4WD High backing up

[1500Hoosier]

I have a 2021 Ram Big Horn. When I have the transmission set to 4WD High it feels likes the brakes are being applied when backing up. I went to a vacant lot, stopped my truck and then put the transmission in reverse and started to back up, in just a second or two I could feel the truck kind of strain to continue the reversed speed. If I take my foot off the gas the truck comes to a stop. I switch to 4WD Auto this does not happen. If I'm backing up in 4WD High and turn my steering wheel it sounds like the tires are gripping the pavement and then releasing in an on and off pattern. Again, only happens in 4WD High?
Appreciate your advice in advance.
Jim

 

[RamDiver]

That sounds kind of fascinating but not too great for your truck.

Is your seatbelt on, the door closed and you're not using 4WD on the pavement?

.

 

[Wild one]

I have a 2021 Ram Big Horn. When I have the transmission set to 4WD High it feels likes the brakes are being applied when backing up. I went to a vacant lot, stopped my truck and then put the transmission in reverse and started to back up, in just a second or two I could feel the truck kind of strain to continue the reversed speed. If I take my foot off the gas the truck comes to a stop. I switch to 4WD Auto this does not happen. If I'm backing up in 4WD High and turn my steering wheel it sounds like the tires are gripping the pavement and then releasing in an on and off pattern. Again, only happens in 4WD High?
Appreciate your advice in advance.
Jim

Truck operates like a 2 wheel drive in 4 auto,until it senses tire slip,it doesn't have that option in 4 hi,so it acts more like a 4X4.Hopefully you aren't doing this on dry pavement,as you can damage things if you are.
As RamDiver stated seatbelt on/door closed when in gear,otherwise the truck will want to go into meltdown mode on you,lol

 

[1500Hoosier]

I am on pavement. I had to use 4WD High two weeks ago in Colorado because of snow. I don't go "4 wheeling", never go off road.

 

[RamDiver]

I am on pavement. I had to use 4WD High two weeks ago in Colorado because of snow. I don't go "4 wheeling", never go off road.

That's what Auto is designed for.

If you use 4WD under those conditions and the front is hopping, that is causing severe driveline torsion and is apt to trash your transfer case and a few other driveline components.

.

 

[1500Hoosier]

Well, I feel like a BOOB... I'm reading on line that you should only use 4WD High should only be used on icy or wet conditions and NEVER on dry pavement. I left Colorado last week, it was raining and turned to ice, I lost traction and went sideways on the highway. I turned on 4WD for about 30 minutes. I'm reading that I should have the truck in 2WD most of the time. If it starts to rain or snow switch to 4WD Auto. Use 4WD high only off road or in slippery conditions under 35 MPH.

 

[turkeybird56]

That's what Auto is designed for.

If you use 4WD under those conditions and the front is hopping, that is causing severe driveline torsion and is apt to trash your transfer case and a few other driveline components.

.

^^^ DITTO ^^^.. Will hop, bind, do all sorts of weird stuff on dry pavement. Why "I" exercise my 4WD once every couple of months about 100 feet total straight line. If U r backing up and it is totally binding and just comes to a stop, and U R only going a "short", I mean "SHORT" distance, then something not right. But if U backing and turning, yeah it will bind hard and almost stop. When it has rained a lot, I use 4WD high to put trailer in garage, but trailer is only 50-100 feet from garage. But that is just my circumstances, and terraced land that holds water, and my truck will just spin in 2WD trying to push a 2,150 lb trailer down than up a slight embankment.

 

[turkeybird56]

Well, I feel like a BOOB... I'm reading on line that you should only use 4WD High should only be used on icy or wet conditions and NEVER on dry pavement. I left Colorado last week, it was raining and turned to ice, I lost traction and went sideways on the highway. I turned on 4WD for about 30 minutes. I'm reading that I should have the truck in 2WD most of the time. If it starts to rain or snow switch to 4WD Auto. Use 4WD high only off road or in slippery conditions under 35 MPH.

YUP. The 1500's do not have mechanical clutches, they have electric operated clutch packs, totally different animal from old time 4WD systems.

ADDED: Unless U just moving a few feet to check operation occasionally, stay outta 4WD unless conditions really dictate. And gonna state the obvious 4WD does nothing for stopping on ice, just helps U to get Forward momentum. But U still got a 6,000 lb brick sliding on ice, lol.

All above IMHO only.

 

[turkeybird56]

Well, I feel like a BOOB... I'm reading on line that you should only use 4WD High should only be used on icy or wet conditions and NEVER on dry pavement. I left Colorado last week, it was raining and turned to ice, I lost traction and went sideways on the highway. I turned on 4WD for about 30 minutes. I'm reading that I should have the truck in 2WD most of the time. If it starts to rain or snow switch to 4WD Auto. Use 4WD high only off road or in slippery conditions under 35 MPH.

There is no speed limit for 4WD High (Unless there was some change to the trannys beyond my 5th Gen 2019). But if the conditions are that bad that U R operating on a highway in 4WD HI, not think I would be in a hurry. (BEEN a while since I drove in snow/ice except for the freak snowstorm here in Feb 2021). There is for 4WD low, unless U got something different for 2021. Depending upon your vehicle, U have either a 48-11 or 48-12 BW transfer case.

4WD LOW
Four-Wheel Drive Low Range — This range provides low
speed four-wheel drive. It maximizes torque (increased
torque over 4WD HIGH) to the front driveshaft; allowing
front and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed. This
range provides additional traction and maximum pulling
power for loose, slippery road surfaces only. Do not exceed
25 mph (40 km/h) in this range.

