First Time for Everything
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
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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).
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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!
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Joined: Dec 2001
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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.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
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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.
Originally Posted by Jim59
And, my truck ain't pretty .... that front end is always in the s***.
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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.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
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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
on two of my trucks I have had to replace the bearing from simply not using the front end
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
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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
on two of my trucks I have had to replace the bearing from simply not using the front end
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
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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!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
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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! 
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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...
Now my '07 has the manual hubs and it kinda sucks to get out and lock them in. Better than being stuck though...
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Joined: Jan 2004
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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.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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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...
Now my '07 has the manual hubs and it kinda sucks to get out and lock them in. Better than being stuck though...
jr
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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
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