Snowy 4x4 Question

[bax467]

Just a quick question for those who have to drive through snowstorms from time to time. When I have to drive on the hwy through 8-14 in of snow on the hwy should i put my autotrac on auto 4X4 or 4 hi? not sure if sustained higher speeds will hurt the transfer case, or if the constant workout the t-case will take in auto will hurt anything. Thanks in advance guys, you rock

 

Joe

[VMax2007]

Just a quick question for those who have to drive through snowstorms from time to time. When I have to drive on the hwy through 8-14 in of snow on the hwy should i put my autotrac on auto 4X4 or 4 hi? not sure if sustained higher speeds will hurt the transfer case, or if the constant workout the t-case will take in auto will hurt anything. Thanks in advance guys, you rock

 

Joe

 

Read your manual. Autotrac is not meant for highway speeds. Use 4hi in that much snow, and how fast do you actually drive in 8-14" of snow anyway?

[peteking]

I've driven through a few nasty storms up in Buffalo, NY. I kept it in 4x4 Hi for a few hours straight, driving 40mph - 60mph. Didn't seem to hurt anything, and it's been trouble-free for 9 months since then. I've never used my Auto 4x4 much so I can't comment there.

[jwhjr]

I use 4-hi and have driven 150+ miles through snow this way.

[95Sierra2500]

Well, my truck doesn't have the auto option, in fact I've still got a lever on the floor - but the wife's Jimmy has it. And frankly, if I'm on the highway and am driving in 8-14" of snow, I'm probably doing about 45 and have the t-case locked in 4-hi.

 

In all honesty, I believe the auto function is more for wet/icy conditions than deep snow.

[stadt11]

I always use 4-Hi on the highway when it's covered with snow/ice. The only time I really use Auto-4x4 is in the city with a couple of inches on the ground.

[Tanner03]

4-Hi for me also. I don't like the auto-trac feature in the snow. The delay was a problem (on Highway) as I thought it made it more unpredictable. I have driven all day in 4 hi during deer season for a week straight a few years ago and never had a problem. This was a total of 300 miles on gravel roads, fields, and highways.

[Bish]

If the roads are completely covered, I used to (AWD now) run in 4x4Hi. If the road is wet or patches of ice or standing water, I used 4x4Auto. I used Auto at highway speeds for many of the 220K I put on my Tahoe and I had no troubles with using Auto at highway speed. My manual also did not say anything about restricting auto use t highway speeds. I REALLY liked the Auto when there was a patch of ice or a puddle as it would stop the truck from pulling to the side because it kicks in so quickly.

 

Now I just drive around in AWD mode. I still prefer the 4x4Hi and Auto to the current AWD when driving in snow though.

[csheatz]

I use the auto4 in the city on snow and ice covered roads, if it gets to bad then 4high. As for highway driving if its that bad I am in 4high, have done that pulling a trailer 200+ miles, never had a problem, I kept going and stayed on the road while a lot of others were not so lucky!

[mkelly]

Just a quick question for those who have to drive through snowstorms from time to time. When I have to drive on the hwy through 8-14 in of snow on the hwy should i put my autotrac on auto 4X4 or 4 hi? not sure if sustained higher speeds will hurt the transfer case, or if the constant workout the t-case will take in auto will hurt anything. Thanks in advance guys, you rock

 

Joe

 

Read your manual. Autotrac is not meant for highway speeds. Use 4hi in that much snow, and how fast do you actually drive in 8-14" of snow anyway?

 

 

I have read my manual, and Autotrac(A4wd) is fine for the highway. In fact you can leave it in on dry pavement year round if you like, it just lowers your gas mileage a bit.

 

 

With that depth of snow it depends, if it is the light fluffy snow then I just leave a4wd. If its heavy wet snow that pushes the truck around the 4hi for me.

[VMax2007]

Just a quick question for those who have to drive through snowstorms from time to time. When I have to drive on the hwy through 8-14 in of snow on the hwy should i put my autotrac on auto 4X4 or 4 hi? not sure if sustained higher speeds will hurt the transfer case, or if the constant workout the t-case will take in auto will hurt anything. Thanks in advance guys, you rock

 

Joe

 

Read your manual. Autotrac is not meant for highway speeds. Use 4hi in that much snow, and how fast do you actually drive in 8-14" of snow anyway?

