This is a question for any 10R140 (10 speed auto trans) with transfer case guru or transmission service tech.
My last rig was an off road prepped (lockers/lift/ beefed up axles/suspension) 2001 Dodge CTD 6 speed manual had all 6 gears in both high and low range from the NV5600.
That's what I was used to being an aged out rock crawler and played them like a fiddle. Our Lance Lite 165-s camper was usually ensconced on the bed.

We bought the 2020 Ford F-350 XLT FX4 4WD SB SC 7.3 gasser 4,30 gears off the lot as that's all we could find at the time
figuring it had 10 gears in high and low range. It does have the 5th-wheel prep package, if that makes any difference.

Now the dilemma:
I have only 1st gear in low range MANUAL. If I try to speed up it will just blink but not respond to the toggle switch on the control stick.
In low range AUTOMATIC I have only 2nd and 3rd gear no matter how slow or fast I go. It will not go up or down beyond those gears.
The service writer at the Ford dealer said the computer will only allow what it will allow. He said it was to save the trans and T-case from being used too aggressively.
He also said I did not have the Tremor Package which has a different programming for the trans and T-case. For a wad of cash I could have my SD re-programmed to allow more gear choices.

Do I have a problem that can be resolved to get more than 3 gears out of low range.
And what has been your experience in using low range with a 2017+ 10speed/T-case?
What say Ye, O' wise ones?
jefe

 

Apparently, no one on FTE uses low range enough to count the gears available.
I posted a similar a similar query on the Tremor page and the answers kept coming.

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Here is a recap of their replies:This is a question for any 10R140 (10 speed auto trans) with transfer case guru or transmission service tech.

I asked this on the FTE site with no replies.

We bought our 2020 Ford F-350 XLT FX4 4WD SB SC 7.3 gasser 4,30 gears off the lot as there were no Tremors available.

I figured it had 10 gears in high and low range. (It does have the 5th-wheel prep package, if that makes any difference.)



Now the dilemma:

I have only 1st gear in low range MANUAL. If I try to speed up it will just blink but not respond to the gear manual toggle switch on the control stick.

I have no "Rock Crawling" gear. The 2021 had that.

In low range AUTOMATIC I have only 2nd and 3rd gear no matter how slow or fast I go. It will not go up or down beyond those gears.

The service writer at the Ford dealer said the computer will only allow what it will allow. He said it was to save the trans and T-case from being used too aggressively.

*Do you have more LOW RANGE gears available on your Tremor than 1st in MANUAL, and 2nd and 3rd in AUTOMATIC?

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CordelleMT: I’ve got up to 4th in mine in 4 low in manual. Never needed to go any higher than that when I need 4 low but I have not had any issues going up and down from 1st to 4th.

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Rooster: 2022 Tremor: in manual it does start in 2nd if you go 4low then to manual if you start in manual and go to 4low it starts in 1. In manual as high as i could get was 7th. and you have to have about 2500 rpm or more for it to shift to the next gear in manual in 4low. I didn't try it in Drive just manual.

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2020Tremor: I tried it today on a gravel road and same in manual mode. In automatic mode on flat ground it started in 2 second and did a couple of skip shifts to 7th, wouldn’t shift higher than 7th. I did learn a Tremor can make 35+ Mph in low range :ROFLMAO:.

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Jefe4x4: Big_Mack said:

Low Range 1st gear is just such a low gear ratio there is basically not enough speed to have any time in gear there, pretty sure Low Range has started in 2nd gear since the 10 speed came out.

Jefe says:

Big_ Mack, With the camper on, and weighing over 10K pounds, if I'm picking away at some rock garden 40 miles from pavement, going fast is not in the equation. I"ve spent hours creeping along using mostly low range going up some dry arroyo like in Death Valley. It is good to have a range of options (including the very useful downhill mode) where you don't have to stop and shift into high range just to be going back to low range within a few yards. It would be nice to have that back.

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Jefe says: I talked to the trans-tech today at a dealer in Auburn CA. He took my Vin# and will plug it into Ford's "Hot Line" to see what I have that you don't. Hopefully, my program can be changed to reflect my needs.

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Camarox2 said: Yes, this would be good info to know!

I just got a 22 Tremor and I run in 4 low when on the beach or out in the sand dunes for those asking why you need speed in 4 low. (especially when towing a trailer out into the dunes). 👍

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RedZilla said: That’s what I was thinking as well. There's obvious needs for more speed while in 4low, especially when pulling an offroad camper across areas where you may be encountering loose sand.

 

I have a 2022 and haven't put it in low range but my other vehicle is a 1995 F350 4x4 with a 5spd and I've been all over Alaska with it and used the 4wd a lot from mud, climbing rocks or just driving 55 on the highway in a blizzard. I have NEVER been in a situation where low range would have been better for me than 4wd High.
In my 2022 I have all the different modes to choose from whereas my 1995 has 1st gear and 4wd High or 2nd gear where my truck idles at 15mph. You have an incredible amount of torque and throttle response in 4wd High w/sand mode or you can use hill descent control in 2wd and it holds like my 95 does in 1st gear and 4wd high going down hill at 5mph or less. A big block with a low geared tranny has plenty of engine braking capability to hold 10k lbs back going down hill and the 7.3 has more torque at 1500 rpm than I'm pretty sure my 460 makes peak.
Why on earth would I ever need 4 Lo above 15mph? Anything needing to be accomplished would be doable in 4 High.

