Is there ANY "Fix" for these poor Ram Transfer Cases?

kurek said:

To prove it can be done I just went out on a football field and did some very real definitely not fake donuts. Here is a picture.

View attachment 179253

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[emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787] Wait a sec that looks like a Toyota! [emoji848] IMPOSTER!!

kurek said:

Time to get out your action cams and prove something!

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Exactly. Pretty easy to solve. LOL

kurek said:

Time to get out your action cams and prove something!

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Yup, that's what I say Kurek...
I've tried it on EVERYTHING including glare ice and that back end ain't coming around for nothing. On ice, even a 4 banger would have enough HP to do whatever you want. HP is not the issue.

I've driven autocross many times and I know how to intentionally drift a car on dry pavement when necessary, but it's not gonna happen in a 4WD Ram with ESC on, and that's not going to happen in 4WD mode either (like my truck has to be in to get ESC to turn off by holding the TC button...).

That's why I stand by my statement; Prove It!

50BMG said:

Prove it.... No way with ESC on that can happen... Zero.
TC off will let them spin, but the truck ain't going sideways...
You so full of "it", you're buoyant.

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Go on any of the high performance ram facebook pages and you'll see somebody doing donuts ,lol. Anybody making decent power will be able to do a donut.My truck puts down 500 rwhp,and has no problem doing donuts ,in fact I've had it get a bit farther around at times then I've wanted if i'm not careful,lol.

Even Stacey David was doing donuts in one a few years back check out Drag-n Wagon Payoff/Setting up shop at around the 5:00'ish mark,lol.

https://staceydavid.com/projects/drag-n-wagon#row6

That Drag N Wagon (which BTW is an old CB handle for a Tow Truck) is a 2WD truck, which I am guessing, when the TC & ESP is off, it actually goes "off", and being 2wd, donuts are doable. Hell, that low-buck 2011 Express may not even have ESP/TC in it??? My 2005 didnt have it, or the newer/crappy transfer case either.

For a 4X4 truck (like mine), the ESP can only be turned off when the truck is in a 4WD mode (Auto, High or Low), which anyone can figure out is NOT conducive to doing donuts, no mater what kind of HP you are making. If you turn off the ESP by the normal means and put the truck back in 2wd, the ESP turns back on. With the ESP on, the truck WILL NOT come around. You could add all the HP you want, blower, nitrous, ect...
As HW Bush would say; "not gonna do it".
Pulling or adding a switch to the ABS fuse to deactivate the ESP while the truck is in 2WD mode may be the only way to donut a newer 4X4.

50BMG said:

That Drag N Wagon (which BTW is an old CB handle for a Tow Truck) is a 2WD truck, which I am guessing, when the TC & ESP is off, it actually goes "off", and being 2wd, donuts are doable. Hell, that low-buck 2011 Express may not even have ESP/TC in it??? My 2005 didnt have it, or the newer/crappy transfer case either.

For a 4X4 truck (like mine), the ESP can only be turned off when the truck is in a 4WD mode (Auto, High or Low), which anyone can figure out is NOT conducive to doing donuts, no mater what kind of HP you are making. If you turn off the ESP by the normal means and put the truck back in 2wd, the ESP turns back on. With the ESP on, the truck WILL NOT come around. You could add all the HP you want, blower, nitrous, ect...
As HW Bush would say; "not gonna do it".
Pulling or adding a switch to the ABS fuse to deactivate the ESP while the truck is in 2WD mode may be the only way to donut a newer 4X4.

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You said "tow truck" and "mater" in the same post...nice work!

Other than that, I have nothing constructive to add to this thread.

TXCOMT

TXCOMT said:

You said "tow truck" and "mater" in the same post...nice work!

Other than that, I have nothing constructive to add to this thread.

TXCOMT

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[emoji23] How did I not notice that!!!

He also said, "the ESP can only be turned off when the truck is in a 4WD mode (Auto, High or Low)"

ESP cn only be turned off in 4WD Low

John Jensen said:

He also said, "the ESP can only be turned off when the truck is in a 4WD mode (Auto, High or Low)"

ESP cn only be turned off in 4WD Low

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Hmmm,
I didn't try any donuts because I was in 4wd Auto mode, but I know I saw the "ESP OFF" appear on the dash display when I did the hold the TC button and dance an Irish Jig thing that you have to do to get it to turn off... That's how I also know going back to 2WD mode turns ESP (and TC) back on.

