I figured out the hard way that the truck must travel a certain distance forward before 4x4 engages. I got stuck in my own driveway. I put it in 4x4 - nothing. I was able to rock it out but I'll keep this in mind next time.

Anyone know how far the truck must travel before 4x4 high or low engages? Or is it just whenever the gears mesh correctly?

Thanks.

 

uhh.. should take the distance between '2wd' and '4lo' on your shifter ****....

 

vocabulaic: The way I read the post is this...he was in his driveway and was attempting to drive with the truck in 2wd. He became stuck so he put it into 4wd.

As was pointed out by another member, the new trucks use vacuum operated locking hubs instead of the 97-03 style differential disconnect. It is my understanding that these hubs do need some forward rotation to lock them for 4x4 use.

The distance required is probably pretty short, maybe only a few feet but there is probably a time factor too for the shift motor to engage the t-case on the electric shift on the fly units.

Being that he was allready stopped and stuck, the t-case was engaged but the front hubs were not locked in. They could not lock until enough forward movement was obtained by rocking it.

Lesson Learned: If you are driving in any conditions where you could conceivably get stuck...shift it into 4x4 beforehand, or at least shift it at the first sign of possibly becoming stuck. If you get stuck and cannot move in 2wd then you may be screwed.

 

Negative. I have been quite impressed with the ease of shifting and engaging with my new truck. I have parked a few times in a snow filled lot in 2wd. When I break loose attempting to move again, I shift and go. It has been great.

Of course it is always better to shift before you get into a situation to prevent problems especially on steeper hills.

 

Delay? Seems that when I put my truck into 4 wheel drive nomatter if I am at a standstill or rolling it kicks in right away, if all else fails put it in 4 low.

 

No delay from 2 to 4hi with mine. To put it in 4lo, you have to be completely stopped and put the tranny in Neutral....shift slowly from 2, to 4hi, then to 4 lo...just wait for the ever-so-slight shift feel, and she's locked in.

I've never had to drive mine forward or back any distance for the 4x4 to engage. No mater what, please-please-please READ THE OWNERS MANUAL CAREFULLY. This is your lifeline to your baby.

Just my $.02

Josh
MN

ps. Just recently, I had to pull my finance's Honda Accord out of the ditch. Locked her in 4 Lo and it was no sweat at all!

 

I agree there has been no delay in going from 2 to 4hi. I have done it on the fly and from a dead stop and never had to wait
or rock the truck back and forth.

 

Anyone tried this in soft sand rather than snow. My experience is that it takes 5 to 10 feet to engage. I have'nt tried shifting in while stopped, in the sand its too late at that point!

 

I think any engineer that designed a 4x4 to have to move any amount before lock up would be looking for a job.If you shift the shift on the fly the way the owners manual states it goes into 4 wheel without moving the truck.I have used it a few times without a problem.

Mike

 

On a similar note I had to do some 4x4ing to get out of a 2.5hour traffic jam last night. The 4x4L worked awesome on snow, while traversing a 25degree enbankment.

-ii

 

Huh, sounds like he's got a problem with the truck. Or maybe with the nut behind the steering wheel.

I was just giving my best guess with the information given, kinda hard to give an answer when I dont actually own one (yet anyways)! :o

 

hey everyone... i tired my tuck out in sand the first week I had it. the 4 wheel drive worked like a champ. Even took the truck back in the sand dunes and only had to go to 4 wheel low once. No problems with switching to 4 wheel drive and back again. Isn't that why they call it shift on the fly?

OMC

 

i've heard that some 4H on other trucks (my friend's chevy) can use a little distance to lock in to 4H, but I don't know. when I use mine it seems to lock in immediately, but I wasn't stuck so I didn't really check if it engaged immediately or not. and, as for my buddy's chevy, you can see what happened to him here:



can you say "high-centered?"

 

ha ha... I hope you found some guy with a ford to pull him out

OMC

ps was that glamis?