Conference ssdevo::4wd

    
    ref 30.0
    
    Sorry to hear of your woes...
    
    Must be the Japanese design... ;^I 
    
    Have an 89 Dakota with vacuum front diff disengage... the vehicle's 
    got 161K miles on it...never had a problem, never missed a shift...
    The vacuum switch on the Xfer case which activates it had to be 
    replaced at 155K for $17.50 but that's IT...

    ref 30.13
    
    What good will shifting into 4-H at 60mph gonna do ya?
    
    (see `Silly 4X4 driving'.. or something like that)
    
    At highway speeds with std truck/RV tires, you've got less chance 
    than a FWD sedan with highway/all season tires at staying on the road.
    
    Don't kid yourself... 4WD does NOT enhance your vehicle's handling,
    braking or lateral traction...period.  In fact, most 4WD vehicles are
    LESS stable laterally because their tire tread designs normally have 
    lower percentages, (per tire size), of contact patch on flat surfaces 
    and the vehicles themselves tend to have higher centers of gravity 
    which contributes to body lean and oversteer all of which contribute 
    to tire shear, (aka breakaway from the given thrust line of travel), 
    in emergency maneuvering situations.  
    
    Don't take MY word for it... ask the experts.  If you're on hard
    surfaces, MOST 4X4's actually have more risky handling characteristics 
    than most vehicles. The only exceptions might be `sporty' (aka
    EXPENSIVE) fulltime 4WD CARS WITH both traction control AND ABS.

    
    	RE:  -.1  and -.2  
    
    	Do you know you are responding to 10 year old notes?
    
    	If they have been shifting into 4wd at highway speeds for
    the last 10 years, they most likely aint around to hear ya :-)

    John, you need to get out of the house more and actually USE that 4WD
    of yours! :-) I've found that shifting into 4WD at highway speeds
    during heavy downpours greatly reduces the effects of hydroplaning. The
    transfer case forces the front wheels to keep rolling. Those annoying
    side to side jerks of the wheel nearly vanish. When travelling between
    bands of showers I'll kick it back in 2WD, then drop it into 4WD when
    the going gets wet again. No need to slow down or stop. Just pull the
    lever and keep on keepin' on. The difference is astounding.
    
    As for handling, it increases tremendously in 4WD. Try blasting along a
    winding, two-lane, dirt road at extra-legal speeds sometime, in 2WD.
    Then go back and traverse the same road in 4WD. You'll find that you
    can cruise along way faster. With 4WD engaged, you can throttle-steer
    much easier, without worrying that they rearend is going to try to get
    ahead of you. Just point the front end where you want to go, stab the
    throttle and hang on. Those front tires will dig in and pull you
    wherever they're pointed. It's a blast, especially with over 300
    horsepower on tap. :-)
    
    Try driving on a dirt road, uphill, that's badly washboarded. You'll
    find yourself skittering all over the place in 2WD as the rear end
    bounces around, looking for traction. Try again in 4WD and you'll find
    that the ride feels smoother and the vehicle tracks much straighter.
    
    Get out there and play! 4WD is good for more than getting you home
    during a snowstorm. :-)
    
    Harry
    

    
    
    
        Harry, 
    
        You are a sick, sick man.  (Keep up the good work!)
    
        
       -Rick.
    

    Harry, 
    
             Don't forget to let up on the throttle on those landings....
    
        I'd hate to see you snap something...8^)
    
    
    
    -Jeff
    
    (you ever buy that Commando?)
    

    Rick, I do tend to live life a bit closer to the edge than most. ;-)
    But hey, it's much more fun that way!

    Jeff, the ThunderTruck(tm) is as close to bullet proof as you can get
    without buying a deuce and a half. I don't worry too much about stuff
    breaking. :-) 
    
    I passed on the Commando. Some quick price comparisons out on the
    internet showed that his price was even more inflated than I thought.
    (Plus I'm out of room in the garage!)
    
    Harry