Is ESP not off in 4wd Auto and Lock modes in reality?

Dash Pic; note truck is in 4WD Auto mode:
(OK, so the flippin pic isn't showing up now. Here's the photobucket link):
https://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l528/PJS50BMG/ESC Off_zps1zxwhsnj.jpg

Haas said:

So, I have been leaning toward the Big Horn trim, does that mean automatically it will have the crappier transfer case, or do I still need to look for that "auto" button? Also, does this transfer case operate like that any time 4WD is engaged, or only when you're in "auto" mode?

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I have a Big Horn with the 44-45.

BriamH said:

I have a Big Horn with the 44-45.

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Interesting, considering the 44-44 was supposed to be the standard transfer case option for the BigHorn.
Then again there are some Outdoorsman that were built with the 44-44 where as the 44-45 is the standard transfer case option for that package.

50BMG said:

Hmmm,
I didn't try any donuts because I was in 4wd Auto mode, but I know I saw the "ESP OFF" appear on the dash display when I did the hold the TC button and dance an Irish Jig thing that you have to do to get it to turn off... That's how I also know going back to 2WD mode turns ESP (and TC) back on.

Is ESP not off in 4wd Auto and Lock modes in reality?

Dash Pic; note truck is in 4WD Auto mode:
(OK, so the flippin pic isn't showing up now. Here's the photobucket link):
https://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l528/PJS50BMG/ESC Off_zps1zxwhsnj.jpg

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Wow! That blows me away - can't argue with what you show. Here's what FCA says, are they wrong?

Traction Control System (TCS)
The TCS monitors the amount of wheel spin of each of the driven wheels. If wheel spin is detected, brake pressure is applied to the slipping wheel(s), and engine power is reduced to provide enhanced acceleration and stability. A feature of the TCS functions similarly to a limited-slip differential and controls the wheel spin across a driven axle. If one wheel on a driven axle is spinning faster than the other, the system will apply the brake of the spinning wheel. This will allow more engine torque to be applied to the wheel that is not spinning. This feature remains active even if TCS and ESC are in the “Partial Off” mode. This brake pressure modulation transfers drive torque from slipping to non-slipping wheels to provide optimal forward traction.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
The ESC system enhances directional control and stability of the vehicle under various driving conditions. ESC corrects for oversteering or understeering of the vehicle by applying the brake of the appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting the oversteer or understeer condition. Engine power may also be reduced to help the vehicle maintain the desired path. ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to determine the vehicle path intended by the driver and compares it to the actual path of the vehicle. When the actual path does not match the intended path, ESC applies the brake of the appropriate wheel to assist in counteracting the oversteer or
understeer condition.
• Oversteer - when the vehicle is turning more than appropriate for the steering wheel position.
• Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than appropriate for the steering wheel position.

All Ram Two-Wheel Drive Vehicles And Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles In 2WD, 4WD AUTO, Or 4WD LOCK Modes Can Choose The following ESC Operating Modes:

ESC On
This is the normal operating mode for ESC in 2WD/4WD AUTO/4WD LOCK modes and in 2WD vehicles. This mode should be used for almost all driving situations. ESC should only be turned to “Partial Off” or “ESC Off” for specific reasons as noted below.

ESC Partial Off
This mode is entered by momentarily pressing the “ESC Off” switch. When in Partial Off mode, the TCS portion of ESC, except for the “limited slip” feature described in the TCS section, has been disabled and the "ESC Off Indicator Light" will be illuminated. All other stability features of ESC function normally. This mode is intended to be used if the vehicle is in deep snow, sand, or gravel conditions and more wheel spin than TCS would normally allow is required to gain traction. To turn ESC on again, momentarily press the “ESC Off” switch. This will restore the normal “ESC On” mode of operation.