 

 

I have read my manual, and Autotrac(A4wd) is fine for the highway. In fact you can leave it in on dry pavement year round if you like, it just lowers your gas mileage a bit.

 

 

With that depth of snow it depends, if it is the light fluffy snow then I just leave a4wd. If its heavy wet snow that pushes the truck around the 4hi for me.

 

 

 

Oh, I didn't mean to imply that using Autotrac on the highway would cause any damage. I just read that at speeds over 55mph (I thought it was in my manual for my old 2000, but I may be mistaken?) that even with the quick response time, it may not be quick enough if you hit a patch of ice. With that said, I almost always use Auto4wd, even in deep snow. I rarely use 4hi unless I need it at the boat launch.

 

When in deep snow or on ice, I cannot tell the difference between 4hi and A4wd. It is awesome!

[mkelly]

Oh, I didn't mean to imply that using Autotrac on the highway would cause any damage. I just read that at speeds over 55mph (I thought it was in my manual for my old 2000, but I may be mistaken?) that even with the quick response time, it may not be quick enough if you hit a patch of ice. With that said, I almost always use Auto4wd, even in deep snow. I rarely use 4hi unless I need it at the boat launch.

 

When in deep snow or on ice, I cannot tell the difference between 4hi and A4wd. It is awesome!

 

 

I would buy that, the sensors and actuators can only work so fast.....

 

 

I actually got to try out a4wd in the silverado for the first time last night and I have to say I was impressed.

 

The truck slid a little more then I expected, but the autotrac kept it in line. At first I was disapointed, but when I saw 2 fwd cars do 360's. I figured if autotrac can keep a rwd v-8 truck with no weight over the back wheels in line on that kind of ice it was worth keeping ;)

[VMax2007]

Oh, I didn't mean to imply that using Autotrac on the highway would cause any damage. I just read that at speeds over 55mph (I thought it was in my manual for my old 2000, but I may be mistaken?) that even with the quick response time, it may not be quick enough if you hit a patch of ice. With that said, I almost always use Auto4wd, even in deep snow. I rarely use 4hi unless I need it at the boat launch.

 

When in deep snow or on ice, I cannot tell the difference between 4hi and A4wd. It is awesome!

 

 

I would buy that, the sensors and actuators can only work so fast.....

 

 

I actually got to try out a4wd in the silverado for the first time last night and I have to say I was impressed.

 

The truck slid a little more then I expected, but the autotrac kept it in line. At first I was disapointed, but when I saw 2 fwd cars do 360's. I figured if autotrac can keep a rwd v-8 truck with no weight over the back wheels in line on that kind of ice it was worth keeping ;)

 

 

I think you are confusing "Autotrac" with "Stabilitrak".

 

Autotrac is the automatic transfer case. Stabilitrak is your vehicle stability control.

[stadt11]

I think you are confusing "Autotrac" with "Stabilitrak".

 

My thoughts exactly.

[mkelly]

Oh, I didn't mean to imply that using Autotrac on the highway would cause any damage. I just read that at speeds over 55mph (I thought it was in my manual for my old 2000, but I may be mistaken?) that even with the quick response time, it may not be quick enough if you hit a patch of ice. With that said, I almost always use Auto4wd, even in deep snow. I rarely use 4hi unless I need it at the boat launch.

 

When in deep snow or on ice, I cannot tell the difference between 4hi and A4wd. It is awesome!

 

 

I would buy that, the sensors and actuators can only work so fast.....

 

 

I actually got to try out a4wd in the silverado for the first time last night and I have to say I was impressed.

 

The truck slid a little more then I expected, but the autotrac kept it in line. At first I was disapointed, but when I saw 2 fwd cars do 360's. I figured if autotrac can keep a rwd v-8 truck with no weight over the back wheels in line on that kind of ice it was worth keeping ;)

 

 

I think you are confusing "Autotrac" with "Stabilitrak".

 

Autotrac is the automatic transfer case. Stabilitrak is your vehicle stability control.

 

 

Nope, I dont have Stabilitrak

 

When my back end started to step out 4wd kicked in and straightened the truck out. Of course this only works when accelerating, stabilitrack works all the time.