How long can I be in 4-hi (i am pretty sure that is the first notch in the 4-wd lever) and at what speed should I not exceed??? (is it 45PMH???)

Gotta make a trip home tomorrow and it's ICEEEEE here in Oklahoma!!!

check your owners manual but i think i remember reading that is about 55mph

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2008 KK Limited
Stock for now

you can shift into 4wd up to 55mph. you can stay in it probably up to top speed HOWEVER you can't stop or turn any faster in 4wd than you can in 2wd when you're going anything close to highway speeds. 4wd is great for accelerating and keeping you moving, don't be fooled by the extra confidence you get with the added traction. Good tires make a big difference.

Keep in mind that part time 4wd should only be used on slippery road surfaces. If the road is dry with road salt and there are frozen ice sections you may have some binding issues between the slippery sections and the dry sections. I have full time 4wd so someone with the part time only might have better advice.

What ever system you have just make sure you can slow/down and stop in time. Most people I see who have driven off the road in snow/ice are SUV's not cars.

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'04 Liberty Limited - 245/70/16 Firestone Destination AT's, Mopar tow hooks, Draw-Tite Class IV hitch, Skid Row Engine & Transmission Skids, Mopar T-Case & Gas Tank Skids, Extended Breather Tubes, Red Top Optima, Sylvania Silver Star head lights, Hella 500FF bumper mounted driving lights

45 is too fast on ice in my opinion, but yeah, 55 is the recommended max for 4HI

As far as SUV's being in ditches more: some of that is probably due to less of them hiding from weather, and more of their owners actually going out just to drive in it. False confidence is surely a factor too.

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2005 KJ Renegade
Fabrications for sale: Aluminum Roof Rack (See Page 9)
Aluminum Gas Tank Skid -- Radiator Skid -- Front Strut Shims
Coming Soon: Rear Bumpers with lots of options

Honestly, I think tires are to blame more often, when you see a 4x4 in the ditch. A lot of 4x4 drivers will explain that their M/Ts or A/Ts do great in deep snow, and they're right. But if you look at the 4x4s in the ditch, how many of them were plowing down the road in deep snow when they lost control? It's usually ice that gets them, and your best chance of staying on an icy road is with winter/ice radials or studded winter tires.

alot of thoes suv ditch drivers often have some kind of street all season tires that really are not good in snow/ice. yea thye may help. I see alot of suv's in ditches with 20" chrome rims with street performance tires insted of the more agressive tires that are avail for their suv's.

ALSO, most often they depend too much on their 4wd systems and think they can do 75mph in the snow and expect to make that turn or stop.
It is not a matter of what you drive, it is a matter of HOW YOU DRIVE..
IMO If you can drive a rear wheel drive car safely in bad weather, you can drive anything safely in bad weather.

When it snows and I am out on the roads, I ALWAYS keep it slow. no matter if it is 1" of snow or 12" of snow. Slow and stedy for me.

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2003 KJ Sport JEEPZILLA Edition
American Flag flying high
Frankenlift removed =(
Moabs and plenty of pin striping
Flexable people don't get bent out of shape!
Current MPG 6" to a gallon
L.O.S.T. # BL065211
www.ItAtYourHome.com

I dont think Ive ever been over 20mph or so in part time. Ive never even drove on the road in part time. Weather is be covered in snow or ice, Ive never needed part time. Full time is all I ever use, even if the road is totally covered in snow.

Ive used part time a few times when offroad but usually Im in 4low.

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LOST KJ'S
Where are you going???
Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
Lost #007082
http://www.cardomain.com/id/jeepjeepster

Several years ago on I-95 in NC during an ice storm, I had all I could do to stay in a straight line going 20-25mph in 4hi. The worst ice driving I ever did.

Several years ago we had a 28" storm and I had to go up I-87 in the middle of the storm and I was in 4hi and could comfortably hold between 45-50 with good traction for snow covered roads but backed off to 40mph. I also had 3 lanes all to myself. That was still too fast probably. The visibility was an issue more than the road surface.

Every storm is different. There is no pre-set speed and you won't hurt the jeep unless you can't stop and hit something..

I mostly use "full time" and have no problems but when the roads are totally covered with snow I use 4hi and slow down to where I feel comfortable traction.......if ice, I slow waaaay down.

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05 BLACK KJ - 42RLE & NP242
Skids, Hooks, Bent Rock Rail, Lifted, A/T's, etc.
NY and PA and Florida ONF Special Custom Organic Trail Rash

Many of us don't have an option for full time though.

And yes, tires are the thing. From what I've read, agressive is not better on packed snow and ice though.

I'm definitely going for some Bridgestone Blizzak DM-Z3's before next winter myself.

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2005 KJ Renegade
Fabrications for sale: Aluminum Roof Rack (See Page 9)
Aluminum Gas Tank Skid -- Radiator Skid -- Front Strut Shims
Coming Soon: Rear Bumpers with lots of options

I have the DMZ3's on our minivan. I am very happy with them.

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LOST # 633
'05 KJ 3.7L/6spd/241 245/75/16 MT's
'88 MJ 4.0L/AW4/231 SWB HPD30 & trac-loc D44 w/3.73's
A dirty Jeep is a happy Jeep