I love my truck but today I was a little embarrassed. I was taking a load to the dump and a bag blew off of the trailer. I pulled into the ditch to stop and pick up the bag. Lets just say I got stuck. I was not going anywhere, I put into 4 no go- tried 4 lo but it wouldn't engage. Luckily a local teen driving a new chev drove by and offered me a pull. Unfortunately his tow strap broke so I was still stuck. Next came along an old 80's dodge ram he had a chain and managed to pull me out. The teen left right away so I didn't get his name or number to replace his strap.(I went and bought a proper strap for him, now I just have to run into him again to give it to him). Any way rescued by a dodge my wife thinks it's hilarious since we just got rid of a dodge (which she loved). Don't know how easy it should go into 4 lo?? But within 10 minutes I had my redemption and now I understand the true power of the powerstroke. On my way back from the dump there was a seismic crew trying to get into a farmers field, but got stuck getting into the ditch. I stopped to give them a pull out - no problem. But they insisted they had to get their vehicle into the field, so back in they went, into the ditch and now they slid sideways down a small hill. Totally stuck- snow above the rear bumber on their truck and no longer in their trackway. I put into 4lo (ya it went in this time) hooked up and pulled them out like they weren't even there. I shocked my self at how easy this was and I think they were even surprised by their comments. I felt vindicated after this so as it stands I love my new truck but am a little nervous about it's traction off road. Sorry for the long post - I'm procrastinating on getting back to work.

How easy should it engage 4 lo.

Thanks

 

Why didnt you get out and manually put it into 4wd by locking it out.?

 

I have the esof system. Shift on the fly. The hubs will not lock unless the truck is moving. When I get stuck in the mud in 2wd i get out and lock the hubs manually and then switch her into 4 hi or low. On a truck with a manual trans you need to have the clutch to the floor and foot on service brakes before it will shift into 4 low.

 

Tell you the truth never thought about manually locking the hubs, besides the help was right there. Now if it goes into 4 hi should it not also go into 4 lo(it did go into 4hi). I mean it wasn't a big deal just one of those things I think I need to learn about my truck. I have shift on the fly so I just assumed if it was in 4 hi it would easily go into 4lo. Does the trans have to be in neutral or park to go into lo I think I put it in park the secind time when it did shift into lo.

Thanks for the advice.

 

I believe it has to be in neutral to go into 4 low.

 

Trans in neutral and foot on the brake for 4X4 low to engage. Same procedure to get it out of 4X4 low as well...

 

yea mine ONLY goes into 4 lo when the shift lever is in Nuetral and I am firm on the brakes.

 

I guess walking in wasn't an option? What did they do after the 2nd extraction, give up? BTW what kind of tires do you have on your truck? Maybe that would have made the difference?

 

Funny I suggested walking, they laughed... and didn't give up after the second extraction. They put the pedal down and went back in. They made it to the edge of the field, I left them after that. Don't know how far they got though, they were struggling quite a bit as it was. I have to assume they got stuck and had to call for help. I have to drive by there I'll see if I see any tracks in the field.

 

they might still be there waiting for a sky hook....