This Is the ESC operating mode in 4WD LOW:

ESC Full Off
This mode is intended for off-road use when ESC stability features could inhibit vehicle maneuverability due to trail conditions. This mode is entered by pressing and holding the “ESC Off” switch for five seconds WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED and the engine is running. After five seconds, the “ESC Off Indicator Light” will illuminate and the “ESC Off” message will appear in the odometer. ESC and TCS except for the “limited slip” feature described in the TCS section are turned off until the vehicle reaches a speed of 40 mph (64 km/h). At 40 mph (64 km/h) the system returns to “Partial Off” mode.
Note: “ESC Off” switch is their term for the truck's Traction Control switch

I hear ya John... I read my manual and if says the same thing.
I was REALLY hoping the flippin' ESC would have stayed off when I popped it back into 2WD mode though...
;-(
It looks like even TC turns back on when you put it back into 2WD (you can turn TC back off again in 2WD mode though, but it does not effect ESC like normal...

I plan on getting new skins before the snow flies here in MI (that an hopefully the Eibach shocks/springs lift kit at the same time).
I'm gonna pull that ABS fuse and smoke the crap out of those old Goodyears before I do all of that though... I'll set up a camera...

50BMG said:

I hear ya John... I read my manual and if says the same thing.
I was REALLY hoping the flippin' ESC would have stayed off when I popped it back into 2WD mode though...
;-(
It looks like even TC turns back on when you put it back into 2WD (you can turn TC back off again in 2WD mode though, but it does not effect ESC like normal...

I plan on getting new skins before the snow flies here in MI (that an hopefully the Eibach shocks/springs lift kit at the same time).
I'm gonna pull that ABS fuse and smoke the crap out of those old Goodyears before I do all of that though... I'll set up a camera...

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Better share some pictures. [emoji23]

Well gave my transfercase a little workout today, Brandons switch worked good.
Got a bit of rain today one of our cornfields has clay on one end and it got quite greasy the loaded wagons of silage wouldn't stay behind the chopper so had to quite chopping corn, walked out across it and it was hard to stand and walk it was so slick. Ended up going back out with the pickup an hour later and had to go down a slope and turn uphill halfway down with Brandons switch engaged as I idled down the hill then turned up I could feel the front end working and we just walked right up with almost no slipage or spinning the truck just walked along like it should have. Without that switch when I went to turn up that slick hill it would have lost traction and spun and just made a mess, once you loose traction on that stuff it's hard to get it back.

So Brandon thanks for the switch kit, good work.
Lou

I got Brandons switch a week or more ago... Just haven't had a chance to put it in... I should do it one day at work during lunch...
Where did you guys mount your switch? I'm thinking of using one of the useless roughly 2" X 3" cubby-holes in my dash face (the one right next to the climate control & front/rear proximity sensor switches, etc...). The holes are about the right size to hold a pistol mag, but that location is too visible to keep one in there when the vehicle is unattended. I guess it depends on how hard it's going to be to get the wire up into the back of the hole behind the dash.
I thought I'd make an arruminum face to cover the hole and mount the switch into that...

I put mine in the concole, right by your knee there's a panel by the magazine holder that pops out. Super easy to drill and route to it.

I put mine in the plastic skirt under the radio next to the floor. Mounted just to the right of the "gas" pedal where the skirt curves under the dash. Mainly because it was easy routing there and I didn't want it to be obvious.

LouM said:

Well gave my transfercase a little workout today, Brandons switch worked good.
Got a bit of rain today one of our cornfields has clay on one end and it got quite greasy the loaded wagons of silage wouldn't stay behind the chopper so had to quite chopping corn, walked out across it and it was hard to stand and walk it was so slick. Ended up going back out with the pickup an hour later and had to go down a slope and turn uphill halfway down with Brandons switch engaged as I idled down the hill then turned up I could feel the front end working and we just walked right up with almost no slipage or spinning the truck just walked along like it should have. Without that switch when I went to turn up that slick hill it would have lost traction and spun and just made a mess, once you loose traction on that stuff it's hard to get it back.

So Brandon thanks for the switch kit, good work.
Lou

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Thanks Lou. Glad you like it!

I should have said I don't have a console, that's why I mounted where I did. Here are pics: