2018 Ram 1500 - Calling Traction Experts

Hey Guys,

This is my first post, so please forgive me if I'm in the wrong area, or this subject has been discussed 1000 times before. I spent a few days searching and haven't quite been able to reach a firm consensus on this subject.

My hope is that someone here is willing to either answer my questions or link me to a previous thread or documentation. So here goes...

1. How exactly does Traction Control work in concert with the rear LSD on today's Ram?

a) My best guess: The LSD, which is a clutch-type, is your first line of defense against slippage. But when one wheel starts spinning, the TC will brake that wheel to route power away from it.

b) But... if a TC system was sophisticated enough, why would you even need an LSD?

c) Is TC + an E-locker (like on the F150) generally considered a superior system, or is that contested?

2. What do people here typically do when their LSD wears out?

a) Is it advisable (or possible) to put a Torsen or Detroit-style rear diff on a Ram 1500?

b) Any options for the front diff?

** Note: The off-road capabilities I need from my truck are mid-level. Mostly desert, sand dunes, forest trails... No rock crawling or anything that would require full front and rear lockers and disconnecting sway bar. I would of bought a Rubicon for that.

Thanks guys!
-JD

Have a look here, there are some videos too: http://www.ramforum.com/threads/how-does-auto-4wd-work-what-does-it-do.112773/

1) The Ram archieve a similar effect like a LSD applying brake power to the oposite wheel to make the non slipping wheel turn. NewLast series of land Rover Defender use the same system
1.a) No, the TransferCase only chose rear or rear+front wheel drive and may have a low gear set (4x low), it's the ABS system that senses the spinning wheel and apply brake to the spinning wheel
1.b) They do basically the same in a different manner and it's cheaper to produce as the ABS system is already installed
1.c) The best system is: manual TC with lever, locking hubs and lockable front and rear diff
2) they change/repair it
2.a) a 2018 Ram is not a car you need diff locks, you need diff locks if you wanna do hardcore offroad, and a 4th gen Ram is not the right car for that
2.b) I don't know, but you don't need it

The off-road capabilities I need from my truck are mid-level. Mostly desert, sand dunes, forest trails...

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A Ram 1500 is definitively NOT the right car for that, particularly not for sand/desert due his weak transfer case and generally the lack of a robust 4x4 system
I think that there is a special version with a better 4x4 system and another transfer case, but however, a 2500 or another brand will be a better option.
Particularly some European market small size pickups as they have a way higher cargo load and some of them have a good 4x4 system.
Chris

CostaRam said:

Have a look here, there are some videos too: http://www.ramforum.com/threads/how-does-auto-4wd-work-what-does-it-do.112773/
A Ram 1500 is definitively NOT the right car for that, particularly not for sand/desert due his weak transfer case and generally the lack of a robust 4x4 system
I think that there is a special version with a better 4x4 system and another transfer case, but however, a 2500 or another brand will be a better option.
Particularly some European market small size pickups as they have a way higher cargo load and some of them have a good 4x4 system.
Chris

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I agree with this totally. I've had my 14 Sport off into the woods during deer hunting and taken it through some sand and mud in 4 wheel high with good success but I would never consider using it for serious 4 wheeling.

As far as LSD, if I were to order a truck new I'd order it but my 14 Sport was purchased used and it didn't have it. Through last winter and the last couple of weeks of snowfall locally, I really can't tell it's not there as I run in 4 wheel auto during this time of year.

I just recently bought a new 2017 1500. When I was searching inventory, one of the things I wanted was the LSD. In the end, a dealer convinced me that for my limited off-road use, the traction control system would make the LSD somewhat redundant. I have not had a chance to test that theory yet.

Open diff traction control applies braking to 1 wheel to get the one with more grip to grab. Lsd puts power to both wheels and traction control does what it can to keep them both from losing traction. Also under hard acceleration do you want both wheels putting down power or 1 putting down power and the other braking?

Thanks for the info guys, very helpful.

