4x4 High usage

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Dec 23, 2012 | 07:02 PM

#16

FTE Herman

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And while we're on the topic: any of you also have/had a 150/Expedition/Navigator? My previous was a 2K Navi and I swear this SD sucks *** comparitively. I haven't driven through heavy snow yet, but on ice or out in the greasy mud on the farm I'm afraid I might get stuck.

As the OP stated, we had a little snow this week. I tried to make it down the I to work, but there was an accident. I got off the I to take a SR back to town. Came to an intersection, stopped, went to take off and there was nothing. Turn on ELD, still nothing. 4x4 High and I get the 'Pull forward to engage' message in the MC. I finally started moving and this was on dead level ground.

Perhaps it's the tire pressure (20's at 65), but given my experience thus far, the Navigator would run circles around the SD when it comes to questionable traction situations.

Dec 24, 2012 | 11:41 PM

#17

XPD77

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From: Southern Indiana

I only engaged the 4x4 as I was about to climb a pretty steep grade but other than that I thought that the Super Duty handled the ice/snow covered roads very well in 2wd. I was running unloaded with 65psi and never spun out once when accelerating away from a stop. I was pleasantly surprised by the way it handled the slippery conditions.

Dec 25, 2012 | 07:03 AM

#18

senix

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From: Frederick, MD

I have had mine pushing some snow that went over the hood couple years ago. I does pretty good till it all gets caked up and you get high centered. But that is snow that gets close to the stop signs.

Dec 25, 2012 | 09:35 AM

#19

Otahyoni

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Joined: Jan 2010

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From: Terre Haute, IN

Quote:

Originally Posted by XPD77

So we finally got some snow here in southern Indiana and I used my 4x4 high for the first time. I switched it on at about 40mph on an icy road and heard a quick grind as it engaged. After it was active I noticed that I the truck sounded different. Not bad necessarily but I could definitely hear that the front drive shaft was engaged as I drove along. Is this normal? In my last Ram, the truck didn't sound any different as it operated in 4x4.

Before anyone asks, it wasn't being used on dry pavement at all. Completely iced over roads.

Thanks
XPD77

From my understanding of how these trucks work, since you have auto front hubs the entire front driveline is not moving, while the rear driveline is humming along at 40mph. The grind you heard was the teeth in the transfer case trying to match speeds. If your front hubs were locked manually your driveline speeds would match, you just wouldn't have power going to the front.

If you're going to be engaging 4wd at speed much I would suggest locking the hubs manually until fair weather. Or simply engage at a low speed.

Dec 25, 2012 | 10:14 AM

#20

2ndStroke

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I find my truck makes less noise going to 4hi in the summer months. Seems to gets louder and louder as in gets colder out. Makes a loud pop when it's colder.