when can i use 4WD Hi

Ok, I’ve got a stupid question for everyone. I have not really ever used my 4 wheel drive except to get out of a ditch. Would it hurt to run either my 04 Liberty or my 88 Cherk in “4WD part time” all of the time? Coming home this morning in my wife’s 04 Liberty I hit a patch of ice and the back end spun out across a lane of traffic and did a complete circle before stopping. I figure that the 4WD portion will help avoid this in the future.

my dad drives his Jeep cherokee in 4 WD high anytime there is snow on the ground or bad weather. For us that is usually anytime between January and April. He doesn't drive too far to work though maybe 15 miles if that. But he has to get there no matter what sicne he is a cop. I have been told by a couple classmates though not to drive in 4 high above 55 mph. also driving in 4 will kill your gas mileage.

Hi there, I'll throw in my two cents :2cents:

The part time 4WD function of the Cherokee isn't something you would normally want to run "all the time", but as long as you are on slick or loose roads, it's okay. Some Cherokees come with the full time 4WD function which provides some slippage and lets the front rotate separately from the rear, so when you're on dry pavement/road and you make a sharp corner, it doesn't bind up. Part time will bind on dry road and can cause damage.

Either way, I wouldn't drive over 55mph when in 4WD either for a couple reasons: mileage, wear on parts, and if the road's bad enough for 4WD, you have no business driving that fast! That last one would save a lot of damage if folks would just slow down when it gets white outside!

I have the part time transfer case in my Cherokee, when I'm on slick roads, I pull it into 4 High and as soon as I'm back on dry road I take it back out. When the roads are all icy, I will leave it in 4H, as long as necessary...

Good luck, hope you and you're Liberty are okay!
Merry Christmas!

The voice of experience whispered in my ear as I read your post, "Nothing saves you from an icy patch on the road except prudence in speed, anticipating the lack of control you *will* experience if all 4 wheels engage it simultaneously and the knowledge that 4 wheel anything becomes useless without friction between tire and road."
I know, the voices that whisper in my ear are never brief...

Just my :2cents: (and 25+years driving experience)

Stephen

bump!