- 4WD vs 2WD: The Differences Between Part Time 4WD, Full Time 4WD, Automatic 4WD & All Wheel Drive (AWD)
- How Four-Wheel Drive Works
- Types Of Jeep Drive Systems
- 4×4 (4WD)
- 4×2 (2WD)
- Part Time 4 Wheel Drive (Part Time 4WD)
- Full-Time 4WD (Full Time 4WD)
- Automatic Four-Wheel Drive (Auto 4WD)
- All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
- Shift on the Fly
- Jeep Wrangler 2H 4H N 4L (Explain)
- Jeep Wrangler 4-Wheel drive System (Explained)
- Jeep Wrangler 2H 4H N 4L
- 2H
- 4H
- N
- 4L
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- How To Switch From 2h To 4h Jeep Wrangler
- can you switch from 2h to 4h while driving jeep wrangler
- how to switch to 4L jeep wrangler
- Conclusion – Jeep Wrangler 2H 4H N 4L
- Related Posts:
4WD vs 2WD: The Differences Between Part Time 4WD, Full Time 4WD, Automatic 4WD & All Wheel Drive (AWD)
If this is your first 4WD vehicle, it can be confusing to know when to use the four-wheel drive in your Jeep and when not to.
You may also be wondering the differences between part time 4WD and full time 4WD.
For starters, it will help if you know what the differences are between the various types of drive systems, particularly Jeep four-wheel drive systems.
- 4WD
- 2WD
- Part time 4 wheel drive
- Full time 4 wheel drive
- Automatic 4 wheel drive
- All-wheel drive
- What it means to shift on the fly
Following are detailed explanations of these types of drive systems and how they work…
How Four-Wheel Drive Works
Many people think that 4×4 means all 4 wheels are driven at the same time — but this isn’t necessarily the case.
When your vehicle negotiates a bend in the road, the differential in the axle compensates for the fact that the outside wheel travels farther than the inside wheel does. Therefore, it allows a speed differential to exist between the 2 wheels.
Since energy always takes the easiest route, the differential abides by the laws of physics in this case.
So, if one of your wheels is on a slippery surface (like ice) then all of the energy will be sent to that wheel and away from the wheel that currently has good traction. However, as a result, you will lose all forward motion!
When 4WD mode is engaged on your Jeep, the front and rear axles are locked together, so at least one wheel on each axle can be driven by the engine effectively.
You can force a 4×2 vehicle to act similar to a 4×4 by gently pressing the brake pedal. This slows down the wheel that’s spinning and transfers energy to the wheel that has traction.
Types Of Jeep Drive Systems
Your Jeep will have one of the following configurations.
You should know which type of configuration yours has.
There are pros and cons to each.
The following information will also be helpful if you’re trying to understand how four-wheel drive works, or how other vehicles differ from yours based on their drive systems:
4×4 (4WD)
The first figure is the number of wheels. The second figure is the number of “powered” wheels. 4WD is commonly used to describe a vehicle with four-wheel drive.
4×2 (2WD)
As with 4×4, the first figure is the number of wheels. The second is the number of “powered” wheels. However, with 4×2, engine power is transmitted to only 2 wheels — usually the rear wheels. 2WD is commonly used to describe a vehicle with two-wheel drive.
Part Time 4 Wheel Drive (Part Time 4WD)
This refers to a four-wheel drive system that operates on-demand and drives all 4 wheels by locking the front and rear axles together via a shift lever. It usually includes 2 speed ranges (Hi and Lo). Part-time four wheel drive systems must be operated in 2WD mode on dry pavement, because they’re designed to be used only in special situations when extra traction is required.
Full-Time 4WD (Full Time 4WD)
This is a four-wheel-drive system that can be operated continuously on all surfaces. It powers all 4 wheels at all times. A full-time 4WD system may include the option of part-time operation (allowing you to shift into 2WD on dry pavement, for example) and may or may not have Hi and Lo speed ranges.
Automatic Four-Wheel Drive (Auto 4WD)
A drive system that automatically engages 4WD as needed. When internal monitors sense differences in individual wheel speeds (indicating that a tire is slipping), then 4WD is automatically engaged.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
A full-time single-speed system designed to supply drive power to all 4 wheels consistently. The percentage of front/rear power delivery varies from system to system.
Shift on the Fly
A drive system that allows manual shifting from 2WD to 4WD Hi without coming to a stop. Most drive systems have a recommended speed limit at which you can engage the system. Typically, it’s below 60 mph.
Since we’ve been married, my husband and I have owned 5 Jeeps (3 Wranglers and 2 Grand Cherokees). And when we’re not driving our own Jeep, we’re usually renting one (a 4×4 Wrangler on vacation). We keep a Jeep Bucket List of places that we’d like to go next, and we’re always crossing more states off our list of ‘Places That We’ve Jeeped in the USA’. As our daily driver, we keep the soft top on our Jeep Wrangler year round (and the back window permanently rolled up) so the dogs can enjoy the ride. Yep… even in the winter! I’ve been sharing my best Jeep ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998. When I’m not Jeeping or writing about Jeeps, you’ll find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).
Jeep Wrangler 2H 4H N 4L (Explain)
We are here to explain Jeep Wrangler 4WD modes: 2H, 4H, N, and 4L. And if you are a seasoned off-roader, you find most of this stuff somewhat redundant.
