Max speed when in 4WD?

[Obbay1953]

I'm driving in Colorado, in and out of snow covered roads. I'm using the "Slippery" GOAT mode and I also engage 4WD if conditions warrant. Is there a recommended maximum safe speed to drive while in 4WD? Given the conditions that warrant driving in 4WD, I'll obviously drive slower though I want to know the top speed recommended if someone knows. Thanks in advance.

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[bjbena]

I'm driving in Colorado, in and out of snow covered roads. I'm using the "Slippery" GOAT mode and I also engage 4WD if conditions warrant. Is there a recommended maximum safe speed to drive while in 4WD? Given the conditions that warrant driving in 4WD, I'll obviously drive slower though I want to know the top speed recommended if someone knows. Thanks in advance.

I thought 4wd is always engag ....

Oh, you have a Badlands and are referring to 4wd low, right?

 

[Mlarv]

I thought 4wd is always engag ....

Oh, you have a Badlands and are referring to 4wd low, right?

if he is going into 4 low while driving I would like to see that. Any other vehicles I have owned you had to come to a complete stop to engage 4lo.

max speed is what feels comfortable in the condition. If you can put the center instrument cluster in the mode you can see which wheels have traction and which wheels are getting power, that should give you a good clue how you are doing.

 

[AndyMac204]

tbh, just put it in slippery mode and call it a day. i think locking the diff and that kind of stuff is more for low speed crawling and such.
i would check your owner's manual just to be on the safe side.

 

[rdc17]

I thought 4wd is always engag ....

Oh, you have a Badlands and are referring to 4wd low, right?

if he is going into 4 low while driving I would like to see that. Any other vehicles I have owned you had to come to a complete stop to engage 4lo.

max speed is what feels comfortable in the condition. If you can put the center instrument cluster in the mode you can see which wheels have traction and which wheels are getting power, that should give you a good clue how you are doing.

BS doesn't have a transfer case, so no 4 Low.

If you're using GOAT modes, I would let the computer do the thinking. If it auto engages the 4WD lock, let it, otherwise don't use the 4WD or rear diff lock unless you need to get out of a sticky situation.

 

[Obbay1953]

I thought 4wd is always engag ....

Oh, you have a Badlands and are referring to 4wd low, right?

4WD isn't always engaged (AWD is I suppose). I was only referring to either manually putting it in 4WD or allowing the GOAT modes automatically engage according to the mode.

 

[Mark S.]

I'm driving in Colorado, in and out of snow covered roads. I'm using the "Slippery" GOAT mode and I also engage 4WD if conditions warrant. Is there a recommended maximum safe speed to drive while in 4WD? Given the conditions that warrant driving in 4WD, I'll obviously drive slower though I want to know the top speed recommended if someone knows. Thanks in advance.

There is no speed limitation listed in the Owner's Manual for operating the vehicle with 4WD locked. The only limitation I'm aware of in the manual is the caution that driving with 4WD locked on dry pavement can damage the system. Based on the plethora of reviews I've seen, Ford's "Intelligent 4WD" system is indeed intelligent, and will switch in and out of the appropriate 4WD mode as required. My advice is to leave it set to NORMAL or ECO when driving on wintry roads and let the system do it's thing. Leave the other GOAT modes--some of which lock in 4WD--to driving off the pavement. Certainly do not lock the system in 4WD on road unless you are in truly slippery conditions.

 

[Obbay1953]

I’m back now though I’d like to see how it would respond as you suggest. I wasn‘t aware the system could decide which GOAT mode to select based on conditions. I knew certain modes automatically puts it in 4WD. Thanks for the advice. Hope to test it soon though it’s in the 70’s here and I think winter is over.

 

[DMEARC]

I’m back now though I’d like to see how it would respond as you suggest. I wasn‘t aware the system could decide which GOAT mode to select based on conditions. I knew certain modes automatically puts it in 4WD. Thanks for the advice. Hope to test it soon though it’s in the 70’s here and I think winter is over.

The system can not change GOAT modes automatically. The “intelligent “ feature just means that the system can determine when and where to send power (and how much of it to send).

I know the owners manual is big but it really is an important read.

 

[Mark S.]

I wasn‘t aware the system could decide which GOAT mode to select based on conditions.

Sorry, I probably shouldn't have used the word "mode." As DMEARC notes, the system will not automatically select GOAT modes, although my assumption is that in the right conditions it will function much the same as if you had manually selected one.

Because it's bad for the system to operate on dry pavement with 4WD or the rear differential in lock mode, I don't believe the computer will ever automatically configure the system with those components locked. It can, however, send power to the rear wheels as needed when the front wheels slip, and it can selectively use the brakes to prevent wheel spin at all four corners. Leaving it in NORMAL or ECO mode should provide more than satisfactory performance for 99% of on-road conditions most owners might experience, especially those living in Georgia.

 

[magicbus]

…although my assumption is that in the right conditions it will function much the same as if you had manually selected one.

It can, however, send power to the rear wheels as needed when the front wheels slip, and it can selectively use the brakes to prevent wheel spin at all four corners.

Of course using the brakes isn’t the same as locking the 4 wheels as the Badlands can do on command which can be a hugely important feature.

 

[Osco]

What I see worries me a little.
It sounds like most of you all are giving opinions rather than facts.
This guy could do damage to his system if he takes the wrong advice,
Agree ?
How about someone look it up in the owners manual and posts a page number. Since he cannot find it himself.
Just sayin~~~~

 

[Warpious]

I’m back now though I’d like to see how it would respond as you suggest. I wasn‘t aware the system could decide which GOAT mode to select based on conditions. I knew certain modes automatically puts it in 4WD. Thanks for the advice. Hope to test it soon though it’s in the 70’s here and I think winter is over.

I've seen a couple videos where they test in some pretty rough areas and just leave it in normal, one review legit was are the goat modes totally bogus thats how good the intelligent system is supposed to be 95% of the time

 

[ZeroCool]

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/vdirsnet/OwnerManual/Home/Content?countryCode=USA&languageCode=EN&Uid=G2157208&ProcUid=G2157210&div=f&variantid=7450&vFilteringEnabled=False&userMarket=USA

Looks like it just says not to use it on dry pavement and there is no indicated speed cap.

 

[Mark S.]

Looks like it just says not to use it on dry pavement and there is no indicated speed cap.

Gee, that sounds familiar...

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