quadman20

I have an 06 and I'm wanting to know if any one knows the answer to this.
First heres my 4x4 switch 2x4, 4 lock, 4 Lo. Now when I put my truck in 4 lock it is just that locked and a real bear to steer in a tight turn. I tried looking for info if it can be put to 4 high unlocked some how?? This has become an issue while out hunting/camping and I need to be in 4x4 but also need to be able to monuver the 5th wheel around. This weekend it almost put me in the ditch trying to turn around in the snow/ice on pavement, cause once it crabed pavement it doesn't like to turn.
The reason I had it in 4x4 was snowy icy roads and it mkes better traction and you can't use 4Lo while traveling over 10-20 mph.
Thanks for anything you got.

stickk

Yep! Just like my '79 f150 custom. I guess it stands to reason since it is basically the same front end. 4 lock just means 4wd. To my knowledge there isn't a "locker" in the front end. It would be nice if they could refine this setup for better turning while in 4wd. Oh well.

ColdCase

You have a 4WD transfer case. I don't recall, off hand, if an optional AWD transfer case is offered on the bigger RAMs, if so that's what you may need.

In a 4WD transfer case, 4 lock and 4 low will both lock the front and rear axles together, no slip. While turning on high traction surfaces you get the axle windup maneuver problem (the front axle needs to turn faster than the rear). You won't notice it as much on low traction surfaces because the tires will slide easier. You should not use 4WD on a high traction surface. AWD systems, available in lighter duty trucks and Jeeps, allow some slip, so there is little or no axle windup.

There is nothing wrong with switching temporarily out of 4 lock when maneuvering. And then switch back when you need the traction.

Someone here with more experience may offer some driving technique suggestions.

By the way, the switch on the dash controls an electric motor that moves a conventional transfer case shift lever, nothing fancy here. There are so called electronic or automatic full time transfer cases available on other vehicles. Your owners manual should have a full description.

92'1stGen

Nope, the only options you have are 4 Lo and 4 high, the front end keeps turning the whole time when in these modes. There also was no "AWD" transfer case offered in either of the 2500 or 3500 trucks. The only way to get what your talking about, (basically 2 Lo & 2 High), is to install manual locking hubs in place of your stock unit bearings on either side of the front axle. This will allow you to lock and unlock the hubs manually, keep the front end from turning constantly when going down the road in regular 2wd, and it will essentially give you 2 Lo and 2 High. Plus, the additional cost savings when you have to replace the bearings in the front end. $20 a side for the serviceable bearings in the manual locking hubs compared to $300 - $500 a side with the non-serviceable unit bearings.

huron52

I understand about the 4 lock and the 4low.

But that last post got me to thinking. I find that when I am backing up my 5th wheel the reverse is still to high. I didn't want to put it into 4 low because of driveshaft wrap up but the locking hub idea got me to thinking.

On the electronic switch for the 4X4 does it just engage the transfer case ?
Are the hubs always locked and are the front shafts always spinning?
Could I change the hubs that I have on it now to locking/unlocking hubs?
If that's true I could put the transfer case in 4low with the hubs unlocked and have a lower reverse speed without driveshaft wrap up.
Am I correct in my thinking?

thanks

Tom

92'1stGen

"By George, I think he's got it!". Yep, whether you have a manual or electronic transfer case shifter, it still only engages the transfer case. This is all that it needs to do because the unit bearings at each front wheel keep the differential and front drive shaft constantly turning while going down the road, with the only disconnection being at the transfer case. Installing the manual locking hubs changes all this. They'll unlock the wheels from the differential so that it and the front drive shaft aren't constantly turning. Also, as you duly noted, this also allows you to essentially have 2 Lo, which is the perfect combo for backing up a trailer with a 6 speed manual truck. Just keep the front hubs unlocked and it will only supply the power being fed through the transfer case to the rear wheels.

quadman20

Thanks just thought maybe it was able to do both 4 hi and 4hi locked. That wheel hop gets tiring at times. Cause on gravel roads were we go hunting 4x4 is needed to get the trailer in and even then it catches pretty good. My Arctic Prowler has that 4hi/4lo/lo lock in both love it. Just was hoping to have my cake and eat it too.

Grit Dog

How far are you backing up???? Can't imagine any situation where you'd twist a driveshaft just backing up unless you're running 2 different size tires.
Just throw it in 4 low to back up.
Heck, I've put the truck in 4low in bad stop and go traffic just to have a creeper gear because my left leg was getting tired of running the clutch every 5 sec.
Front hub locks are an expensive upgrade. Wouldn't even consider it unless the front hubs/bearings, needed to be replaced already.

92'1stGen

He's not actually twisting the drive shaft, he's merely saying it'll naturally bind if he was to engage 4wd on asphalt. What he wants is to be able to do is back up with a lower geared reverse speed, without having the interference of the front wheels being locked at the same time (essentially it's 2 Lo). He'll have this problem in either 4 Hi or 4 Lo unless he either removes the drive shaft (which defeats the purpose to being able to quickly engage 4wd), or installs manual locking hubs so that the front wheels are unlocked when he needs 2 Lo.

That must be some pretty bad traffic if you would even consider causing possible damage to your 4x4 drive line.

ColdCase

Yeah a number of Jeeps and light duty trucks have these as an option. Love it for highway driving when you are always moving between dry pavement to snow covered, and for the spouse. But Chrysler doesn't currently offer a heavy duty case with the AWD (non locked 4wd) capability. I don't know, off hand, if any HD truck has an AWD option. Die hard off roaders question the durability of any of the AWD cases.

Although they reduce wear and tear, Locking/unlocking hubs just switch you between 4WD and 2WD when coupled with these cases. You need a so called AWD type transfer case with either a limited slip diff or traction control to have 4WD traction without excessive binding.

Grit Dog

Yeah, you're right, you'll get some front axle bind, no doubt. A pain if you're cranking the steering wheel alot. I understand, just sayin' he's not going to damage the truck by backing up his 5th wheel. Now if he's moving the thing frequently, I can see it being very annoying, but cost/benefit ratio of spending the money on hubs just isn't there, IMO.
Oh, and you're never going to damage your driveline putting along on dry pavement in 4 lo. Besides, it's not like it roll in 4lo every time the traffic stops. This just happened to be about 45min for pure agony creeping up to a traffic accident.
Heck my wife drove our '01 Ram about 250 mi in 4 low once. She got a call that we had a baby to adopt....during the snowstorm of the century in Denver and I was working out of town at the time. She Drove most of the way to Grand Junction in 4lo. Through her excitement and anticipation she didn't realize she was still in low range until the roads cleared up and she tried to get up to highway speed. Sold that truck with 120k mi several years later and never touched the drivetrain other than oil changes and new brakes.