ·
If it's raining hard enough for you to feel the front push a bit in standing water, then I will go into 4HI and slow down a bit. The difference is that with the front turning it is better than pushing.

I also go in 4HI on snow, keeping in mind that many times there is ice under the snow.

Always keep in mind that while you can go better in 4WD, you can't stop any better nor do you have higher grip when going around a corner.
 
#16 ·
My thoughts (worth thousands of dollars but free right here for a limited time):

A) the world of hipo cars has many AWD offerings. The reason is to increase traction on slippery surfaces. These cars run AWD at all times, with variable amounts of power being sent to front wheels on an as-needed basis, but always some power going there. If there were no benefit at speeds higher than 40 mph, surely they'd figure out how to decouple the front differential and improve mileage, given the lengths they are going to now to improve mileage. And yes, those cars are mostly pavement only, but slippery pavement and slippery gravel or dirt are both traction-compromised surfaces.

2) Obviously, with our 4WD setup be very certain you're not encountering any intermittent high-traction surfaces like stretches of solid rock while in 4WD

3) Use it or lose it. I haven't heard this very often of Wranglers, but when I was shopping for my first Jeep, an XJ, in the late 90s, word on the street was "Be sure and test it in 4 Hi and 4 Lo because a lot of people buy these (in Atlanta) because they're cool looking, but don't ever shift into 4WD. Lube never circulates and the front diffs become locked up." I never found one like that, but it makes sense that the front diff is made to be used occasionally and it's probably worse for it to not get used very often. But that could just be an Old Jeepers' Tale.

4) Most importantly, c'mon, admit it; it feels manly as HELL to reach down there and wrestle that lever back into 4Hi, exceeded only by how great it feels to pull it on back into 4Lo. And once you shift it the Jeep feels different. It drives with a new restlessness, like a dog who's felt you hook the leash onto its collar and knows a Big Adventure awaits, or a horse that's been saddled and is eagerly pacing around in circles waiting to get out into the Big Wide Open. There's a more tactile feel to the steering as more inputs are coming up through the steering column and into your hands. There's a slight resistance to turns that you don't experience with 2WD, as though the Jeep itself has ideas of where you should both go and strains a little at the leash to let you know about it. There are new sounds coming back at you from a differential that, no matter how often you get to the trails still only gets used a tiny percentage of the time its brother out back is allowed to run.

All in all, why the heck wouldn't you want to drive in 4Hi at speed on a dirt road? I'm literally ALWAYS looking for a reason to do so.
 
#17 ·
4) Most importantly, c'mon, admit it; it feels manly as HELL to reach down there and wrestle that lever back into 4Hi, exceeded only by how great it feels to pull it on back into 4Lo. And once you shift it the Jeep feels different. It drives with a new restlessness, like a dog who's felt you hook the leash onto its collar and knows a Big Adventure awaits, or a horse that's been saddled and is eagerly pacing around in circles waiting to get out into the Big Wide Open.
I have never owned a 4wd capable vehicle before my JKU, so I had never driven 4wd. I have only done it once in the few months I've owned it, but once I switched to 4HI it felt like nothing I have ever felt before. My Jeep felt like a beast!! I felt like it was driving itself and I was along for the ride. It climbed a dirt road hill like it was nothing. I know pretty much most or all of you on this board have done plenty of 4WD so this is nothing new to you but the feeling I got when I switched it on was nothing I have ever felt before. The term "crawler" came to mind (and not of the mall variety). As a matter of fact I might take a detour home after work today just to take that dirt road. Once I get my new tires and lift I can't wait to take it to bigger and better better places
 
#22 ·
Since getting the Jeep I've altered my route to work to about 90% gravel farm roads,and I love traveling on them. No one on them accept some local farmers the odd time...I usually see nobody on these roads. When work lets out the paved roads are clogged with people all in a hurry....I just turn off right away and I'm in gravel road heaven,with the beautiful rural scenery. At night I just throw on the windshield lights and high beams,and the way is lit up very nicely.
In winter these roads are fantastic as they are bladed off and NO SALT with plenty of traction..4WD for sure in winter,and in fair weather I'll use it as well,particularly one 90 degree uphill turn that is loose gravel and rutted,the rears will spin going up,not so in 4WD...she just pulls right up it no fuss no muss. So yeah 4WD on gravel roads for sure...lots 'O fun!! I really look forward now to my drives to and from work,the roads are both hilly and twisty...no rush just cruse the gravel road tour!!