A 4WD vehicle will have either a part-time or full-time four-wheel drive system.
Part-time 4WD systems mean vehicles typically drive in two-wheel drive (2H) most of the time and switch to four-wheel drive (4H or 4L) to get better traction.
And in a full-time 4WD system, the vehicle will have 4H and 4L options with a differential lock.
Jeep Wrangler 4-Wheel drive System (Explained)
Let’s start with the 4WD fundamentals. The vehicle engine produces the torque or rotating force coupled with the transmission system.
The transmission system alters the speed and the torque and sends it to the differential via the driveshaft to rotate the wheel.
Differential either open or lock. With an open differential, the torque goes to the wheel with less resistance. And with a differential lock, the torque is split 50/50 between the wheels.
The locking differential does not allow the difference in wheel speed, which can restrict the vehicle’s ability to turn and is not adequate for high-traction surfaces. We can activate the locking differential by switching the lock differential button.
In a front-wheel drive vehicle, the differential is at the front, and in a rear-wheel drive vehicle, the differential is at the rear. And a four-wheel-drive vehicle will have two differentials, one on the front and one in the back.
In a four-wheel drive system, the transfer case is between the transmission and the drive shaft. In a full-time 4WD system, the transfer case will distribute the torque between the front and rear differentials by locking the front and rear driveshafts together, and the other function is going from high range to low range. In a part-time 4WD system, the transfer case has two roles, one is going from 2WD to 4WD, and the other is going from high to low range.
Jeep Wrangler 2H 4H N 4L
2H
2H or two-high mode is two-wheel drive, either front or back depending on your vehicle.
When your vehicle is in 2H (high range, two-wheel drive), 100% of the engine torque goes to the rear differential via the drive shaft. So the differential splits the torque between the axles. In open diff, the torque goes to the wheel with the least resistance. And in a locking differential, the torque is distributed fifty-fifty between the axles.
The 2H is simply a regular driving mode.
4H
In 4-high mode, the transfer case distributes 50/50 engine torque between the front and rear differentials by locking the front and rear drive shafts. but the same gear ratio as 2H.
In ideal conditions, the torque is spread out by 25 percent on each wheel, but in real-time, the torque goes to the wheel with the least resistance.
For example, if the rear right wheel is lifted off the ground, 25% of the torque is distributed to each front wheel, and 50% of the torque is distributed to the rear right wheel because it has the least resistance.
The transfer ratio for 4H is 1:1, meaning the transfer case or engine and wheels rotate at the same speed.
Jeep Wrangler 4-High mode is useful when driving on a snow-covered surface at a high speed of about 30 to 40 km/h. Using 4H, you can double the amount of traction compared to 2H.
N
N stands for Neutral, but this is slightly different from the Neutral you will find in your gear selector.
The neutral disengage the drivetrain, so the differential is disconnected from the transmission.
It is useful when towing, and it is the general rule of thumb to switch your Jeep Wrangler to Neutral.
4L
The Jeep Wrangler 4L (four-wheel drive low) is simply an increase in the final drive ratio. It means lowering your wheel speed as well as pumping up your torque, which is best for off-roading.
The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon has a low gear transfer ratio (4L = 4:1), which means the wheel would spin 4 times slower, but we would have an increase of 4 times the torque at the wheels.
Let’s suppose in first gear at 2000 rpm, for 4H, the vehicle speed is 21 km/h, but in 4L, it will be 4.25 km/h if the transfer ratio is 4:1.
[low gear ratio = low rotation speed but higher torque] VS [High gear ratio = higher rotation speed but lower torque]
The Jeep Wrangler 4L is best for off-roading because of its high torque and low wheel speed. Higher torque is required when climbing steep hills and crossing rivers with slippery rocks. Because of the higher torque, the engine and transmission do not work as hard.
The myth about Jeep Wrangler 4L is that it will lock up the wheels, but that is not right. 4L is just a speed range; it has nothing to do with how the drive line delivers the power.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How To Switch From 2h To 4h Jeep Wrangler
Switching from 2H to 4H is quite easy. First, put your vehicle in park or in drive using the regular gear shifter. And then shift the lever from 2H to 4H.
can you switch from 2h to 4h while driving jeep wrangler
Yes, you can switch from 2H to 4H while driving a Jeep Wrangler. You just make sure that your speed is about 30 to 40 km/h.
how to switch to 4L jeep wrangler
Switching your Jeep Wrangler to 4L is simple as well. You put your Jeep Wrangler in neutral using the regular gear selector and then shift the lever (or push the button in the newer Jeep Wranglers) to 4L.
Conclusion – Jeep Wrangler 2H 4H N 4L
If you are a seasoned off-roader, you know how the Jeep Wrangler 2H 4H N 4L works.
2H is basically a regular driving mode.
The Jeep Wrangler 4H has all four wheels drive. It has the same gear ratio as 2H, which is 1:1. 4H is helpful when moving on a slippery or snow-covered road and needs better traction and control.
4L is best for off-roading becuase of higher final drive ratio and low gear ratio, Which mean the wheel speed is slower and the torque is higher at the wheels. Higher torque is required in off- roading so that the engine and the transmission not work as hard.
The video explain the Jeep Wrangler 4 Wheels drive