2010 Suburban AWD or 4WD, Confusion ?

Currently interested in buying a 2010 Suburban but questioning the 4 WD set up in this one. See posted pic, this is what the dash looks like showing 2 hi - auto - and 4 hi. I've seen others with a selector knob showing 2hi - auto- 4hi and 4 lo.

Whats the difference? I know in the pic there is no 4 low selection, that's apparent - but when it's in 4hi mode is it TRUE 4 WD? Or some type of limited slip/AWD set up which IMO is not a better set up for ice and snow. I've googled the heck out of this topic and come up empty. I live up in the CO Rockies where I need a solid 4x4 system and don't want any rinky d ink AWD/hybrid set ups that don't fully engage all 4 and/or work on a limited slip some basis of sorts. I am almost assuming that this vehicle has possibly some rinky-din k 4x4...or maybe I'm totally wrong and that when its in 4hi the front and rear is always engaged. And the only difference is that it has no 4 low. Any help is super-appreciated.

In viewing other surburbans/yukons for sale I've seen this type of selector knob for the 4x4. This is why I'm stumped. It's def' got to be a different 4x4 set up.

That simply a single speed transfer case. It is true 4WD. You just don’t get the 4 LO option.

wjburken said:

That simply a single speed transfer case. It is true 4WD. You just don’t get the 4 LO option.

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Oh wow that's a relief as I really like the rig. Are you 100% sure? just checking...my apologies.

One is a single speed transfer case
One is a 2-speed transfer case
Auto- is 4wheel drive on demand when wheels slip is detected
Only the Yukon Denali/escalades generally have AWD
In all cases the front is a open diff
Most have the G80 rear end which is a automatic locker at speed, I believe around 15mph is when it locks if a wheel slips

Doubeleive said:

One is a single speed transfer case
One is a 2-speed transfer case
Auto- is 4wheel drive on demand when wheels slip is detected
Only the Yukon Denali/escalades generally have AWD
In all cases the front is a open diff
Most have the G80 rear end which is a automatic locker at speed, I believe around 15mph is when it locks if a wheel slips

Click to expand...

Ok, that helps and that's where I was getting confused....seeing Denali's, Escalades with AWD lisitngs. Plus I never knew there was a single speed t case that had no 4 low. I'm a 66 year old geezer and would be happy with a 4x4 manual shift lever and 2 hi, 4 low and high and a neutral.

Speaking of Neutral. Does this 2010 Suburban have an application to be the t-case in neutral?

kirkdc said:

Ok, that helps and that's where I was getting confused....seeing Denali's, Escalades with AWD lisitngs. Plus I never knew there was a single speed t case that had no 4 low. I'm a 66 year old geezer and would be happy with a 4x4 manual shift lever and 2 hi, 4 low and high and a neutral.

Speaking of Neutral. Does this 2010 Suburban have an application to be the t-case in neutral?

Click to expand...

It's in neutral when shifted to neutral, are you asking about this for when it would be towed? I believe that requires the driveshaft to be disconnected

The 2 speed transfer cases can be shifted into neutral to totally disengage everything. I don't think the single speed ones can.

kirkdc said:

Currently interested in buying a 2010 Suburban but questioning the 4 WD set up in this one. See posted pic, this is what the dash looks like showing 2 hi - auto - and 4 hi. I've seen others with a selector knob showing 2hi - auto- 4hi and 4 lo.

Click to expand...

The singles speed transfer case, MP3010, was generally paired with 3.08 gears. 2010 was the first year of introduction of this transfer case and gear combination.

The 3.42 geared trucks were usually paired with the MP3023, 2-speed transfer case.

is one any better in the snow than another?

I avoid the snow at all costs but do you need 4lo for snow? I alway pictured that being for low speed rock crawling. high traction low speed grunt. snow being mostly a lack of traction aren't you mostly relying on the stability control/abs to find traction?