Gosh, I love these debates as it keeps the forum lively and everyone gets to try different methods with your truck.
Troverman, You are right in what you say for 98% of the situations but there's always those 2% of the times.
I have a diesel and I could certainly get my truck back onto the pavement by flooring it but that is hard on the tranny torque converter. I just had to barely hit the gas when in 2 low and it would pop right up.
As far as the locker goes, I agree they are hard to control in the snow and I try not to use them but like you said when the deep snow just sucked you in the ditch and one front tire is not hiting solid ground, the locker saves you a winching job or tug strap pull from your wife (embarrassing!) i have kind of mastered a technique taking a good run up the steep drive in deep snow with all 4 locked in my Dodge and letting down on the pedal just enough to make the turn.
I have taken your advice and I'm waiting on installing a front locker on my SD until I see how well this torque management (or whatever it's called) works applying power to the correct front wheel via braking. At least that's what I remember you telling me. I will report back after winter!!

 

had 99.5 7.3L 6 speed manual for 13 years before it was T-boned. put in 4 low at ramp in 1st and pulled boats out at idle in 2 low, left front hubs unlocked as ESOF front hubs cost me tons of money....went manual with Warn. i do not think my technique is going to kill the case or rear. 4lo, front hubs unlocked (1 less step at ramp) works great!

 

All good info, thanks! One more reason to get the manual system besides no vacuum leaks and no electronic transfer case solenoid failure.

 

well I'll be a...got in truck after work. started truck and shifted imto 4H no problem....smooth. Put in neutral, foot on brake, from 4H to neutral smooth, then into 4Lo presto! Guess it was first time jitters (break in)! All is good....let me at that boat ramp

 

I'll jump out the truck in any condition and lock the hubs vs. any ESOF ever again.

 

A manual xfer case is also a SOF(hi range).

 

2Lo can be nice for parades or leading cattle. Slow stuff where riding the brakes gets old. It's also handy for backing trailers up to loading chutes.

 

2017 auto seems faster in 4Lo/2Lo than my old 99.5 7.3L in "granny gear"?

 

That's because low range is now 2.62 vs the 2.73 found in the new process 271 case.

Been that way since 2012 since NP went under and Magna took over.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

The 99 also had 3.73 axle gears as opposed to the 3.3 or 3.55 in the 2017. And low gear on the 6 speed was pretty low.

 

Good info, thanks. Ya the zf 6 could pull a house down in L and 4 low.

 

Actually the current transfer case low is 2.64:1 and the NVG 271/273 cases with the (lower) low range continued to be used through 2016.

 

So I looked up 2012 transfer cases and you're right its still the np271 design but no branded. Makes you wonder if they produced a surplus for Ford before going bankrupt? I do know Ram switched to Magna right after 2012.

 

+1 Thenewboss is correct! Always lock the hubs, I prefer the old manual system as I have never had a problem with it. I've had 2 trucks with the "fancy" push button system and have had expensive (after warranty) problems with them, I guess I just keep my trucks to long.