The famous 4WD debate....

[CaptainsLS]

When plowing.....4 Low range......or.......4 Hi :noidea:

[lawnkid]

We custom built wooden boxes for all of our pickups and put about 400 lbs of cinder blocks in those boxes for ballast. Most of the time we don't even need to plow in 4-wheel drive but in normal conditions, you always want to use 4 high. When you're plowing 12" of heavy wet snow, then you use 4 low. Our International and Sterling salt trucks are two wheel drive with a split axle and those things only plow great when there's two or more yards of salt as weight in the back. That's the key. Without weight you're gonna be spinning wheels.

[Grn Mtn]

its usually about momentum, and 4-low doesn't allow you to go fast and if you do spin your tires you can risk redlining the engine. I prefer to stay in 4-hi to keep the snow moving. only time i've use low range is on a very steep drive and i wanted the gearing to keep me going slow without the brakes.

lots of weight is very helpful, I keep 1000lbs of salt on hand.

[Andrew Hardscape]

4-high with the automatic transmission in 1st gear.

4 - low is a *CREEPER GEAR*. So if you're pushing a huge, heavy pile of snow - then 4 low would be appropriate. This will provide more torque.

But for simply clearing passes - w-high with automatic transmission in 1st gear. or sometimes 2nd gear is ok.

BUT NEVER PLOW IN "DRIVE".

[Terraventure]

F550 with 2 yard sander full and new goodyear 622 tires in 2wd. Last year was a different story with the stock continentals brand new I plowed everything in 4wd and I was still slipping and sliding. Tires make and ballast make all the difference.