Is there a difference between shift on the fly 4X4 and the one on the floor thats not?

A buddy of mine just bought an 08 Super Duty F-350 (I know, I know, I tried to talk him out of it)

He said the dealer mentioned something about the 4 wheel shifter on the floor is "more true".

Instead of making this thread about Ford and how terrible they are, I would like to know from a 1st or 2nd gen standpoint with Dodge, is there any difference between the little dial I have on my dash and the one on the floor for you "older folks"?

Thanks.

 

By true the dealer just meant it had a lever to engage instead of a know on the dash. Most people just get more reassurance from pulling a lever to engage 4x4 than letting an electric gizmo do it for them.

 

Shift on the fly just means you don't have to climb out to lock hubs.

The **** on the dash electronically engages the transfer case, the one on the floor you manually engage it, both are shift on the fly.

P.S. My shifter is on the floor in both my 02 and 06...I don't like the ****, you can't jerk the **** around if it hangs up. You can release more frustration on a lever than a ****.

 

The electric **** on the dash is an option - I have a 2007 and I chose to have the shifter on the floor - when I pull the lever, I know it is engaged, no guessing as to whether or not an electric switch has failed... less to go wrong. That must be what he meant by "more true". So the difference between your little dial on the dash and my lever on the floor would be electronics. The floor lever is a manual lever that physically shifts the transfer case, while the dial sends an electric signal to achieve the same results.... With the lever on the floor I am still able to "shift on the fly".

 

I had no idea you could engage the one on the floor while you were moving. (this is what I thought shift on the fly meant, that you could shift while moving. Not that it had anything to do with locking the hubs)

I also had no idea it was an option not to have the little dial on the newer ones.

Has anyone ever had a problem with the dial? This place is just full of good info. Thanks.

 

Yes you can shift while driving, 4hi at any speed IIRC, 4lo I can't recall, I think you have to be either at a stop or below 5mph, but if you need 4lo, you're already stuck, or at least not moving.

 

you can grab the handle into 4wd at speeds up to 50mph i believe, but dont do it when spinning or under a bunch of power.

 

I also have the shifter on the floor in my truck. I haven't heard any problems with dodge but I refuse to buy an electronic transfer case after I got stuck in the sand dunes with my 2000 z71 chevy because the electronic switch fried while I was in 4wd and couldn't go back to 2wd to leave. I know it was a known problem with the chevy's though.

 

Ive never seen a floor shifter in a MegaCab. Is it even an option on them?

 

The cast-iron/gear drive NP205 in my heap ('93 1st Gen) is shift on the fly (4HI). I don't know that I've tried above say, . . . 45mph (pucker factor most likely engaged by then ).

The front hubs are manual.








"Dials!? We don'need no stinkin dials!"

 

Yeah, my 07 laramie has the floor shifter.. One less thing to break and if something does break I'm a few steps ahead of the game in trouble shooting.

It's also cool to watch it shake when going through the rough. Gives you a sense of being in control of it.

The push button stuff is great for little old ladies or people with disabilities.

 

I wish I would have known. I remember an old blazer I had. I'd beat the crap out of the shifter to get it into 4wheel drive. It would grind and make all these crazy sounds. I really wish my mega-cab could do it too.

Oh well, when the 2010 model comes out maybe I'll "upgrade".

Thanks for all the info.

 

My 78 Ford is the same way, I can shift in and out of 4hi while moving, as long as my hubs are locked.