When and How to Use 4 Wheel Drive (Including a Red Green Demonstration)

by Marjorie, Social Media Manager

Four wheel driving was a mystery to me until I started driving on the dunes. There's no better place to learn about the mechanical ins and outs of four wheel drive than Silver Lake Sand Dunes - preferably NOT on Memorial Day weekend.

But since it's not summer, using four wheel drive for snowy and icy conditions is a far more pressing topic. Let's review a few facts about four wheel drive, including when and how to use it.

When to use 4 wheel drive (all wheel drive). Four wheel drive works best when trying to maneuver through a deep or sludgy substance - like sand dunes, or heavy snow. Please keep in mind that all wheel drive is not a cure-all for bad conditions; it simply gives you more power during situations when you need it the most - like when we're having an all Michigan 15 inch snowstorm. Just remember: 4 wheel drive is the much-loved vehicle setting for off-roaders. Are you driving in off-road-like settings? If not, don't use it. Deep snow, slush and sand are the best times to turn on your all wheel drive.

Four wheel drive limitations. It's important to note that all wheel drive helps you gain more traction and power, but inversely does NOT help you stop. When going downhill on icy or slick surfaces, all wheel drive can actually make a situation worse if you're not careful with your speed. Take it from the girl who nearly banked an old F150 full of maple sap on icy backroads. Momentum causes your vehicle to go faster, and having rear (or front) wheels disengaged from the engine can actually help you slow. So if you're cresting a particularly icy hill in 4 wheel, shift back into 2 wheel if you can. If you can't, follow the cardinal rule of inclement weather and take it slow.

Return to 2 wheel drive on dry pavement. If you have to lock your hubs, pull over in a safe place and unlock them once you're back on dry pavement. Same goes for driving on dry roads before you get to deep snow or sand (as any dune driver would know, we only let the air out and lock hubs immediately prior to entering the dunes. Wooo!). Driving on hard, dry roads in four wheel drive can cause damage to your vehicle's driveshafts, transfer case or differentials. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I'm sure it would send Rob, Dennis and Bobby into fits.

Those are the major points we'll cover for today. Now, a "bit of fun" by Red Green. Please, please don't try this at home.

Safe Winter Weather Driving Tips

by Marjorie, Social Media Manager

Well, at last we have our first snow. I woke up this morning to 10 inches of snow, a beautiful but dangerous phenomenon so common to those of us living in the Great Lakes region. In honor of this winter's first major snowstorm, I thought we all could use some reminders on safe winter weather driving. If you are experienced with Michigan winter weather, you know that there are as many different types of road conditions as there are types of snow; we're rather like Eskimos with their 200 words for "snow" in that we have dozens of terms for different winter road conditions. Black ice, slush, powder, snow sand - they all behave differently and require us to adapt our driving in different ways. Here are a few tips to make sure you stay on the road in adverse conditions.

Drive slowly. It's basic, but it's surprising how many cars can be found plowing through a snowstorm on the freeway at 70 miles per hour. Even if you're driving a large, 4-wheel drive vehicle, excessive speed on slippery roads makes it much easier to lose control of the vehicle, especially in low-visibility conditions. Driving too fast can not only be a danger to yourself, but to other drivers on the road as well; during heavy snowfall, fast cars whizzing by drastically reduces visibility for the cars behind.

Don't use cruise control. Cruise control reduces a driver's ability to feel the car and road beneath him or her, and in bad driving conditions, keeping a steady pulse on your car's traction and direction is crucial. Additionally, cruise control elongates breaking time, making it much more difficult to respond quickly.

Don't slam on the breaks. Most cars on the road today are equipped with ABS, but this is not a license to slam on the breaks on slippery roads. Maintaining a slow speed and plenty of room in front of you can help reduce the need for heavy breaking, but remember: sudden breaking is more likely to cause your breaks to lock and your vehicle to spin out of control. If your car begins to slide, pump the break in short, hard bursts and keep the steering wheel straight.

Don't overcompensate with steering. A mistake many drivers make on slippery roads is to swerve around obstructions and attempt to steer out of a slide. If your car begins to slide, steer straight ahead and attempt to reduce sliding by pumping the brakes. Oversteering can cause your car to slide and spin into a ditch much more easily than straight, even steering.

Maintain a healthy distance between the cars in front of you. This is especially true for freeway driving. Always keep enough distance between your car and the car in front of you to adequately stop without slamming on the brakes. This, at least, will prevent you from slamming into the back of someone else's car.

Add weight. This is particularly helpful for rear-wheel drive vehicles, but even front wheel drive vehicles can benefit from some additional weight. Some old tires, pallets, bricks or encyclopedias in the trunk will give your vehicle more traction.

Prepare your vehicle! As Bobby emphasized last week, it's a good idea to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. In addition to outfitting your vehicle snow tires, new wiper blades and general maintenance, keep emergency equipment in the trunk. AAA recommends you keep a shovel, sand/kitty litter, food, water, flashlight, flares and a blanket in case of emergency, and we think that's pretty smart. And remember: well-maintained cars are safer.

Safe driving!