I have a 4x4 without limited slip and soon it will be time to start going to my hunting club checking things out and it gets muddy their sometimes. This is my first 4x4 truck to own and I have always road with someone who had a 4x4 97 F150 but not sure if it was LS or not. I would have definitely gotten limited slip but the deal I found on my truck couldn't be passed up. I am just wondering what to expect. Surely my truck being 4x4 will do better than a 2wd with limited slip right?

 

In my old '02, I also had a non-LS rear diff with 3.55 gears and 4x4. Let's put it this way, we went out to the dunes and that truck made it up any and every hill out there, with no problems. 2nd gear, 4-Low, and pin it...worked for me, will most likely work for you. Good luck!

 

You should be ok, but, you'll get a good idea once you get out there. A word to the wise though, when you're going to be in Mud, put the truck in 4HI as you'll want as much wheel spin as needed to clean the lugs of the tire of mud. That doesn't mean, keep the truck floored, it just means keep the wheel speed up when going through the thick stuff. If you do find the need to have a LS put in the truck, i'd stick with the factory LS as it's been great for me and seems to engage quickly.

One more tid bit, make sure you wash the mud off the outside and inside of your rims before getting back on the highway. Otherwise, you'll think you are a victim of the dreaded Vibe that seems to plaque some of these truck owners.

 

if you do it right you can keep transfering power between each side by using the PB or brake.

 

2wd w/o limited will only drive one wheel in slick stuff, i.e. ice/slick mud
2wd w/ limited slip drives two wheels
4x4 w/o limited will spin one on front, one on rear
4x4 w/ limited will spin one front, both rear

2wd w/ limited and 4x4 w/o limited are almost the same, difference being that 4x4 may have one axle with better traction...if 2wd has both drives on ice, limited slip won't matter, but 4wd often has a better chance of one axle having traction. A limited-slip needs some ground traction on both tires to equalize the torque. Limited slip won't matter at all if one wheel is off the ground...if you're in rough terrain and one wheel comes up off the ground, the tire will most likely spin...best for rough stuff is a locking diff.

Your tires will most likely be the deciding factor. Street tires suck in mud, plain and simple. If the mud packs up in the tread of the tires, turning the tires into racing slicks, then limited slips won't help much. If your friend with the 97 F150 had mudders, that's a lot right there.

Keep up wheel speed as mentioned before, keep up vehicle speed/momentum (caution of submerged logs/rocks/Chevy's,etc.). If you get stuck, try to back out in your ruts before you bury it too deep, use the parking brake to equalize the torque (mentioned before...the poor-man's limited slip)

Best to bring a shovel, a GOOD jack (Hi-Lift is the best by far), and a nice tow strap...bring a friend with a vehicle along too, unless you like walking... and, it should go without saying, but put it in 4wd BEFORE you get stuck. My uncle buried his Ford Explorer in 2wd because he thought 4wd was "only for emergencies..."

 

What do you mean when you say use the parking brake?

 

Along this same line: I had a 99 Eddie Bauer Expedition and it had the auto 4X4 (it engaged when it felt wheel slip) Does anyone know if these trucks were considered limited-slip or not?

I ask because I too now have an '05 Screw Lariat and like the original poster of this thread I couldn't pass up the deal even though it had the 3.73 non-limited slip.

If my memory serves me correctly the 99 Expedition worked perfect fine for me in the New England snow that I mainly deal with. Basically I'm trying to figure out if my new '05 Screw will preform equally well or better.

 

Anyone? Anyone?

 

sometimes you can help a limited slip engage better by slightly dragging the brake or parking brake while the one wheel is spinning. This slows it down a little and the limited slip will engage quicker.

 

The term (referring to a factory option) "limited-slip" refers to a rear differential only. Your Expedition may have had an option for a limited-slip rear differential, but it did not come standard (same as our F150's.) The "Auto 4wd" would still have open differentials front and rear unless optioned otherwise.

"Auto 4wd" usually refers to a third differential built into the transfer case which allows all-wheel drive on dry pavement without binding (unlike the F150's part-time 4wd.) Modern "auto 4x4's" are computer controlled, and may be able to move torque where it's needed (such as the new Jeep Grand Cherokee) or may just split torque 50/50.

Your part-time 4wd F150 should be as good or better than the Expedition...just remember that it takes more driver involvement--i.e. you need to shift in and out depending on road conditions. I would prefer to lock it in 4wd on a snowy road, rather than let the wheels slip before 4wd comes on. Good snow tires are your friend, and remember that 4wd doesn't help you turn or stop...(Something a lot of SUV drivers here in Michigan need to remember, judging by all of them spun out/flipped over in the medians...)

 

Use of the parking brake can help equalize torque even in a non-limited-slip axle. You push on the e-brake or brake, it will stop the spinning tire, and may (MAY) allow you to move out of a stuck situation. It's an emergency thing only...like using your floormats under the tires for traction...I wouldn't drive around with the parking brake on, but when it's "get unstuck or walk", you do what you need to. Also...turn the wheel to the right and left while spinning the tires--may (MAY) allow the front tires to grab for traction...

 

A 4X4 truck will do pretty good, even without the Limited slip rear end. Definitely better than a 2WD even With LS. A 4WD with Non limited slip does Better in most snow situations. Having the trailing wheel in the back instead of both of them spinning helps keep the truck going straight.

There's a lot of weight on the front wheels. Being able to engage one of them Really helps. You'll be fine...

 

I have a 04 f-150 4x4, 355 ltd slip, Truck is out standing in 2wd, even in the mud, if it is snowing or raining on a off road trial I seldom lose traction or get stuck, when I do, The 4wd is handy, but it is more of a thrill to see how far I can go in 2wd...truck is bone stock, big and bulky, reg cab 8ft box, not ment for twisty trials, But is execellant off road..for a stock truck.

 

Thanks for the help, I appreciate it. The truck will not really see anyhting more that snow covered roads or the occasional hunting trail. After reading everyone on this site say that LS was the only way to go I got sort of nervous and thought I should have one put in. I guess I'll be fine.

And to further what you said... 4WD doesn't mean 4 wheel stop!

 

I went the camp this weekend and my truck did pretty well. I didn't have to use 4x4 any but the roads were not that bad. It did do well though pulling a trailer through some light mud holes.