It was also my first extended period in 4WD.

My first impression is that, given the amout of weight on the front axle, these trucks will find bottom and find traction. I pulled through at least 12 to 16 inches of snow with no problem. I imagine as long as you've got the clearance to find bottom with the tires before you've bottomed out on the frame you'll probably be ok. I'm still 100% stock there.

What I was dissappointed with was at 15 below it was very difficult to engage 4 high and when I finally did, it continually popped out of 4 high back to 2 wheel drive. By the end of the second day of about 4 days spend mostly in 4wd is stopped popping out of 4 high.

Second dissappointment was that no matter how much snow I was going through it seemed to shudder and shake on tight turns in 4wd, just like it would do if I were on a hard road. Is this normal? This is with a quad cab long bed. If I turned the wheel more than about 60% over to full lock it would shudder and shake. No problems going straight, and only a little of the dreaded wheel hop that I've read about on other posts. Wheel hop was more prevalent in 2 wheel drive when there was slippage but rarely in 4wd.

 

The shudder while turning is caused by the u-joints at the end of the axle binding. In your case you're getting good traction, so it'll act like its on dry pavement.

 

I got the wheel hop really badly last week in just 4-5" of snow/ice. I am installing Tuff Country Traction bars this weekend. Hopefully that will cure the problem. Other than the wheel hop, this truck has done great in inclement weather. I think the manual trans has a lot to do with that....

 

Thanks for the confirmation JPR, I was kind of thinking that was the answer. It's amazing how well the front end pulls with all that weight.

Dodgezilla, I'm really happy with the manual trans so far, other than the slight mileage penalty compared with the automatic. The wheel hope hasn't been enough of an issue for me to do anything about yet. We ended up getting about 2.5 feet on wednesday last week up there in Quebec. It was fun to play in but those guys got the roads cleared pretty darned quick.

As far as mileage is concerned, I averaged just under 17 mpg on the highway going from Maryland up to Quebec running around 70 mph with virtually no load. Other than about 300lbs of sandbags in the bed and a couple of suitcases for the trip. This is on a truck with just about 7500 miles on the clock.

 

"What I was dissappointed with was at 15 below it was very difficult to engage 4 high and when I finally did, it continually popped out of 4 high back to 2 wheel drive."

That should not be influenced by temperature. I would be going back to the dealership and have that checked out asap. It should never jump out of 4WD. Missadjusted linkage can cause this.

 

This really surprises me, considering my own experience. I went to Utica, NY last week in my 2006 CTD, had no problems. I got caught in the Northwest blizzard in PA and had to take the back roads til Hwy 81 cleared up. Ice and snow, had it in 4wd, no problems. It was around 7-10 F. On my way back from Utical, it was around -8 F, had it 4wd for a brief period no problems. Also, never experienced any wheel hop.

 

i got a quick question for you all.i got a 06 quadcab 4x4 with a manual transfer case.and sitting a a stop i cant pull it into 4hi but if i start to roll alittle it will pop into 4hi.but on my brothers truck same year and everything he can sit at a stop and be able to pull into 4hi.

so which is normal?
stopped cant pull into 4hi or stopped can pull into 4hi.

thanks
krazykiller

 

I have never had any problem getting mine into 4hi. I think you too have a problem with misadjusted linkage...

 

I always go into 4Hi on a roll (slow or fast), and out of it too. It helps with all 4 wheels are rolling at the same speed.

 

Now check your air filter, when running in deep snow it seems the front wheel will throw snow in the air box. The filter freezes and when that turbo spools up, nothing will stop it, so the air filter gets sucked up into the top of the box lid. That's what happened to mine, I wasn't very happy. If your air filter gauge is pinned in the red, chances are your filter is sucked into the lid.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, I will have that checked. Like I said by the time I left Quebec, it seemed to be working normally, but I'd like to be on the safe side. I'm not really sure if it was temp related or if it just happened to occur on the coldest morning that my truck has seen.