I'm thinking of switching to a 4x4 auto and I'm just wondering what common problems might be associated with that over my 2wd manual. I've heard of the track bar, what else?

 

Wheel u-joints wear out, 2wd doesn't have them.
Brake rotors on a 4wd are much cheaper than on a 2wd

 

Death woble and the virtual plethora of parts you can throw at the front end to get rid of it....

Then again, if you throw the right parts at it, it won't come back. Been a year and a half since I've had any hint of DW.....

 

Body damage! In a rig this size you either have to know your limitations or they will be pointed out by loud crunching noises!

However if you insist on being able to get anywhere you will invest in a modest lift 4-5" ,35" tires on 17-18" rims, a min 12k winch and winch bumper, rear bumper with recovery points, Auxillary lighting (since you will never get stuck during the day), skid plate everything, locking diffs front and rear, and gearing preferably in the 4.10 range.

That is just to start!

I'm sure others will chime in!


Rick

 

Also in some rigs

that factory vacuum actuator seems to go out.. As mine did and several others have... If you plan to have a 4x4, id say do away with factory actuator and go Posi lock. You will never have to doubt again whether or not your 4wd engages or not....

In my gallery there is a pic, its super easy to install, heck i did it in the dark, no kidding... and its very very reliable.. ive never doubted my 4wd ever again since i got it...

PS reason for getting it, i got stuck.... dad had to yank me out.... Umm.. yeah... hehehehehe

Tx

 

Sure you will get stuck during the "day" as in "5 min before dark"...

 

You got yanked out by your dad????!!!! That is the worst as he will never let you forget EVER! LOL

Rick

 

Good point TX the vaccuume lines to the front end are weak! Check them for holes and cracks.

My 98 had actually worn throught the metal lines from the transmission along the frame rails to the front end.

This made it really hard to switch out of 4x!

Rick

 

My dad has never had to pull me out.

But I have had to yank him out. TWICE

 

I may as well share the story

Since im assuming inquiry minds wanna know.... Well, my truck at home is pretty much "the dumpster" Heck there is roughly 3500 lbs of rock in the bed... Hmmm tug of war anyone? HAHAHAHAHA not... anyways, my mom was throwing branches in the bed of the truck, as she gets into her little cleaning phases here and there, and likes to trim the trees. Being that i had a date the next day and my truck was somewhat clean, i didnt wanna go to the theatre with branches behind the truck.. SO i went to go dump them. Just about 1 mile or so from my house, a new PETCO was being built, and there is a dumpster that i had been using for a while to dump feed bags and so forth, It was muddy out and it had rained a couple of days in a row. THis dumpster had never been an issue before, id just lock it in 4, and drive in. Well it was already as you would guess, about 10:30 at night when i went to do my dumping, i approach the end of concrete, lock in 4wd and start of mud and i drive in... what the???? im not getting anywhere, i reverse, nothing either, then i step out to see my rears are deep in goo.. my new double H boots are covered in mud, and my fronts are sinking in as I stood there. OK i get in and try again and look at my front tires.. NO SPIN... Well @#$#@%^& im sure u can imagine... so i call up my dad.... this was the conversation

Dad?
What?
Im stuck
WHADDAYA mean ur stuck?? where are you??
Throwin ur branches....
Where?
At the dumpster by PETCO
U have chains?
Hold on numbnutz ill go get you out
DOnt ur 4wd work?
Dad if it worked u think id be stuck????


Needless to say he showed up, and with his 2500 chevy 4x4, while on concrete mind u.. just pulled me out, and said.. find a new dumpster, or fix ur 4wd...

Two weeks later... Posi lock kit went in.. never had that problem again..... as for the branches.. well... i found a new home for them as mulch...

There u are guys

Respectfully

Rick

 

Ha... I may as well input a story. It was about a month ago. Me and my buddy decided to take a "drive" on saturday night. So, we take off in my 2wd... We weren't planning on off-roading or anything, but I decided to take a quick spin through some dirt field. I used to go dirt biking around there so I knew the trail pretty well and I didn't remember any soft dirt. But it was a while since I was out there and they're developing real fast around my side of town. Anyway, so we're crusing along. All of a sudden I feel like something is holding the truck back. Next thing I know, the back tires are buried. So there we are about 12:45 am stuck out in a dirt field. We ended up pulling the truck out good 'ole fashioned style. Luckily they were building a house right by where we got stuck so we went over there and grabbed a couple long pieces of flat board. But we still had to walk back home to get a jack and some shovels... Another reason why I want to get a 4wd.

Thanks for all the input though!

 

this is what happened whel i went offroading in my ford at night when i was 18

 

WOW!!! Betcha needed to change your pants after that!!! what kept that thing from rollin the rest of the way over?

 

I just want t correct that 4wd brake rotors are NOT cheaper than 2wd rotors- infact 4wd rotars are substantiall MORE than 2wd rotors and require more labor to replace.

Also- 4wd doesn;t mean you need a lift, fancy tires, lots of aux lights, a heavy rear bumper, or anything except the knowledge of how to drive off road. Bone stock trucks will go places some of you apparently would not believe with good all terraigns and a competant driver. Been there done that. Been places people said That truck can;t go there- been places and done things I couldn;t believe my trucks could do and whenever I was the one saying "you can't get this truck there" my Dad was always kind enough proove me wrong, and teach my how to do it. Always, and I mean ALWAYS in a bond stock truck. 82 K5 blazer (with full running boards), 82 Toyota pickup (had stock tires AND 33x12's at one point), 85 K5 blazer, and my current 96 CTD 2500. All 4x4 and stock!

 

Drew, that's what happens when you get a ford off pavement!!!! Did I mention that Great, Great Uncle Henry really doesn't like me drivin' my DODGE.