The 4-wheel drive option on your truck, Jeep or SUV offers assistance driving on Wonder Lake’s winter roads and the potential for fun if you’re inclined to take your driving off-road. But, do you know your Ps and Qs when it comes to 4-wheel driving?

What’s to know, right? You engage the 4-wheel drive and give your truck, Jeep or SUV the gas. Whoa!!! Actually, there could be a little more to it.

For instance, what kind of drive does your car, truck, Jeep or SUV have? A similar option, which is very common in newer cars and SUVs, is AWD. That stands for All-wheel drive.

With AWD, there isn’t much to say. The driver isn’t required to do anything, other than drive. Just like any other car, you start the engine of your car, Jeep or SUV and hit the road. But, 4-wheel drive is a different story.

With 4-wheel drive, you may want to put it in Four-High (4H) or Four-Low (4L), depending on the situation.

4H is what you’ll want to use when you’ll drive at normal speeds. Use it for driving when Wonder Lake roads are snowy, icy or wet. 4H is also good for taking your truck, Jeep or SUV off-road where you’ll deal with loose gravel, sand, and mud.

4L, on the other hand, is for the same kinds of roads but at lower speeds. If you’re climbing on icy, snowing, wet, gravely, sandy, or muddy roads, you probably want to use 4L. The same is true coming down from a hill on those kinds of roads. But, you shouldn’t use 4L if you’re driving above 40 mph. 4L provides greater traction and torque. It helps when you’re trying to fight your way out of a snowdrift of when you’re stuck in the mud.

One warning is that, when Wonder Lake and other roads are dry, clean and level, you shouldn’t use your 4-wheel drive. Doing so could damage the drivetrain.

Another factor to consider about 4-wheel drive, or AWD, for that matter; 4-wheel drive isn’t any better than the tires on the corners. In other words, you’ll get the most out of your 4-wheel drive if you have good winter, snow and/or mud tires that help you grab the road, no matter what’s on top of it.