Obviously you don't know how to drive in 4 low. You can drive along at plenty of speed in 4 low D (30 mph) and switch to lower gears as needed. If you maintained your truck, it would work just fine. I picked the manual/floor shift 4 wheel drive selector for that very reason. None of the manufacturers E-shifts work perfectly.

 

Please tell me how "maintaining" my truck will keep the MLPS switch from shattering every 2000 miles or so...

 

If you don't know, I won't bother telling you.

 

Hmmmm...That's mature........

 

If your looking for a mud buggy, build one. If you insist on driving an F150 through the mud and the OE equipment isn't working well enough for you then get after market parts that eliminate those OE parts. Call that guy from the TV show: "X-treme 4x4" on PowerBlock TV TNN network. He could tell you exactly what to install to turn your truck into a mud machine. Why you want to drive in the mud is beyond me. That's a sure fire way to ruin any vehicle.

 

Wow! That's exactly the kind of thinking that has allowed the 4X4 to evolve into the useless hunk of junk they all are now.
I drive in the mud because I want to get out of my yard now and then! My local store is 15 miles away, 8 of which are muddy roads. Without a 4X4, I ain't goin' nowhere. And then there's this thing called "winter".......And hunting season.....Get the picture?
I have had lots of trucks in 50 years of driving in these conditions, and never one with all these electrical screwups. Sure, I got stuck, but the others would at least still run after somebody towed them out!
Guess I have to find a "real" 4X4 built back in the '70's to have something reliable. Solid front axle, manual hubs, gear drive transfer case, and a carburetor!
BTW, what aftermarket parts are there to replace the MLPS switch? Does someone make one that's metal? Because a skid plate would just hold the wet stuff up on top of it and make the problem worse.

 

If you have an issue call the truck manufacturers and se if they'll listen to ya, fat chance. If you've chosen to live in the boonies, then you must bare tall of the consequences that go with it and stop your bitching. Build yourself a truck or vehicle to your liking.

 

I bow to your obviously superior knowledge and intellect. Imagine somebody out in the boondocks expecting to get to town now and again.....the very nerve!
Although without all us boonie basher farmers out here struggling with crappy equipment, I don't know what all you pavement pounders are gonna eat......

 

Pavement my ***. I live in Northern MN and can at my choosing run across any kind of terrain you can think of. In-fact, I was out in the woods today and decided to exercise the OE 4 wheel drive manual shifter in my truck as I do often to keep it in good working order. I put it in 4 low and left it in drive (D). I was able to drive comfortably at 35 mph with loads of power. My 98' has 200,400 miles and is getting tired: less power and milage than a few years ago. In 4 low, I had all the power I could ever need. Once I slowed down and dropped it into 2nd I could go anywhere my tires would bring me if I'd chosen to. I didn't even bother with 1st because I would have gone through the window with the amount of power available there.

When I looked for a truck, I specifically chose the manual floor shift for the same reason your having trouble with yours. Because it eliminates one more electrically (weak) operated part of the 4 wheel drive system. All you have to do is keep it lubricated and it works great. I grew up with Jeeps and know the value of a reliable drive-train. Do some research and you will find an after-market solution to that ESOTF BS switch. Go out and put your truck in 4 low and D and try again, 2nd if necessary. Give it a try and reply. Note: you'd better have some good tires if your driving through that kind of material or all the power in the world won't help you.