Posted: Oct 09 2011 at 2:11am | IP Logged

Hey, this is my first 4x4. I was wondering what I can and can't do. How fast can I go in 4L or 4H? I also have heard that I should be careful driving on pavement while using 4x4 because the wheels lock up? Also which is best if Im stuck in mud?

Thanks

Posted: Oct 10 2011 at 8:39pm | IP Logged

what did you get? If it's a 4xpro you better be carefull where you point that dang thing cause it'll probly make it.

Posted: Oct 17 2011 at 3:05pm | IP Logged

..

I've owned five 4x4s in the last 30 years and driven over 261 Colorado Mountain Passes and been higher than Pike's Peak. In many cases a 4x4 is a vehicle that can go twice as far before it gets twice as stuck! Driver experience is required. Water and mud are very hard on vehicle parts and seals. Hot parts it the drive lines will suddenly shrink when diving into cold water. Cavities like the four gearboxes and wheel hubs want to suck in the water.

I removed the rear bumper and lifted the rear more than the front for ground clearance. Slightly larger tires slightly aired down will get better traction and worse fuel mileage. When approaching a bump with independent front suspension.  Let off the brakes just before driving over it… this gives full ground clearance! Always gear down descending steep grades use the engine and save the brakes. Carrying a lot of spare parts and tools will reduce ground clearance and add enough extra load so you might need those tools and spares..

Lots o’ luck Don S..

Posted: Oct 31 2011 at 10:23am | IP Logged

All good advice above!!  I've driven 4WD for decades and the advice about never using it on dry roads is spot on.  Your truck does not have a differential action between the front and rear axle so when you go around a turn in 4WD, the wheels are required to slip.  This works just fine in snow, ice, muddy roads, gravel but cannot work on dry roads.  Eventually something will break.

Also,Don's note about getting twice as far before getting stuck is very true.  4WD can tempt the novice (and the experienced driver) into going further into a mess than is safe.   It is easy to drive too far into deep snow or mud and then realize that even with 4WD you cannot get out.  So learn by driving.  test your truck in slightly muddy or snowy area.  Make sure the tires that you have on the truck are the right type.  I use Cooper Discoverer CSX that are a mild tread.  I hunt and am generally on gravel roads with some mud and snow.  For this, they are fine.  But they would NOT get me in or out of heavy mud or snow.

ALso remeber that you nheed to maintain 4WD regularly.  This means drianing and refilling the transfer case and both diffs.  Learn to do this yourself and use qulaity fluid.  Always remember to remove the fill plug before the drain plug!  I use Mobil 1 75W-90 in my diffs with very good results.  I change it at 30,000 miles after an initial drain and fill at 5000 miles to get out the metal from break-in. The tranfer case requires ATF.  Nissan dealers carry the washers you'll need to do these jobs.

And remeber NEVER drive across a steep slope.  This is an invitation to a rollover.