2WD, 4WD low/high and auto

[A4Owner]

Generally speaking, when do you press the buttons corresponding to these various drive modes?

 

[PM-Performance]

When I need to switch modes. (After shifting to neutral)

Typically when I hit bad snow, or backing my boat uphill through grass are the 2 common times for me

 

[Richard320]

Auto if there's a chance I might need the extra traction. Where I live, that means rain or a chance there's ice on the road. High means I know I'll want the extra traction. Dirt roads or snow. So far the only time I've put it in low was to test that it works.

 

[Mountain Whiskey]

Generally speaking, when do you press the buttons corresponding to these various drive modes?

You press them when you want to shift between modes.

 

[FLiPMaRC]

When I need to switch modes. (After shifting to neutral)

Typically when I hit bad snow, or backing my boat uphill through grass are the 2 common times for me

You only need to shift to Neutral for 4-Low. You can shift on the fly with 4-Auto and 4-Hi

 

[PM-Performance]

Good to know. I think I just got into the habit of doing this to avoid the clunks when it shifts.

 

[TampaLaramie]

You only need to shift to Neutral for 4-Low. You can shift on the fly with 4-Auto and 4-Hi

Yep. You can shift at 70mph to 4-hi. The truck does the work for you. Every other month I’ll test 4-hi just to keep the transfer case working if I don’t get a hard rain to drive in.

 

[Darksteel165]

Yep. You can shift at 70mph to 4-hi. The truck does the work for you. Every other month I’ll test 4-hi just to keep the transfer case working if I don’t get a hard rain to drive in.

Please don't shift into 4-hi going 70mph.
4-Auto sure, not 4-hi at those speeds.

 

[theblet]

I’ll shift into 4 auto during heavy rain with slippery roads. Also will use 4hi during those conditions if I want to get in front of someone from a red light.

 

[TampaLaramie]

Please don't shift into 4-hi going 70mph.
4-Auto sure, not 4-hi at those speeds.

I’m just saying the truck has a safety net and safely engages the gears when it deems is ok. I’ll engage it in the rain at 50 mph with no sounds or signs of stress.

 

[kdoublep]

I'll admit I have switched in and out of 4auto at 65/70. I've switched in and out of 4Hi at 55.

I can't get enough of 4auto. Love it in the rain or like theblet said...when you need extra traction off the line.

 

[DEG]

4 wheel auto - when for start and stop driving with wet roads when pulling a trailer or roads with patchy snow

4 wheel high - when roads are snow and ice packed or mild off road situations.

4 wheel low - when driving up my steel ramps to change oil. IMO stock Rams are too large and heavy with poor approach and departure angles to really drive in conditions that would justify use of 4 low.

 

[Mountain Whiskey]

4 low when doing anything but driving downhill with 3.21 gears.

 

[theblet]

4 low when doing anything but driving downhill with 3.21 gears.

And if you have 3.92 gears, don’t forget to tank up at the top of the hill.

 

[kapinallinen2]

Tried 4-low once or twice to make sure it worked.
4-high sometimes when it is wet and don`t feel like spinning the rear tires like a fool when taking off the lights,
also used it on the beach couple times.
p.s. love my 3.92 gears and the 33 gallon tank. I drive a thirsty girl