I have 208k miles on my 97 4x4 4.6L with no major problems. I have ESOF and have had 0 reliability problems with it and it makes the truck feel very refined. But at the same time if I wanted a toy to take out and abuse off road I want everything manual and as few moving parts and as few failure points as possible. I would like to have the option to get a MSOF if I did want it.
If you are talking to someone from ford about ESOF and MSOF. Something more important they need to be looking at is a dadgum LOCKING differential!!! How many different japanese trucks have electronic locking diffs? Dodge and GM both have auto matic locking diffs. Ford really really needs to look at this. A LS in the rear and an open in the front sucks. As much as I love my truck I hate not even being able to do a real donut because I have open diffs front and rear. Crossing ditches and climbing obstacles offroad I have to make sure I never get a wheel hung in the air because I will be stuck on something I should be able to drive right over.
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'97 4x4 4.6 191k miles
March 20th 2006
Last edited by zman764 : 04-07-2007 at 08:49 PM.
Reason: Left out something
I would pay extra for the manual shift. As long as its reasonably priced....and probably even if its not. When your gonna be spinning two more wheels it seems pathetic to turn a knob, thats just my two cents
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Tom
05 F150 XLT 4x4 SCab 6.5' Bed, 6" Fabtech Coilover Lift Kit, Add-A-Leaf, 35" Mud Tires, Edge Evolution Programmer, S&B Cold Air Intake, Sirius Radio
The ESOF is more complicated more moving parts more technology so a more expensive system. But it is more desirable. So they make more of them so there are more machines set up to produce the ESOF so they make less of the MSOF which makes the MSOF more expensive because they have to go out of their way to make it.
Ok thats my explanation it could be entirely false or it could be accurate who knows but i like the way it sounds.
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'97 4x4 4.6 191k miles
March 20th 2006
I prefer MSOF.I have owned four 4x4 Ford trucks and all had MSOF including my 06.
My dad's 97 F150 has ESOF and he only uses 4wd a couple times a year.He's had two incidents where the 4wd didn't engage and he ended up getting stuck.I pulled him out with my truck.
He lubed up something and 4wd has engaged ever since but if it goes unused again for another year maybe it will or maybe it won't?
All you have to do is while ur cruising 30 mph pop it in neutral turn the knob to 4 hi back in drive let it roll don't turn the wheels put it back in 2wd and ur dad won't be havin that problem. Just do that once every couple of months.
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'97 4x4 4.6 191k miles
March 20th 2006
All you have to do is while ur cruising 30 mph pop it in neutral turn the knob to 4 hi back in drive let it roll don't turn the wheels put it back in 2wd and ur dad won't be havin that problem. Just do that once every couple of months.
No problems since the last time he lubed up that thingy that seized.I just used 4wd in his truck the other day and it worked.
But I'm old and oldschool and stubburn so I'll always prefer manual shift on the fly over esof.
DearbornDerek
Starting with a 1990 Ford I had a number of Ford trucks that all at one time or another the auto/ electric 4x4 let me down in bad places. Starting with my 2003 and then 2004 I ordered manual shift and would like to see a return to manual hubs. I still think there is a market for light trucks for the job site and wish they would stop trying to sell me a car with a truck bed on the back. Yes if I have to pay for manual I would, also why you’re at it how about a good manual transmission. Thanks.
DearbornDerek
I still think there is a market for light trucks for the job site and wish they would stop trying to sell me a car with a truck bed on the back.
If they want to offer all this fancy electronic stuff, thats fine, but at least offer the manual setup for those of us who don't want to deal with the needless complexity. If you can't understand the concept of how and when to lock your hubs in and shift into 4x4, then you probably shouldn't be driving in the snow anyways.
In '92 when I bought my F150, they offered an automatic hub delete option, which I chose. Over the last 15 years, the only repair I did was to put on a new set of hubs for $55. The 4x4 always locks in instantly, and I can get the truck totally stuck and it engages without the need to be moving. Over the years, I've spoken to dozens of people with Fords and Chevys alike who tell me how their electronic 4x4 or stupid vacuum hubs have failed and cost hundreds and even thousands to repair. Then theres always the intermittent operation issue. Look at any Ford truck website and I guarantee that theres always somebody asking why their electronic 4x4 isn't working. My favorite is the frequent recommendation to crawl under and hit the shift motor with a hammer. Sounds like fun if you're stuck in mud or snow.
Like I said, its fine to offer, but don't force it on me.
I am no expert by no means but on my 97 4x4 w/ ESOF there are no hubs its a center axle disconnect. As far as how everything works I have no clue. But I have never had a problem with the system over the last 208k miles. I do not have to be moving for it to operate. That is how I offroad get stuck then put it in 4x4. Thats the funnest way in my opinion. But I defiantly understand your want for MSOF.
I think I would prefer the shot in the dark chance that I may have to crawl under my truck in the mud and hit the motor to get it to engage. VS having to do it every single time I want 4x4. That is just me though.
I also just like the slick look of the knob on the dash vs a shifter in the floor, my cb goes there.
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'97 4x4 4.6 191k miles
March 20th 2006
I am no expert by no means but on my 97 4x4 w/ ESOF there are no hubs its a center axle disconnect. As far as how everything works I have no clue. But I have never had a problem with the system over the last 208k miles. I do not have to be moving for it to operate. That is how I offroad get stuck then put it in 4x4. Thats the funnest way in my opinion. But I defiantly understand your want for MSOF.
I think I would prefer the shot in the dark chance that I may have to crawl under my truck in the mud and hit the motor to get it to engage. VS having to do it every single time I want 4x4. That is just me though.
I also just like the slick look of the knob on the dash vs a shifter in the floor, my cb goes there.
a lot of the times these things seem to fail in low temperatures. when it's in the positives, mine engages all the time, in the negatives, it's a crapshoot. my roomate's jeep with manual 4x4 has not had a problem so far..
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2000 Excursion Limited 4x4 V10 - soon to not be stock anymore.
2004 F150 XLT screw 4x4 5.4 - 2.5 leveling kit, 34.5" BFGs - Gone
2004 mach1 mustang, holding the garage floor in place.
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