Notices
1999 - 2016 Super Duty 1999 to 2016 Ford F250, F350, F450 and F550 Super Duty with diesel V8 and gas V8 and V10 engines
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Real Truck

First Time for Everything

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 09:37 AM
  #1  
tex25025's Avatar
tex25025
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
First Time for Everything

Today I actually had to use 4 wheel drive while I was hauling a horse to the vet's office. Out of all my years of driving(longer then some, not as long as others), I have never needed to use it even though I always got trucks with it equipped. I have had this truck for two yrs and never once used the ESOF and after "hearing" some uses that people have had with ESOF versus manual, I was prepared for it not to engage, much to my surprise and probably to my horse's relief it worked and I was able to turn around with the trailer in the swampy mess(atleast it is now for sure) around back of the vet's office(the only place that I can actually turn around comfortably without having to worry about how close I get to other things). So atleast this one person can say that after two years of never having been used on this truck(and until now never used it on any of his trucks) the ESOF atleast worked it's first time out(which trust me is a good thing otherwise I would still be at the vet's office trying to get out, I don't think a 2 wheel drive would have done it with a horse trailer as well).
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 09:46 AM
  #2  
texcan's Avatar
texcan
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
Glad to hear it work with no problems. I am the same way, I never use my ESOF enless iI need it. Every once in a blue moon if I remember on a back road I might turn it on for a couple of miles to lube things up. But I think it's been a year or so since I have done that. I have been lucky as I have allways had it engage when I needed it. But I still look for it to not work some day!
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 09:46 AM
  #3  
Jim59's Avatar
Jim59
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
ESOF is on my F250 that I bought in 2002. I engage it *mucho* times each year ..... summer and winter, and it has never failed. And, my truck ain't pretty .... that front end is always in the s***. I've had to replace wheel/hubs twice because of water/debris in the wheel bearings, but the ESOF seals never failed.
 

Last edited by Jim59; Dec 10, 2007 at 09:50 AM.
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 09:53 AM
  #4  
tex25025's Avatar
tex25025
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by texcan
Every once in a blue moon if I remember on a back road I might turn it on for a couple of miles to lube things up.
That's a good idea, I hadn't thought of that. There are plenty of back roads I can do that round here. One thing I don't look forward is having it fail while I'm trying to get the horse trailer out of the mud, that would not be a pretty sight(which is what I was afraid of today).

Originally Posted by Jim59
And, my truck ain't pretty .... that front end is always in the s***.
Spoken like a true off-roader addict.
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 10:58 AM
  #5  
62rag's Avatar
62rag
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Originally Posted by texcan
Every once in a blue moon if I remember on a back road I might turn it on for a couple of miles to lube things up.
I read on here a long time ago that it's a good idea to turn the hub switches back and forth, once a month or so, just to keep everything loose. I turn mine any time I wash it, or check the air pressure. I use my ESOF quite a bit when it snows here. When some roads are cleared and some aren't, going back and forth is very easy.
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 11:10 AM
  #6  
rbaker6336's Avatar
rbaker6336
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,191
Likes: 4
From: Blairsville,Ga
actually on any part time 4x4 you should at least engage the hubs once a month and run it a few miles to lube the front pinion bearing
on two of my trucks I have had to replace the bearing from simply not using the front end
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 12:43 PM
  #7  
tex25025's Avatar
tex25025
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by rbaker6336
actually on any part time 4x4 you should at least engage the hubs once a month and run it a few miles to lube the front pinion bearing
on two of my trucks I have had to replace the bearing from simply not using the front end
Now I'm glad that I started this thread, I wouldn't have known to do that(just doesn't occur to me, it makes sense, just didn't occur to me) and I don't recall reading it in the manual. But then again, I really only read the manual when I'm in need of reading material and it's the only thing handy(out of boredom I guess, I like to read and I'll read almost anything given a certain circumstance).
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 01:27 PM
  #8  
UP_There's Avatar
UP_There
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,613
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff, Arizona
I have manual hubs but always make it a point to engage 4wheel at least once a month! Which isn't hard to remember......I am in the woods allll the time. Keeps all the moving parts lubed up by regular use!
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-3

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 01:30 PM
  #9  
UP_There's Avatar
UP_There
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,613
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff, Arizona
AND.......I forgot to add. It snowed about 6 inches last night and the 4wheel drive worked wonderfully taking the wife to work this morning!
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 01:57 PM
  #10  
tex25025's Avatar
tex25025
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Originally Posted by UP_There
It snowed about 6 inches last night and the 4wheel drive worked wonderfully taking the wife to work this morning!
I can't handle that, my blood is way to thin for that. Growing up it would snow once a year maybe twice about an inch and it would be gone in a couple of days, that's about all I can handle. Where I live now it's a little worse then that and lasts a little longer, but I just can't take that cold weather.
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 02:47 PM
  #11  
mpbpulaski's Avatar
mpbpulaski
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
I live in snow country (we got 9 FEET in a 2 week storm last winter) and use the 4wd a lot. I've had the esof on 3 trucks and the auto locking hubs with manual shift on another one. Never had any problems with any of them in 480,000 miles (combined).
Now my '07 has the manual hubs and it kinda sucks to get out and lock them in. Better than being stuck though...
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 02:54 PM
  #12  
miller_feed's Avatar
miller_feed
Hook it, I'll pull it.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,037
Likes: 4
From: Grand Lake, La.
Club FTE Silver Member

I took my truck in my pasture and worked the switch lots of times to make sure all was good. I have only had a problem 1 time with this system. I LOVE IT.
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 04:23 PM
  #13  
tazo's Avatar
tazo
Elder User
20 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 853
Likes: 0
From: northern,california
Never had had a problem with my 05. My wife's 99 expedition has never had a problem. I did have a problem wth my 97 psd that had auto hubs and a manual 4x4 shifter. I had the axles of the truck and horse trailer stuck in the mud. Had to get a loader to pull the both of us out.
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 05:21 PM
  #14  
jrtraderny's Avatar
jrtraderny
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mpbpulaski
I live in snow country (we got 9 FEET in a 2 week storm last winter) and use the 4wd a lot. I've had the esof on 3 trucks and the auto locking hubs with manual shift on another one. Never had any problems with any of them in 480,000 miles (combined).
Now my '07 has the manual hubs and it kinda sucks to get out and lock them in. Better than being stuck though...
mpbpulaski, if you're where I think you are I'm about an hour from you and will be coming through your town on Thurs, on my way to Potsdam. And the only time my ESOF has failed me was when the vacuum lines rotted off and then I had to manually lock them.
jr
 
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2007 | 07:04 PM
  #15  
mpbpulaski's Avatar
mpbpulaski
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
yep,jrtraderny, thats what the pulaski's for...
I built a cell phone tower just outside Potsdam last winter. But I could say that about most towns in NY, we go all over
just waiting for more snow this year, I love it! Especially since I just bought a new v-plow for the '05 - a fun new toy to use
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:00 AM.

story-0
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-2
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-7
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE