2014 Expedition 4WD, Which mode is recommended?

[Shorefun]

So I am new to sailboats. Had a sit on top ski in the 90's and an F250 pickup. The 250 was manual hubs and quite frankly I never used 4WD to do the ski.

Now I have a Hunter 170, a 17' sailboat which is in the under 600Lb range.

Now I have a 2014 Expedition 4wd. The switch has 2H, 4H and 4HA.
So it has 4WD Auto and 4WD all the time.

What are the thoughts on which wheel position I should use at the ramp, and why?
I am likely to just do 2WD.

 

[Michael Davis]

Depends on the ramp. Salt water ramps at low tide can be pretty slippery. Ramp angle is another factor. I was always inclined to use 4-wheel up to the parking lot anyway.

 

[sesmith]

Just put it into 4wd auto. If it senses wheel slip, it will apply as much front wheel drive as needed to counteract the slipping rear wheels. Ford's auto 4wd works well.

I also have an expedition (2007). I generally put it into 4wd high at the ramp but our boat has about a 6k lbs tow weight.

 

[Justin_NSA]

600lbs? You'll hardly know it's back there. 2WD will most likely be fine.

 

[Benny17441]

It is a matter of traction, on a steep and slimy ramp 4WD will do you well. It is not the weight of the 600lbs, it is the weight of that monster Expedition that you want to haul out.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Benny and Justin said it all. Depends where you are at but if spinning rear wheel tires, 4WD

 

[Kermit]

I pulled my AquaCat 12.5 out of a sand beach with my 2004 Honda Pilot. The AqauaCat and trailer probably weighs 300 lbs. No trouble at all using the AWD feature. My 2008 2WD Expedition bogs down on the very same sand beach pulling the very same AquaCat. I have no trouble at all pulling my H260 up the ramp with the Expedition at our sailing club. Even before letting the water out of the ballast tank. And even when there’s sand on the ramp. (Yes Dave. I know I’m not supposed to do that.)