I have 95 F250 with ZF 5 speed manual and manual locking hubs. The book says to lock the hubs when in 4H or 4L. Is this really necessary if I want 4L but 2wd, will it hurt to leave the hubs unlocked?

 

It won't hurt anything to leave the hubs unlocked, I guessing you are doing this for some special situation where you don't need or want 4wd?

 

I use to do it all the time with my 86 F250 4x4 when I needed to back up my trailer or things like that.
I do if often with my 95 F150 4x4. Driving it around my property, it is high geared & I use 4lo to motor around when I need to.
So No you won't hurt anything. Just don't try dumping the clutch or drag racing that way LOL.

 

Yes, its like kermmydog said, need slow controllable speed but don't need 4wd sometime. Ok, thanks, I appreciate the good info.

 

Yup, I do this sometimes on uneven ground where I have good traction but want to make it easier on the drivetrain.

 

i use 4lo in 2wd i think as much as, if not more than i use 4wd......several times a day i use 4lo without locking the hubs.
so my t-case is burning up lmao but that's just due to a failed pump,not misusing it.

 

I'm actually in the process of building a 2WD truck, but with a t-case just so I can have low range.

 

You can put a lot more torque into your rear driveline that way. It will almost never be a problem, but don't get stupid with it or you might break something.

Otherwise, as everyone else is telling you, go for it. I do it for most of the same reasons already listed.

 

Very good info. Thanks all. I also need to tow it sometimes. If I leave the hubs unlocked and the case and transmission in neutral, is it okay?

 

One thing nobody else has said, DO NOT shift between 4lo and 4h while moving. That will trash your x-fer case.

 

You got it!

Yeah don't do that. Also if you didn't already know, don't drive it anywhere the wheels can't slip (like on dry pavement) in 4x4.

We should have a do/don't sticky for new 4x4 owners.

 

I'll disagree slightly with Dixie460 on this. Some t.cases have their gear lube circulated primarily by the input shaft. Those 'cases can NOT be towed in neutral, they will burn themselves up with the output turning but not the input.

Having said that, I THINK the 13-56 and 44-07 both are lubed by the output, meaning it would probably be OK to tow them with the t.case in neutral. But I once met a guy out in Colorado who was fourwheeling a rental Jeep because he fried his t.case flat-towing his Jeep. Personally I don't think it's worth the risk, and if I'm flat towing any significant distance I will always go the safe route and pull the driveshaft.

 

as per owners manual, with a 13-56 t-case under 50 miles is ok to tow under 50 mph without removing the driveshaft.
over 50 miles or over 50 mph remove the driveshaft.
as a rule, if i needed to tow any 4X4 more than 5 miles when i had the body shop and did not have the flatbed available, i would drop the driveshaft just for my own peace of mind.

 

why did they bother with a N position on the t-case (non pto) if it doesn't do you any good then lol?

 

I used to use 2low all the time drag racing my friends 95 Cobra. I would only run until second or third gear but my 5.4 superduty would kill him off the line. Now I got smarter and don't do that anymore but nothing ever broke