Daytime and nightime Winter shot!!!
 

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#24 ·
I only use 4WD on dirt roads if they are really heavily rutted or muddy. Don't want to have to shift into 4WD when it's too late.

For example, there's a short road that leads to a fishing spot, might be 1/4 mile long. It goes downhill from the main road, curves, and then goes to a small opening right next to the river. It's not uncommon to see a truck + small trailer + boat that's fallen off the edge of the road. It's full of ruts and puddles.

On the way down to the spot I use 2WD, but on the way back I just use 4WD, 4LO in fact. Why? I can just put it in 4LO and idle all the way back up to the main road - the jeep doesn't even flinch or strain. I -can- make it up in 2WD but you have to give it gas to get over some of the ruts and you can hear/feel the rear end fighting for traction. And in 4WD HI you still have to give it gas, since you're going up hill as well as going in/out of ruts, so you end up going faster and bouncing around.

4LO works perfect. She just crawls and crawls. Smooth as butter!
 
#25 ·
I'm a newb when it comes to Jeeps. I own property with (granite) gravel roads, some are improved to the point that I can do 45mph on them safely. I usually choose to run 4WD when on the dirt just to give the transfer case and front diff some work and lube since 98% of my driving is on pavement on 2WD.

Is is wrong to want to use the hardware in order to keep it running right, sort of a thought that use-it-or-lose-it?
 
#26 ·
I do a lot of dirt road driving when I'm in Vermont (6 months out of the year)

  • 45 mph is what I consider the maximum safe speed on dirt.
  • 4x4 unless it's a perfectly smooth, freshly graded road. 4x4 helps regain traction when your rear wheels get loose on washboard.
  • I keep the tire pressure on the low end when I'm doing mostly dirt road/bad paved road driving (the majority of VT roads) i.e. 25-28 PSI. Helps with comfort and traction. I run 32-25 PSI when I plan on doing a lot of highway driving.
 
#27 ·
Quick info.

For those of you guys who use 4wd just to make the oil turn in your front diff, it always turn. If you ever notice, on wrangler, since they removed the vaccum system in some late 95 yj and all the 97 and more wrangler, front drive shaft turn, even if 4wd is not engage. It just turn freely.

And yes, on wash board or loose gravel dirt road, 4wd can help specialy going hup hill. But on hard pack dirt, witch is more often the case, 2wd to me is peferct.

But don't get me wrong, snowy, icy and more than other with automatic trans will do, I will use 4wd low every time slow technical stuff is needed. I will no try to keep it in 4wdhigh just to say I did not had to.
 
#33 ·
Heres a photo of one of the first cars which made me a car guy. The Hurst Hairy Olds. One of the first 4WD drag cars. A 442 with 2 Olds Toronado power trains. FWD & RWD by 2 independent powertrains.

It ran the quarter mile at over 180MPH. The handling was "hairy".
 

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#36 ·
Up here most of the driving is on gravel and often the gravel roads are more like driving on pavement then gravel-- so highway speeds are the norm. At speeds above 30 or 40 I have not seen any benefit to being in 4WD under most conditions. 4WD offers additional traction but little else at faster speeds so if you are not having issues with traction I cannot see any benefit to running 4WD. Snow and Ice where traction is less then there is a benefit to running 4WD at higher speeds. If your cruising at 50-60 mph on loose gravel then it would be similar but the tendency would be for most to slow down to a more comfortable speed where traction is no longer and issue. It won't hurt to be in 4WD other then gas mileage-- but in most circumstances there will be no benefit to being in 4WD.
 
#37 ·
I can only agree with the 2 last post before me.

Try fish tailing on sleepery surface with and w/o locker, forget all that traction controle crap. The real fun is with locker. Not an open diff. This is why it is so tricky to drive on hard pack snow or ice with a real rear locker compare to an open diff. You do jot have real 50% on each wheel with open diff.

But it is not all dirt road situation that are better with 4wd. I have just completed an other 500 + miles of dirt road travel, and I only used 4wd on about 5 miles of that journey, and I am very generous with that number. But w/o 4wd, I woudl not have been able to complete my trip.
 
#38 ·
The benefit to 4WD on gravel at 40plus MPH is 4 wheels putting the engine braking forces to the ground. Most common accident with RWD on a loose surface is the rear tires losing traction and trying to pass the front axle.
 
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