4wd Lo

Can someone confirm the procedure to engage 4wd Lo? Shift to neutral then turn the knob to Lo to engage... And shift back into neutral to disengage?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdJ2z3dx520

 

Thanks

 

If you are in pinch it’s all listed on your visor too

 

I found that when my truck was new (or maybe I was just new to the truck) 4LO was a little difficult to engage. Part of the problem might just be doing it on pavement (in general you should avoid, but driving in a straight line to test shouldn't be an issue). Anyhow, if 4LO not engaging after you've done it properly (from neutral), try cocking the wheel to the side a bit and driving forward slowly and it will usually catch.

It's pretty clear when it engages and doesn't (flashing vs not).

I didn't watch the video, but maybe it says all this.

 

Does anyone know how fast you can drive in 4lo? I checked the owners manual and nothing. Just curious more than anything...

 

Watch your RPMs. They'll tell you. Pretty slow, though. Parking lot slow.

 

Well it'll still shift through the gears no?

 

Pretty sure the owners manual does show the max speed in 2wd, 4 hi, and 4 low. Page 208. 107mph in hi(obviously governed), 58mph in low.

 

Really? I am going to have a look once I get off work.

 

I think 30-40 is about all you want to do or you'll be at 5,000 rpm

 

*107mph with the dif lock engaged, 121mph without.

 

I find it better if I shift into 4hi while on the move. Once in 4hi stop, place truck in neutral, or depress clutch all the way to floor, then shift into 4lo. You have about 50/50 odds that the gears will line up and it will effortlessly shift into 4lo. It is not unusual for the truck to have to roll slightly to let the gears in the transfer case to align properly to engage. Usually just letting off the brake pedal will allow the truck to move enough. If not you may have to put it back in gear and move 1-2'. That is also why it is better to shift into 4hi while moving. It is possible to go straight from 2hi to 4lo, but you are asking the transfer case to do 2 things at once. I just have fewer issues doing it in 2 steps.

Getting back to 2hi is the same process in reverse. Stop, shift to neutral then shift the transfer case to 4hi. It is very common to have issues getting out of 4lo with any 4X4. If it doesn't want to make the shift putting it back in gear and driving in reverse 10-15' then forward 10-15' will help. But I've had to do that little dance several times before it would shift. Once in 4hi simply start driving then shift to 2hi on the move. Once again doing it in 2 steps isn't necessarily required. I just find it works better.

If you're driving in double digits speeds you don't need to be in lo range. Around 5 mph is as fast as you need to be going. The point of low range is to be able to drive slowly over rugged terrain without using the brakes.

 

The reason I asked is because I was testing the 4wd Lo and got some grinding, it was an error on my end I assumed it shifted out as soon as I shifted the knob to hi. 4wd hi gave me some difficulties turning the wheel when moving though...

 

That's what I was looking for.

 

Interesting comments. I've always had less issue going in and out of 4L than I have going in and out of 4H

 

If you can feel it in the steering wheel or feel "skipping" when turning you probably should be in two wheel drive. Anyone hooked up a steering wheel button for 4 Hi yet? haha. Personally, I'd prefer having a proper stick for 4wd instead of the button. It feels like another climate control knob.

 

Glad I read this. I haven’t had the opportunity to use 4LO, only 4HI. Good stuff guys.

 

Funny, because in the ram 1500 work truck I have it's a similar situation, and at times I've grabbed the 4x4 knob by mistake.....thankfully not moving!

 

I've put mine in 4 HI once when I thought I was turning the AC fan on. Glad I wasn't going too fast. Damn button should be somewhere else, or a lever by the emergency brake like my old Jeep had.