4WD in reverse on incline

[pdparker]

Nagging question. This past winter I was in deep snow on friends driveway that has a steep decline. I was backing up the driveway in 4 Low, but was not engaging the front wheels for some reason. I turned around and went up the driveway forward and the front wheels were engaging fine when moving forward. Am I missing something? Is there a limitation in reverse on an incline?

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

How did you know the front wheels were pulling as you were moving forward?

1st) weight transfer will automatically allow a rear wheel drive vehicle climb better going forward.
2nd) if it's a YJ, it's likely the front axle disconnect was not engaged, even more common of a problem in cold weather.

Easy to troubleshoot if you have the disconnect.

 

[Snitty]

Are you looking at both front wheels? If you are only looking from the driver side, the passenger side might still be spinning

 

[redrooster]

If you don't have a front locker, then one wheel will not spin when you break traction. It will alternate sides in forward then to the other in reverse. If you were only looking at the drivers tire, the passenger tire may have been pulling.