Using 4A when raining?

[Rydfree]

How many of you use 4A when it is raining? Should it not be used while driving in the rain? Thoughts?

I use it when the roads are wet. The stock KO2's on the non-sas Badlands absolutely suck in the rain.

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[SeptuagenerianSasquatch]

4A, 4H, etc.

Every winter I see people stuck in the ditch in the snow. They overdrove their abilities and the abilities of their vehicles and tires. They thought "AWD/4WD, I can do anything!" They forgot about stopping--and turning, which is a subset of stopping.

Getting going is great, until you have to unwind that. Yes, unless you leave proper space, you'd better at least have proper tires--but even that won't save you.

Retired LE here. I'd hear remarks like that when I pulled people over on snow Boston days. "Kind of fast for snow, Sir."
"I have four-wheel drive, officer, I can handle it."
"No sir, just because you can get up to speed fast doesn't mean you can brake or turn." And I'd write them the ticket. Bear in mind, I was probably in a Crown Vic!

 

[Oldhippie]

I use it in the rain (used normal 4x4 in many vehicles in heavier rain too)…yes it does help in cornering along with acceleration…sure, not a “cure-all” but it helps…

 

[dejones64]

4A only in the snow for me. 2wd has been fine in driving rainstorms. Hydro planing is my concern, slow down anyway.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I don't think I've ever used 4xanything in the rain. (The Subaru excepted, no choice there)
... snow & ice ...yes.

Now, these shitty Toyo's have me re-considering the rain part, but I still haven't.
The BFG's on the Badlands were not the greatest, but they were light years ahead of this set of Toyos on my Base.

 

[BroncocnorB]

At 30,000 miles I think I’ve had my Bronco in 2WD for one mile if that. 4A is set it and forget it mode.

 

[rdg04578]

never have used 4A and don't think I ever will. For me I know when I do and don't need 4WD and if I need 4WD I want all of the power available (50% split) to the front wheels not a reduced clutched amount.

 

[BroncoChallenger]

I use it when the roads are wet. The stock KO2's on the non-sas Badlands absolutely suck in the rain.

Having had KO2's on Bronco-sized vehicles, I'd disagree. You probably have them aired up too much for the weight of the vehicle. KO2's were AWESOME in the rain when I ran them.

To the point of the thread though - I don't typically use 4Wanything in the rain on-road unless it's freezing rain, then I prefer 4A. That changes if I'm off-road, I won't use it on gravel (don't need it) but I will use 4WD on sand, it's like wet grits and every bit of control I can get is worth it.

 

[Rydfree]

Having had KO2's on Bronco-sized vehicles, I'd disagree. You probably have them aired up too much for the weight of the vehicle. KO2's were AWESOME in the rain when I ran them.

To the point of the thread though - I don't typically use 4Wanything in the rain on-road unless it's freezing rain, then I prefer 4A. That changes if I'm off-road, I won't use it on gravel (don't need it) but I will use 4WD on sand, it's like wet grits and every bit of control I can get is worth it.

I run 34 cold and they suck. They suck a lot worse at 39.

 

[JT58Bronc]

I have never used it. When I went to Ga. in the mountains and had a cabin deep in the woods on a steep dirt road hill I just put it in 4H or 4L to get there. Even in the torrential summer downpours in 2WD on paved roads I have not had any slippage at all. The stock Goodyears did well off road and on the road in the rain. 4A would be good for areas that have winter snow and ice where the roads are only partly covered. When I lived in Massachusetts with conventional 4WD vehicles I would have to leave it in 2WD and slide all over until the roads turned to full snow before I could put it in 4WD. The 4A would have been great in that application.

 

[Gregory61]

4A, 4H, etc.

Every winter I see people stuck in the ditch in the snow. They overdrove their abilities and the abilities of their vehicles and tires. They thought "AWD/4WD, I can do anything!" They forgot about stopping--and turning, which is a subset of stopping.

Getting going is great, until you have to unwind that. Yes, unless you leave proper space, you'd better at least have proper tires--but even that won't save you.

Amen! I have experienced so many AWD/4WD vehicles blow by my in snow storms only to see them off the road down the road a piece.

 

[Callelk]

4A, 4H, etc.

Every winter I see people stuck in the ditch in the snow. They overdrove their abilities and the abilities of their vehicles and tires. They thought "AWD/4WD, I can do anything!" They forgot about stopping--and turning, which is a subset of stopping.

Getting going is great, until you have to unwind that. Yes, unless you leave proper space, you'd better at least have proper tires--but even that won't save you.

Yeah, I can always tell who just moved to our area. New 4X4 SUV or AWD Crossover..........first snow, in the ditch....

The only time I use 4A is in the snow on pavement. Today there is light snow in the Owyhee's and I will have it it 4H or 4L most of the day while hunting. But I do that anyway....

 

[Sgt Badlands]

Of course, use it in the rain. All it takes is for you to need to gas it a bit going uphill....and lose traction. Then you'll know.

I was driving my 2 door 4 cyl last week. From a stop, turned at a stop light. Did not hit the gas hard at all. It was raining and my rear wheels spun and started to fishtail. Seems it should have better traction.

 

[Sgt Badlands]

Around town I don't typically use 4A in the rain but yes on the highway. Just did a 400 mile trip in the pouring rain and 30 mile an hour winds. The Bronco definitely feels more stable in 4A.

It only kicks in if it needs it. It’s not AWD

 

[adam1991]

I was driving my 2 door 4 cyl last week. From a stop, turned at a stop light. Did not hit the gas hard at all. It was raining and my rear wheels spun and started to fishtail. Seems it should have better traction.

Tires.

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