No, it really doesn't do anything except use a little extra fuel,
if even that. I forgot my hubs were locked once and remembered
some 2 months later when I went to go lock them and go wheeling.

And you can shift into 4WD at any speed, so long as you don't have
any spinning/sliding wheels, and the hubs are locked, it's a simple click
even at 60 MPH

Wild

so i can just push in the clutch and shift to 4wd while im rollin down the road?

You don't need to push in the clutch, just shift, power on is not the
problem, spinning tires is the problem

Wild

Quote from: wildgoody on February 02, 2011, 08:36:04 PM

No, it really doesn't do anything except use a little extra fuel,
if even that. I forgot my hubs were locked once and remembered
some 2 months later when I went to go lock them and go wheeling.

And you can shift into 4WD at any speed, so long as you don't have
any spinning/sliding wheels, and the hubs are locked, it's a simple click
even at 60 MPH

Wild

so i can just push in the clutch and shift to 4wd while im rollin down the road?

I'm wasting too much energy getting in and out!

You don't need to push in the clutch, just shift, power on is not the
problem, spinning tires is the problem

Wild

I guess i'll give it a try tomorrow, thank for the info

tried shifting in and out of 4wd while on the road this morning.  worked great, thanks for the help!

I guess some shift better than others, but mine has auto hubs and is an automatic trans. sometimes you have to turn the car off leave it in N and maybe move it just a little to get it into 4x4 then getting it out you have to put it into 2wd then back up a little to get the hubs out. I think manual hubs would save a bunch of fuss. I have never tred shifting on the fly before in anything, but my Kabota

Sometimes I hate to get out in the cold snow or the pouring rain to lock my hubs but I like the idea that in my tiny town that does not plow the roads I can just leave my hubs locked as long as I need to, and I shift into 4-HI as I am rolling all the time. If I want to go into 4-LO I do bring it to a super slow crawl (like less than 1-2 mph) or stop first though so it does not grind anything. I owned a 98 dodge 1/2 ton for a few years and it had an auto system not auto hubs though and it was worthless, the auto actuator failed and I was never able to get into 4x4 the last year and half I owed it.

wohoo! woke up to about 6" of fresh snow here in fort worth.  Time to go play! 

dang it that is just not right I live in northern Utah and I have no new snow have not had any in weeks and it been almost a month since the roads had any

with an auto trans while rolling put the trans in neutral shift into 4 high and wait till the 4wd light comes on.. then back in drive and off you go. putting the trans in neutral allows "play" in the gears to match and engage properly.

with an auto trans while rolling put the trans in neutral shift into 4 high and wait till the 4wd light comes on.. then back in drive and off you go. putting the trans in neutral allows "play" in the gears to match and engage properly.

I guess, so....

I deliver pizza in the snow with a 2.5L 4-spd OD Tracker 4-door.  When I am approaching an unplowed side street, I simplly let up on the accellerator then push the t-case lever forward to 4-high.  Don't be turning, sliding or braking when doing this!  Potential damage occurs in the transfer case, not necessarily in the transmission.

For absolute peace-of-mind, come to a complete stop then shift.  You don't have to, but if worrying is your favorite pastime - that is the optimum solution.

For details, consult your owner's manual.

Is that 2.5 Tracker a 2nd gen or 1st gen with an engine swap (and if so which transfer case did you use)?

2nd gen t/cases have a synchro on the front output shaft hub (which the 1sr gen lack) and are designed to "shift-on-the-fly" at speeds upto 60 mph (no turning, and I would agree no spinning, sliding or braking) - I think you're more likely to damage the front axle's freewheel hub though.  I just grab the lever & go (2nd gen with 2.0 & 5 spd).

I do the shift on the fly into 4wd all the time with my 96.  I just do as Ack mentioned, take the foot off the throttle and slide it into 4wd.  Just don't try and force it and it will usually pop right in.