Who is right?
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 3
From: Grants Pass, Oregon
The only bad part about manual hubs is when YOU dont bother to lock them before driving into deep water or mud,but that would be your fault! Another big advantage to manual hubs is that it makes you get out of the vehicle,its a good time to take 10 or 20 seconds and actually look over the vehicle,do your tires appear properly inflated,are fluids leaking badly,or wires or other components hanging down or outta place? Your far better off finding these problems before you get to far off the beaten path.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,995
Likes: 0
From: raymond alberta
manual all the way! eveyone...EVERYONE who asked about my truck literally sneered when i said manual locking hubs...they are tougher, way more reliable, simple(er), another thing is with auto everything i linked with the computer so if something goes in the front think of all the crap you gotta pull just to move the truck with a manual at most a drive shaft or a hub it you manage to get it suck (been there done that somehow wasnt fun)
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
From: Northern Minnesota
I think slugs kind of suck to, for my purposes any way. I drive to and from wheeling locations always, I commonly drive home with something busted in my pos d44 and its nice to just unlock the hubs and not worry about it.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,995
Likes: 0
From: raymond alberta
X2...that makes 4
looking at this post it seems pretty well unanimous in favor of locking..."i dont have to get out to lock em in"...just the height of laziness at its finest...LOCK EM IN BEFORE YOU HIT THE MUD DIPSTICK
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,437
Likes: 4
From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
The question was, who is right? I'd say neither of you,what's better for one may not be for someone else...but you are way closer than your bud. For the guy or gal who only puts their truck in 4x4 once a year, the auto hubs are better for them, but for any more serious stuff than that I'd want manual hubs
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 414
Likes: 1
From: Accokeek, MD
The question was, who is right? I'd say neither of you,what's better for one may not be for someone else...but you are way closer than your bud. For the guy or gal who only puts their truck in 4x4 once a year, the auto hubs are better for them, but for any more serious stuff than that I'd want manual hubs
Just depends on what you use it for, and really how often....
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 727
Likes: 0
From: north shore, minnesota
Auto hubs suck. I worked as a Ford tech for 5 years in the late 90's and can't count how many auto hubs I've replaced. Many people just switched over to manual hubs after the autos kept breaking.
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 344
From: Breckenridge, TX
Actually probably not, since auto hubs are more likely to fail from lack of use (at least the newer ones). There are so many more moving parts and hoses and pumps and crap that the one time a year they DO use it, it probably won't work anyway. Plus, with manual hubs there isn't the problem of the auto hubs sticking and not disengaging, which just causes even more maintenance headaches for people who probably don't even need the 4wd in the first place.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,437
Likes: 4
From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
HOw about the person who doesnt know how to check their own oil let alone operate all those levers and lock hubs... Iguess thats why they came out with pushbutton 4x4. My girlfriend has had a pathfinder since new in 97 and has never had it in 4low.She really babies it! I have had customers that didnt know how to engage 4x4 on their truck BTW, I would want manual hubs if I had an option, I'm just saying it depends on the owner.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
I wanted to bring up another scenario. It appears that the guys with rigs that see off road use more often than the guy who purchased a 4x4 because it looked cool, or had a neat sticker on the bedside.
Where I am going with this is that most guys are adding some sort of traction device up front, and trying to get an auto hub to disengage with a locker would be close to impossible. A different type of traction device would be just as difficult to disengage the hubs as well.
Those of us with either lockers or super stout LS units op front know exactly what I mean.
Un-locking manual locking hubs is tough enough, and relying on an auto system to perform this function would make for a system that might be a little sketchy.
Reliability is everything.....Knowing that it is gonna work when I need it is a must.
Where I am going with this is that most guys are adding some sort of traction device up front, and trying to get an auto hub to disengage with a locker would be close to impossible. A different type of traction device would be just as difficult to disengage the hubs as well.
Those of us with either lockers or super stout LS units op front know exactly what I mean.
Un-locking manual locking hubs is tough enough, and relying on an auto system to perform this function would make for a system that might be a little sketchy.
Reliability is everything.....Knowing that it is gonna work when I need it is a must.