Transitioning from 1500 to 2500: Miss 4Auto (AWD)?

AzRamLover · Oct 5, 2017

Almost pulled the trigger on a 2500 this weekend but we were too far apart on my trade (1500). Then, it poured rain this week. I drove exclusively in 4Auto, which the 2500/3500 do not have.

4Auto is great on wet pavement or even dry if you need to hustle across an unprotected left turn. In the 2500/3500, you cannot use 4 Lock on pavement if you want to turn.

For those who've made the 1500 to 2500/3500 switch, do you miss 4Auto?

How do you work around NOT having 4Auto?

NewBlackDak · Oct 5, 2017

Don’t miss it at all. A 2500/3500
Is a big heavy truck, and it naturally makes me take my time. The anti-spin works very well, but can be scary if you get into it too hard on water/ice/snow.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

AzRamLover · Oct 5, 2017

NewBlackDak said:
Don’t miss it at all. A 2500/3500
Is a big heavy truck, and it naturally makes me take my time. The anti-spin works very well, but can be scary if you get into it too hard on water/ice/snow.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is there just that much more weight on the rear axle that you have traction regardless?

I've tried leaving the 1500 (also have anti-spin rear diff) in 2WD and find the rear inside tire chattering at even modest throttle openings when trying to turn into traffic.

6.7CumminsDrvr · Oct 5, 2017

I never yearned for it with either of my CTD’s, IMHO the helical LS in the HD’s worked very well as was very predictable.

What kind of tires r u running? I can launch pretty hard on a turn without breaking to rear loose

Sandbox · Oct 5, 2017

I never used 4 Auto in my 1500. I've never missed it in my 2500.

SouthTexan · Oct 5, 2017

6.7CumminsDrvr said:
I never yearned for it with either of my CTD’s, IMHO the helical LS in the HD’s worked very well as was very predictable.

What kind of tires r u running? I can launch pretty hard on a turn without breaking to rear loose

I agree, even with a deleted Cummins on my daily driven 450rwhp tune the limited slip just catches and goes for the most part. Of course if I push it to the floor then I will just be spinning tires even with the limited slip, but I don't need to in order to get up to speed quickly with that tune.

6.7CumminsDrvr · Oct 5, 2017

Sandbox said:
I never used 4 Auto in my 1500. I've never missed it in my 2500.

Same here. Wish mine didn’t have “auto” but I won’t beat that dead horse

SouthTexan said:
I agree, even with a deleted Cummins on my daily driven 450rwhp tune the limited slip just catches and goes for the most part. Of course if I push it to the floor then I will just be spinning tires even with the limited slip, but I don't need to in order to get up to speed quickly with that tune.

Agreed. I ran a very clean 100 hp tune on my deleted ‘10 (sure do miss that truck, should have held on to her) and the LS worked great, and she would “catch” very well

Had to snap a pic after the ‘ol girl incinerated some heavy Toyo MT’s :favorites13:

AzRamLover · Oct 5, 2017

Cool - this helps a lot with my confidence in making the switch.

If only the DT models would debut sooner so I can figure out which model year to get (or wait for).

Thank you all!

AzRamLover · Oct 5, 2017

6.7CumminsDrvr said:
I never yearned for it with either of my CTD’s, IMHO the helical LS in the HD’s worked very well as was very predictable.

What kind of tires r u running? I can launch pretty hard on a turn without breaking to rear loose

I'm currently running Yokohama Geolandar G015 on the 1500. They've got about 50% tread left and I may replace them soon.

6.7CumminsDrvr · Oct 5, 2017

AzRamLover said:
I'm currently running Yokohama Geolandar G015 on the 1500. They've got about 50% tread left and I may replace them soon.

A little extra go pedal can speed that up for ya

Forcepro · Oct 5, 2017

Sounds more like a tire issue. I have an Outdoorsman 1500 so I don't have the auto 4wd system. The LSD with my 35" tires feel very confident on wet roads.

AzRamLover · Oct 5, 2017

Cool thanks y'all

theviking · Oct 5, 2017

I agree, even with a deleted Cummins on my daily driven 450rwhp tune

Had to snap a pic after the ‘ol girl incinerated some heavy Toyo MT’s

Bunch of show-offs.

6.7CumminsDrvr · Oct 5, 2017

theviking said:
Bunch of show-offs.

Gotta have a little fun every now and then :naughty:

reek · Oct 6, 2017

AzRamLover said:
Almost pulled the trigger on a 2500 this weekend but we were too far apart on my trade (1500). Then, it poured rain this week. I drove exclusively in 4Auto, which the 2500/3500 do not have.

4Auto is great on wet pavement or even dry if you need to hustle across an unprotected left turn. In the 2500/3500, you cannot use 4 Lock on pavement if you want to turn.

For those who've made the 1500 to 2500/3500 switch, do you miss 4Auto?

How do you work around NOT having 4Auto?

I've never had the 4auto option on my 1500 nor my current 2500 so I may not know what I'm missing. but as others have already said, I don't know I need any other 4WD function out of my truck. it sticks pretty good in the wet even with my current OEM tires. having said that, I would imagine stopping and turning on wet pavement is a tire issue while the 4wd function is a go issue.

Jeepwalker · Oct 6, 2017

Wait ....are you driving around on wet pavement all week in 4 auto? If so, why would you need 4wd on paved roads?

I can see if you're driving out in the back 40 checking on cattle on muddy rutted paths, but I can't imagine why a person would need 4wd on wet paved roads.

AzRamLover · Oct 6, 2017

Jeepwalker said:
Wait ....are you driving around on wet pavement all week in 4 auto? If so, why would you need 4wd on paved roads?

I can see if you're driving out in the back 40 checking on cattle on muddy rutted paths, but I can't imagine why a person would need 4wd on wet paved roads.

To be clear, the 4auto function is really clutch based all wheel drive, not 4 wheel drive, since there is differentiation between the front and rear axles.

I find awd to be significantly better than rwd on wet roads due to the ability to more effectively translate engine torque into forward motion.

As others have suggested, maybe I should get a set of new tires to help out in 2wd.

Additionally, the conversations here also seem to indicate that the 2500/3500 rear helical LSD is much better than the 1500 rear clutch pack LSD at helping that power get to the ground on wet roads.

Obviously, YMMV.

MN-Ram · Oct 6, 2017

I had auro on my ‘11 1500. It was nice for when my wife drove my truck in winter. With my ‘15 3500, I just throw 350lbs of sand in the back, and it’ll do just fine in the winter. I use 4x4 less with the HD than with my half-ton.

I just had to show my wife how to engage 4x4. It is easy because I have the turn dial on the dash.

This year I have a Pedal Commander, so I will probably either turn it off, or set it to Eco mode.

AzRamLover · Oct 6, 2017

MN-Ram said:
I had auro on my ‘11 1500. It was nice for when my wife drove my truck in winter. With my ‘15 3500, I just throw 350lbs of sand in the back, and it’ll do just fine in the winter. I use 4x4 less with the HD than with my half-ton.

I just had to show my wife how to engage 4x4. It is easy because I have the turn dial on the dash.

This year I have a Pedal Commander, so I will probably either turn it off, or set it to Eco mode.

Makes sense. Do you see any mileage or other handling penalty with 350 pounds in the back? I would think 350 pounds is probably of no significance to a 2500/3500 but you never know.

MN-Ram · Oct 6, 2017

No difference on the mileage. No noticeable difference in the ride quality either.

Transitioning from 1500 to 2500: Miss 4Auto (AWD)?

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