 

When I Had the 6.2 and 6 speed I used low range more than I do with my 7.3 and 10speed.

I use low range for backing trailers uphill, occasionally on boat ramps. I occasionally us low range to pull out a stuck vehicle.

I have the Tremor package. Leaving it in high and using tow mode, or deep snow mode seems to work fine on the muddy or snow covered forest roads.

Back when I had trucks with 4 speed automatics I used 4lo a lot more than I do with my current truck.

 

Every time I use 4lo I never give it enough throttle to get out of 1st gear,

 

OBS, I appreciate your experience, but you've never been a hardcore rock crawler. After decades of rock crawling (in one of 14, 4WD's), I'm used to playing low range like a fiddle even with a camper on the bed of my former Dodge CTD/ 6 speed manual. I had 12 gears forward and used most of them.
After hundreds maybe thousands of miles in low range hunting for the best route over very rough ground; never getting over 6 mph you don't want to be having to go back and forth
from low to high range just to get another couple yards along.
Again, my main objection to the program of my SD is only having 1st gear in LOW RANGE MANUAL; and 2nd and 3rd gear in LOW RANGE AUTOMATIC.
The above Tremor owners have reported otherwise.
jefe
I wouldn't want to do this to my F-350: my CJ-8 in the Little Sluice on the Rubicon

 

Loaded heavy while breaking trail in deep snow chained or unchained for miles at a time it's easier on the engine and transmission to be in 4 Lo. Especially when taking off, but then you need to be able to spin to keep going. Ground speed might only be 5-20mph, but need more wheel speed to churn and keep digging.

 

Sounds like our trucks with manual transmissions were more suited for whst you need than a $70k truck design for long haul comfort with a plastic transmission pan. Just the initial cost to get into the truck is too much for me to ever consider these trucks as an overlander.

 

I took mine up to to upper trailhead in Yankee Boy Basin a couple weeks ago and noticed the lack of gears in low range. Figured out I could force 1st in manual, low range, but in automatic, it seemed like it wouldn't get out of 2nd at the speeds I was going and that seemed odd to me. I've rock crawled a number of rigs and they would all use all the gears (for the automatic ones like the Scout in the pic). I'll have to play with it some more when I get on trails again. This particular trip was for a climb up Sneffels and I was just focused on getting up there and back so wasn't paying all that much attention to how it was acting. Just went to high range when I wanted to go faster.


Scout with 4L60E that uses all the gears in 4lo.

Upper trailhead, Yankee Boy Basin

 

That is definitely strange programming with the 10-speed autos not allowing you to use all the gears when the transfer case is in 4WD Low Range. That's sad, to be honest.

I have a 2019 with the old 6-speed automatic, and I have no problem using all 6 gears when in 4WD Low Range. Mine will start off in 2nd gear when in full automatic mode. But it will, indeed, shift from 2nd on thru 6th. In manual mode, it will let me have full access to all six gears.

So strange on the current 10-speed automatics...

 

Ok, I got curious and had to test. My results:

In automatic mode, it always starts in second gear; seems reasonable to limit torque. It then shifts up, usually (but not always) skipping odd number gears. Highest gear available was 7. In 7th gear I was limited to 28MPH/3400RPM (diesel red line is 4000RPM). When both upshifting and downshifting it usually skipped gears, but if I was really gentle on the throttle it would hit every gear.

In manual mode, I could select any gear up to 7th (including 1st) but had to be in what the computer considered the proper RPM range to select a gear. IE: If I as doing 5 mph it would not let me go above 3rd gear. If the computer does not agree with the gear you want, it flashes the gear number and refuses to obey.

I consider this behavior to be completely reasonable and I am comfortable with letting the computer select the proper gear. Guess that is why I bought an automatic.

 

That's the craziest thing I have ever heard, I for sure wouldn't buy one of you couldn't use all the gears in low range. Also anyone who doesn't understand why you would need or want to be in low range probably shouldn't have a 4x4 or just stay on paved roads and don't pull anything heavy if you do.

 

I've been driving 4x4's for more years than I want to think about, snow, sand, mud, everything from Florida to Alaska. I certainly know how and when to use low range. As I said, all the gears (up to 7th) are available, but not necessary to hit every one of them. Maybe a case could be made to need gears 8-10 while in low range, but it alludes me. I frequently skip gears when driving my '89 460 5sp manual; use what is needed.

PS: Love the 10sp

 

It’s not like you had a choice in that department…LoL

 

True, but if I had a choice, I would have bought an automatic; maybe that is what I should have said.