Nope. It's always been there.

 

Nope. I just like having a lever to pull instead of a **** to turn.

 

I've had a 01 with ESOF, a 03 with the lever and a 05 with ESOF. The ESOF works better. My 03 sometimes had problems going in to 4Lo. Sometimes the lever just did not want to move the t-case all the way through the gate. With the ESOF a simple flick of the switch and I am good to go. I never have had a problem out of this system. Also, the only difference is the ESOF has a motor on top of the t-case to shift. In the event that the motor was to fail, you still could get under the truck and move the lever by hand. During duck season I use 4x4 several times a week and have never had a problem shifting. I would buy the truck that most appeals the most to me and not worry about the shifter.

 

gotcha less motorized parts is less to go wrong i suppose, but like mentioned above--there's ways around that too!

 

Let me also add, the lever takes up floor space. On the 01 the center hump was clear so on long trips with the cruise on I could strech my right leg up onto the hump. The 05 has the center console which to me is reason enough to ditch the lever.

 

Either system still relies on the GEM to engage the IWEs (AKA front hubs) on the '04-ups. It's a bit simpler than the 97-03s, but still not as simple as I'd personally like to see. The only difference between them is whether you have an electric motor or a person's arm position the lockup and range collar in the transfer case.

-Joe

 

Ive probably shifted my truck in and out of 4WD nearly 100 times in the last month with ESOF and seems to work pretty well.

 

Absolutely correct! The only other difference is that the manual (non ESOF) system adds the manual lever and a set of cup holders on the transmission tunnel. This effectively eliminates any possibility of putting a 3rd person in the center of your front bench seat. (Unless of course your feet happen to be the size of a Slurpy.) This wasn't an issue on pre '04 trucks where the center section of the seat moved with the passenger side of the 60/40 bench. This was enough to push me into ESOF on my '05. I'd rather have the manual lever though. One fewer electronic gizmos to fail.

 

i have to agree with wookie, the first time i went offroading in my truck the 4x4 low would give me a hard time tryin to move it, sometimes it would get stock and i had to pull out a McGiver to fix it. i havnt try to engage da 4x4 anymore but i think the problem happened because the way the shifter is moved, it is not a straight line move to engage the 4x4.

 

I know this is off topic but my friend has a 2005 f-150 supercrew 2wd and asked me if it was possible to make it 4wd and how much it would cost and how difficult it would be, i told him i didnt know but i would ask yawl, Thanks?

 

Tell him: "You learn your lesson when you do not buy a 4wd truck."


I did the first time.

 

i did tell him that but he never thought that he would need the 4x4. He is thinking of trading it in for a 4wd if he cant upgrade his truck to 4wd.

 

Unless he knows what he is doing, it would be more cost effective to trade it in on a 4x4. NOt only will all the parts be exspensive, but the labor to have someone do it for you correctly will be enormous.

As far as the original ?, I have a '73 SCout II nad this "06 XLT. Both 4x4, one with ESOF and the other with a manual shifter. Neither one has failed me to date, but I dont do any major offroading. Personally, I enjoy the manual shifter because its one less electronic gizmo to fail, and I enjoy shifting my own gears. On the other hand, ESOF is alot more effecient. Dont have to get out in the middle of some mud to go and lock the hubs.

 

I bought my STX so I had as few as possible electric gizmos to go wrong.
No problems with the manual shift and no getting out to lock the hubs.

I do miss the power locks....but that is what the aftermarket is for

 

I had this same question several years ago when I was buying a 2000 Z71. The service departments at the Ford and Chevy house said they have less problems out of the ESOF than the manual versions. I have had three trucks with the ESOF and none has failed me yet.