I'm disappointed to hear that you don't think the 1500 is a good off-road truck.

I've been watching a ton of videos on YouTube showing 1500's tackling all kinds of obstacles and generally doing pretty well off-road. Particularly the Rebel, which seems to keep up with the Power Wagon on all but the hardest obstacles where lockers are needed. And from what I understand, the Rebel only really differs from a regular 1500 cosmetically.

The only reason I'm not getting a Rebel is because it's air-ride only, which I view as an unnecessary feature that will get in the way of adding a coil-over lift, and ultimately require extra maintenance.

I'm reading the other thread Costa linked, and see now that the Rebel actually has a different transfer case than the regular 1500!

This really is one of those things you would never be able to figure out at the dealership.

JD Flick said:

Thanks for the info guys, very helpful.

I'm disappointed to hear that you don't think the 1500 is a good off-road truck.

I've been watching a ton of videos on YouTube showing 1500's tackling all kinds of obstacles and generally doing pretty well off-road. Particularly the Rebel, which seems to keep up with the Power Wagon on all but the hardest obstacles where lockers are needed. And from what I understand, the Rebel only really differs from a regular 1500 cosmetically.

The only reason I'm not getting a Rebel is because it's air-ride only, which I view as an unnecessary feature that will get in the way of adding a coil-over lift, and ultimately require extra maintenance.

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Rebel has the 44-45 transfer case, which doesn't have auto because it's a locking case making it a true 4wd. 44-44 would make the Rebel a joke.

This is really good to know, I'm glad I came here before buying.

Has anyone with a 1500 Sport tried to swap out the 44-44 with a 44-55 with any success?

I don't know of anyone who's done it. I've heard it's not easily done as the trucks with the 44-44 are the ones with the auto 4wd and it would throw off the TCS. The 44-45 comes on rebel and most of the lower trim level trucks. If it doesn't have auto 4wd it has the 44-45

JD Flick said:

This is really good to know, I'm glad I came here before buying.

Has anyone with a 1500 Sport tried to swap out the 44-44 with a 44-55 with any success?

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BWL said:

I don't know of anyone who's done it. I've heard it's not easily done as the trucks with the 44-44 are the ones with the auto 4wd and it would throw off the TCS. The 44-45 comes on rebel and most of the lower trim level trucks. If it doesn't have auto 4wd it has the 44-45

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There are a couple on the Z forum. The issue comes down to the shift motor not being able to clock the transfer case shifter and switch back from 4Lo. Somehow it doesn't comunicate it. It will do 2hi to 4hi on alteast the 2014. Newer has some other issues. There was a guy making a kit to rebuild the 44-44 solid without a clutch but had the same issues. Probably has 50 sitting on his shelf waiting for a solution.

There was another post on the diesel forum for the swap but I don't know how much replacing they did, rumor had it you also need to add the sales code to the BCM for it to work. apparently can't be done for the diesel for reasons not explained in detail.

Really makes you just want to go out and buy an atlas and put in a cable shift.

JD Flick said:

2. What do people here typically do when their LSD wears out?

a) Is it advisable (or possible) to put a Torsen or Detroit-style rear diff on a Ram 1500?

b) Any options for the front diff?

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2a) Having not seen the 2018 i'm going to assume its like the rest. It has the ZF 9.25 which means very few carriers that fit that gear set.

i) Yukon duragrip, rummors are mixed but it fits.
ii) auburn makes something too.
iii) buy new axles and gears for a C9.25, and probably a rebuild kit to install a Detroit Trutrac
iv) weld it

b) Zero or a front diff swap. C8" from early 4th Gen doesn't have great options either just more gear ratios.

I heard about the conversion kits being discontinued. Maybe he'll sort out the bugs in the system. Probably want to wait until out of warranty to do it if he does figure it out though. Atlas looks pretty sweet. I'd really like the new Raptor supercrew, but I don't think it would work for my uses.

is it possible to order a 1500 Laramie with the 44-45? Just curious?