How To Engage 4WD In A GMC Sierra + Sierra Drivetrains Explained!

ByKern Campbell

The GMC Sierra is great at taking on tough road conditions like mud and snow, but to get the most out of your Sierra, you’ll need to know how to turn on the 4WD.

So how do you engage the 4WD in a GMC Sierra? To engage 4WD in a GMC Sierra, you just need to locate the small knob next to the steering wheel that controls the drivetrain settings. From here, simply turn the knob from 2WD to one of the three different 4WD settings. 

I’ve been in the automotive industry for a long time now, and in that time, I’ve spent time with countless cars, trucks, and SUVs. 

Recently, knobs that control the drivetrain settings, just like that of the Sierra, have become increasingly popular in lots of different vehicles, especially larger SUVs and trucks.

This is because using a knob like this makes it easy for the driver to control the drivetrain however they want to

 I promise once you know what your doing, turning on the 4WD in your Sierra is just as easy as turning up the volume. 

How To Engage 4WD In A GMC Sierra 1 How To Engage 4WD In A GMC Sierra + Sierra Drivetrains Explained!

What Are The Different Drivetrain Modes Available In The GMC Sierra And When Should You Use Them?

Before we get into too many of the details, it’s important to be sure that you know what all of the different driving mode options are and when you should use them. 

The GMC Sierra has 4 different driving modes to choose from including 2WD, Automatic 4WD, 4WD High, and 4WD Low.

Two-Wheel Drive

The default driving mode for the GMC Sierra is two-wheel drive mode.

While, you don’t have nearly as much traction in tough conditions as you would with one of the four-wheel drive modes, two-wheel drive is perfect for normal road conditions and by far the most fuel-efficient of the options.

As long as you are driving on normal roads in normal weather conditions two-wheel drive should be the drivetrain setting that you choose to use. 

Automatic Four-Wheel Drive

My personal favorite driving mode available in the GMC Sierra is the automatic four-wheel drive driving mode.

This basically lets the Sierra’s computer decide when four-wheel drive is needed and when it isn’t.

While two-wheel drive is all you need in most normal driving conditions, it is nice to know that the car is able to automatically send power to the front wheels if it thinks it needs a bit of extra grip.

You should use automatic four-wheel drive mode if you are uncertain of what road conditions will be like or if you are driving through an area where you are driving on a road with both high and low friction areas. This will ensure that your Sierra is prepared for anything.

While not as fuel efficient as the two-wheel drive mode, I usually keep my Sierra in this driving mode just to be safe, especially during the winter.

However, this is simply a matter of preference. 

Still, though you can use this driving mode all the time without causing any extra wear and tear on your vehicle, most people will still be better off saving a bit on gas and using the two-wheel drive mode in the summer months. 

How To Engage 4WD In A GMC Sierra 2 How To Engage 4WD In A GMC Sierra + Sierra Drivetrains Explained!

Four-Wheel Drive High

When you are driving in inclement weather or know that the road conditions are going to be less than ideal in advance, four-wheel drive high is the best option to choose. 

This works great if you are driving on any sort of slippery surface by preventing the rear wheels from slipping and increasing the amount of traction you have.

This is the ideal option if you are driving on sand, gravel, mud, snow, or any other similarly slippery surface, and is also a great option if you are attempting to climb a steep hill regardless of the road conditions.

No matter whether you are going fast or slow on any of these surfaces, if you are facing any sort of slippery road conditions or steep hills, the four-wheel drive high driving mode is the one you should be using.

Four-Wheel Drive Low

The last driving mode available in the GMC Sierra is the four-wheel drive low driving mode. While this isn’t a driving mode that you want to be using all of the time, this mode is incredibly effective at transferring power from the engine to the wheels. 

You’ll basically want to use four-wheel drive low if you find yourself stuck and unable to get out. If you find yourself stuck with spinning wheels in the sand, snow, or mud, this is the driving mode you need to get yourself out.

Still, this is not the four-wheel drive that you want to be using in your day to day life. It is best used at low speeds where lots of traction is required, and should almost exclusively be used for off-road driving and not on any normal roads.

How Do You Engage Four-Wheel Drive In A GMC Sierra?

Now that we know what all of the different driving modes that the GMC Sierra offers, it’s time to make sure that you know how to switch between them. 

First, you will need to locate the drivetrain settings selector knob on the driver’s side, usually located to the left of the steering wheel.

It should be quite easy to notice but if you do still have trouble, just make sure to look for the knob that has the 2, Auto, 4 high (usually represented by an up arrow) and 4, low (represented by a down arrow) on it. 

Once you’ve found it simply turn the knob to the driving mode that you want, in this case, four-wheel drive high, and your GMC Sierra will now be in four-wheel drive mode. 

Just remember that while you can switch between two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive high, and automatic four-wheel drive as much as you want while driving, you will need to stop and put your truck into neutral before switching to four-wheel drive low.

How To Engage 4WD In A GMC Sierra 3 How To Engage 4WD In A GMC Sierra + Sierra Drivetrains Explained!

Key Takeaways

  • To engage four-wheel drive on a GMC Sierra, simply locate the drivetrain settings selector knob and turn it to the four-wheel drive mode that you want. 
  • The drivetrain setting selector knob is located on the driver’s side usually to the left of the steering wheel.
  • The GMC Sierra has four driving modes including two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive high, four-wheel drive low, and automatic four-wheel drive.
  • While you can switch between two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive high, and automatic four-wheel drive while driving, you must stop and put your Sierra into neutral before switching to four-wheel drive low.