How to drive a Jeep 4×4
Four-wheel drive is what gives Jeep its “go-anywhere, do-anything” reputation dating back to World War II. Over the intervening decades, the drive system has been improved to provide more safety for drivers. The modern Jeep Wrangler features a four-position transfer case: 2H, for rear-wheel drive on highways; 4H, for four-wheel drive on surfaces such as gravel roads or snow-covered trails; N (neutral), which disengages the front and rear axles for towing; 4L, for four-wheel drive in extreme conditions and at low speeds.
Keep the selector lever parallel to the vehicle floor to drive with two-wheel rear-wheel drive. Use this option for driving on paved roads. The traction selector lever is the one on the ground and is marked with positions 2H-4H-N-4L.
Place the lever in the 4H (four-wheel drive, high ratio) position for driving on unpaved or snow-covered roads. To shift from 2H to 4H, simply pull the lever gently into position and release the accelerator pedal for a moment after shifting. The 4WD indicator will light up on the instrument panel to let you know that the vehicle is in 4WD mode. You can shift between 2H and 4H when the vehicle is stopped or moving up to a speed of 55 mph (90 km/h). Do not exceed this speed or drive on clean, paved roads in 4×4 mode as this may subject the tires to excessive wear and damage the driveshaft. Push the lever down again to return to the 2H position.
Move the lever to the 4L position (four-wheel drive, low ratio) for driving in very difficult conditions at low speeds, such as off-road touring. Put the vehicle in motion at a speed of 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h), while in the 4H position, and place the transmission in neutral (for automatic transmissions) or depress the clutch (for manual transmissions). In a steady motion, move the lever slightly to the right and pull it into neutral, then pull it back and to the left to place it in the 4L position. You should not stop in neutral, but make a steady, firm movement to make the shift from 4H to 4L. Do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h) when driving in 4L mode, as you may damage the driveshaft. While it is possible to engage and disengage this mode while the vehicle is stopped, it is recommended that you do so while the vehicle is moving at a slow speed, otherwise the gear teeth may not engage properly. Perform the reverse operation to place the Jeep back into 4H mode.