Dear Drive… what’s the difference between full-time and part-time four-wheel drive?

This system is simple and effective. While there are certainly benefits to having all-wheel drive on the blacktop, doing so comes with extra components and complexity. A part-time system is less sophisticated, and benefits from being durable and time-honoured. It’s easily identified by having drive modes 2H (two-wheel drive, high range) and 4H (four-wheel drive, high range), along with 4L (if there is a low-range transfer case).