Manual Transfer Case Shifting
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 488
Likes: 142
From: Indianapolis
Manual Transfer Case Shifting
I am shopping for a 2018 F250 with manual transfer case and manual wheel hubs, but I found something concerning in the manual. The manual says you have to Shift On Stop from 2WD to 4WD high. In my 2004 with manual case and manual hubs, as long as hubs are locked in, I can shift from 2WD to 4WD high at speeds up to 50 mph (as long as there is no wheel slippage). Can someone with 2017/18 manual transfer case confirm if you can shift on fly from 2WD to 4WD high? Any issues, or is this just Ford being careful from misuse? Thanks, Philip.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 298
Likes: 5
I am shopping for a 2018 F250 with manual transfer case and manual wheel hubs, but I found something concerning in the manual. The manual says you have to Shift On Stop from 2WD to 4WD high. In my 2004 with manual case and manual hubs, as long as hubs are locked in, I can shift from 2WD to 4WD high at speeds up to 50 mph (as long as there is no wheel slippage). Can someone with 2017/18 manual transfer case confirm if you can shift on fly from 2WD to 4WD high? Any issues, or is this just Ford being careful from misuse? Thanks, Philip.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Just bought 19’ with manual shift. I’ve noticed the floor shifter doesn’t illuminate, just white letters. Guess their assuming all 4wd is to be done during daylight hours only.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 196
Likes: 2
From: Madison USA
Any insight you can share? I am pretty good at fabrication and customization, installs etc so the idea of doing it all myself is not intimidating. What's the cost driver? I am thinking that I find a wrecked XL truck and scavenge the parts.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
You'd need the manual transfer case, manual front hubs, the in-cab shift lever and linkage, you'd have to cut a hole in the floorpan, somehow hook up the selector switch harness to the truck harness (which may not be the same between a manual and auto version) and use FORScan to tell the truck it now has the MSOF system. Totally not worth it, especially since the auto version is superior.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 196
Likes: 2
From: Madison USA
I am surprised that the xfer cases are different. I would have thought it was just a shifter that is different. The front hubs should be the same, too. The automatic are also manual. On older trucks, these were vacuum operated, dont know about my brand new rig, will have to look into that. The early vacuum operated auto hubs were notorious for sucking crap into them the first time you drove through water or mud that was over the hubs -- I hope that has been remedied. Cutting the floorpan doesn't scare me, I have done that sort of mod before on other vehicles. The harness is an interesting issue, and who knows, the scan tool may not be able to make such a change.
Having personally been stuck in a 4X4 superduty with one rear wheel on wet grass (actually, two, it was a dually) and the other wheels on dry gravel and being STUCK to the point of having to get a tow because the doggone electronic 4X4 engagement would NOT engage....I dont like the automatic 4X4 stuff. But its what I now own.
Having personally been stuck in a 4X4 superduty with one rear wheel on wet grass (actually, two, it was a dually) and the other wheels on dry gravel and being STUCK to the point of having to get a tow because the doggone electronic 4X4 engagement would NOT engage....I dont like the automatic 4X4 stuff. But its what I now own.