Can You Reverse in 4WD? The Shocking Answer Will Change How You Drive!
Is it safe to reverse in 4WD without harming your truck? Reversing in 4-wheel drive is safe as long as you’re on a low-traction surface. Whether driving forward or in reverse, the transmission and Transfer Case will function while in 4WD mode.
Strangely enough, when I refer to my owner’s manual there aren’t many guidelines regarding reversing safely while 4WD is engaged.
Having owned a variety of 4WDs for over 20 years, I know there are certain situations where I would never reverse while I’m still in 4-wheel drive or 4H.
We will discuss this in more detail as well as how various 4WD drivetrain systems function.
Splitting the question, let me address if its possible to reverse in 4WD?
Yes, 4WD trucks can reverse while in 4WD (4H or 4Lo) since the functionality remains consistent in both forward and reverse gears.
Regarding safety concerns, reversing in 4H could cause drivetrain binding if done improperly for extended periods.
This is also true when you’re driving forward in 4H.
Apply the same driving rules for 4WD driving in both forward and reverse gears to ensure the safe operation of your 4×4.
A traditional Four-wheel drive system works by all four wheels receiving engine power equally.
The power is transferred to each axle by a center differential that has front and rear driveshafts connected.
The front and rear differentials further send 25% of the available power to each wheel.
The differentials equally divide and manage the transfer of power to each wheel.
When four-wheel drive is engaged, both the front and rear axles receive the vehicle’s available torque and power which is split 50/50.
This allows all four wheels to propel the vehicle forward.
This is achieved by the rear wheels pushing and the front wheels pulling simultaneously.
Four-wheel drives come in two main types: permanent and part-time.
Permanent 4WD provides constant power to all wheels via a viscous coupling, allowing varied surface driving without damage risk.
Part-time 4WD operates in 2H on high-traction surfaces, sending power to the rear axle.
Engaging 4H locks front and rear driveshafts for low-traction terrains, and unsuitable for pavement or freeway use.
When NOT to Reverse in 4WD
As previously stated, four-wheel-drive functions the same in reverse as it does going forward.
The rules of 4WD driving still apply the same.
Armed with this knowledge, what are some of the driving surfaces you would typically avoid when reversing while still in 4WD mode?
You want to avoid engaging 4WD in any high traction surface.
Prime examples of this are:
| Surface | Description |
|---|---|
| Cement Pavements | Hard surface made of a mixture of cement, sand, and gravel commonly used in construction |
| Tarmac Roads | Road surface consisting of a mix of bitumen and crushed stone or gravel |
| Concrete Surfaces | Solid surfaces composed of cement, sand, water, and aggregates, often used in construction and infrastructure |
Reversing while still engaged in 4WD on a high traction surface will cause drivetrain “binding” so exercise extreme caution before doing so.
A four-wheel driver should learn to read driving surfaces well if he has a part-time four-wheel drive.
When Should You Engage 4H (4WD)
The following road surfaces are completely safe to reverse while still engaged in Four-Wheel-Drive mode.
- Low traction wet surfaces
- Snowy and icy roads
- Loos sandy tracks
- Beach sand dunes
- Thick muddy trails
Wet Roads
When driving on a wet, slippery road, consider engaging four-wheel drive only if traction is significantly low, like on icy or water-covered surfaces to minimize the risk of hydroplaning.
Yet, this decision can be risky if the road is a mix of low and moderate traction.
If you have 4A, engage it!
Full-time 4WD and AWD systems excel here, unlike non-permanent 4WD.
In light rain, reconsider using 4WD, as there might be enough traction, risking drivetrain issues.
The driver must assess road conditions to decide on 4H engagement, switching between modes for changing road surfaces.
With 4A or a super-select box like in the Mitsubishi Pajero, 4H engagement is safer.
Snow roads
Low-traction snow and icy roads are the perfect time to engage your 4H.
Engaging 4H will lock your front and rear driveshafts for improved handling and better traction in snow.
Snowy and icy road surfaces offer enough slippage, unlike a wet road that might only be slippery in specific areas, but not consistently slippery.
Loose Sand
Sandy surfaces and dunes offer plenty of slippages and it’s 100% safe to engage your 4WD in this environment.
Remember, sand is a high-resistance surface, and using momentum is key to successful sand driving.
Turning and reversing are all perfectly fine for sand driving.
When four-wheeling on soft thick sand or attempting to climb out a steep sand dune, you want to make sure your tire pressures are deflated to 1.6 bar.
You could go even lower but that is a good starting point.
This is one of the first things you should do before you even engage 4WD.
MudDY Tracks
There is nothing more fun to do than drive off-road in the mud.
All rules go out the window and it’s free for all where I’m concerned.
You engage your four-wheel drive, lock your rear diff, and you have a blast.
Keep the momentum up, similar to when driving in sandy conditions, and increase your revs.
Correct AT (All-Terrain) or MT (Mud Terrain) tires are essential to enjoying a successful mudding experience.
Reddit Forum Experiences
Yes.
2H – two-wheel drive. Normal default.
4H – four-wheel drive. You can shift into/out of this pretty easily, just recommended to be going <50MPH.
It’s totally fine to park, start/stop in 4H, but you should *never* use it on dry pavement.
You should also avoid turning sharply in 4H, it will cause the wheels to lock up and do the “hopping” thing.
4L – four-wheel drive, low gear.
This is primarily used for heavy off-roading, rock climbing, etc. 99% of the time you 90% of Jeep owners won’t use this.
To use it, you shift into 4H, then while rolling (not throttle) 1-3MPH forward, shift your transmission into Neutral, then shift your 4WD shifter down from 4H to Neutral to 4L, then shift your transmission back into D.
You shouldn’t go more than ~20MPH in 4L and *definitely* not on pavement/on-road.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Wrangler/comments/skiakx/can_you_reverse_in_4_wheel_drive/
Yes, you can go in reverse. It’s no different than going forward…
4h can be engaged at any time.
As long as you are under 50mph you can shift in and out of 4h on the fly (its also best to be off the throttle…)
Don’t worry though, the computer won’t let you hurt it.
The only thing you really need to remember is that you don’t want to be driving on dry pavement and making sharp turns (in forward or reverse) while in 4wd as this will cause binding between the front and rear drive shafts trying to move at different speeds.
It’s fine on slick surfaces, because the tires will slip and there will be no binding.
There is no center differential in a part time 4wd system, so both drive shafts must turn at the exact same speed.
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/189330-new-4wd-can-i-go-reverse-while-4h.html
Helpful Resources
Final Thoughts
So to recap on the original question, yes you can engage 4H and safely reverse in four-wheel-drive if the driving surface is low-traction enough like snow, icy roads, muddy roads, and dunes.
The four-wheel-drive drivetrain system works the same in reverse as it does going forward.