 

[RamDiver]

Well, I feel like a BOOB... I'm reading on line that you should only use 4WD High should only be used on icy or wet conditions and NEVER on dry pavement. I left Colorado last week, it was raining and turned to ice, I lost traction and went sideways on the highway. I turned on 4WD for about 30 minutes. I'm reading that I should have the truck in 2WD most of the time. If it starts to rain or snow switch to 4WD Auto. Use 4WD high only off road or in slippery conditions under 35 MPH.

It's just something we all had to learn.

I live in a rural area where they don't plow too soon after big snow dumps. I don't have the 4WD Auto feature on my truck but won't hesitate to drive at 50-60 mph on the highway in 4WD with 6-8" of snow.

If the roadway has been plowed and does have a small amount of traction, sometimes the only solution is to SLOW down.

If you have the 4WD Auto feature, you're much better off but again, if you have it in Auto and you're occasionally losing traction, the obvious solution is to slow down a bit.

If you're travelling in a straight line, sometimes you can get away with 4WD during intermittent traction conditions but anything more than an ever-so-slight curve might cause driveline torsion and stress parts.

You will learn to recognize the feeling of the steering being loaded in curves, especially while backing up and know that it's time for Auto 4WD or 2WD and a slower rate of travel.

.

 

[turkeybird56]

It's just something we all had to learn.

I live in a rural area where they don't plow too soon after big snow dumps. I don't have the 4WD Auto feature on my truck but won't hesitate to drive at 50-60 mph on the highway in 4WD with 6-8" of snow.

If the roadway has been plowed and does have a small amount of traction, sometimes the only solution is to SLOW down.

If you have the 4WD Auto feature, you're much better off but again, if you have it in Auto and you're occasionally losing traction, the obvious solution is to slow down a bit.

If you're travelling in a straight line, sometimes you can get away with 4WD during intermittent traction conditions but anything more than an ever-so-slight curve might cause driveline torsion and stress parts.

You will learn to recognize the feeling of the steering being loaded in curves, especially while backing up and know that it's time for Auto 4WD or 2WD and a slower rate of travel.

.

Middle of Texas. Sir, wat's a plow???????

My snow blower:

 

[Jwhalen123]

Curious about this as well. I recently was putting my boat away for the winter (3200lbs total weight). I was backing up a a dirt driveway with a light to medium incline in 4WD, I have 21 3.6L etorque. Tires were spinning a little in 2WD which is why I stopped and put it in 4WD (HI). The truck was on a flat part and the boat was on the incline. I as proceeded to back up, the truck was having a hard time getting the boat up the incline. At one point, I believe maybe half the truck was on the incline at this point, there was zero power going to the wheels. I had the pedal to the floor and nothing was happening. The engine was not reving, no alarms, nothing. Zero power. I left of the gas, switched to drive and went down the incline a little, stopped, put it back in reverse (still in 4WD HI), and proceeded to back up again with a little more “momentum”. This time it went up with no problems. The trailer does have surge brakes but they are in operable right now (no fluid in the reservoir) and I have not had any resistance any other time backing it or any other trailer up. Seems the only time I have issues backing up, is when there is an incline. Which is tough to avoid over here in Vermont. That was the first time the truck totally lost power on me but I’ve experienced the resistance before when backing up inclines with a variety of different trailers.

 

[crash68]

I recently was putting my boat away for the winter (32000lbs total weight).

32,000 lbs could be a problem... LOL (guessing that's a typo)

The trailer does have surge brakes but they are in operable right now (no fluid in the reservoir)

Use Free-Backing type Surge brakes when you rebuild the brakes, they don't require a reverse lock out solenoid.

Unless the loss of power is repeatable it's going to be difficult to troubleshoot.

 

[Jwhalen123]

32,000 lbs could be a problem... LOL (guessing that's a typo)

Use Free-Backing type Surge brakes when you rebuild the brakes, they don't require a reverse lock out solenoid.

Unless the loss of power is repeatable it's going to be difficult to troubleshoot.

Haha, yep, definitely a typo. Good to know about the trailer brakes. They’re on my list of to do’s come spring.

I’ve been able to replicate the power loss on different hills with different loads, this is the first time it went into what I can only assume is a limp mode and stop producing power all together. I was originally chalking it up to the lack luster rear axle/3.6L combo found in the big horns but some folks in other forums have mentioned it could be a potential traction control issue. They’ve said that since the traction control is still on it could be kicking in and causing that issue. Next time I’m backing up that hill I’m going to kill the traction control and see if it still happens.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Okay... here's my Canuck ignorance coming to the table...

I've a new 23' Warlock, HEMI with 3.92 gearing.....

I only have 2WD, 4WD High, and 4WD Low to select from (no AUTO Mode) on the little push button thingy on my dash...

I'm always one to STOP and select 4WD high or low when needed, OR, when on the road and needing 4WD, I take my foot off the pedal under 100km/h and select 4WD High and let it slip in, and then accelerate... again, ONLY when needed!

Can the Crew here assist me in making (recommended, and NOT holding anyone accountable....!!!) determinations as to when and how to use my 4WD High system properly when at road/highway speeds so I don't grenade it in the future?

I love going in 4WD High in the winter and doing some fun parking lot power slides and working my Blizzak DM-V2's.. and so does my daughter... she squeals with excitement when we power slide and launch....

But, on the highways when I actually need 4WD High, pls help me understand when and how to use this system in the winter/slippery months so I don't destroy it.

Caveat: I don't use 4WD High on dry pavement... (okay..one time thus far...lol.. as I used it to launch off a line in the summer when an Audi wanted to go me... but it was a VERY short pull, and I actually managed to kill it off the line...lol, and then lifted and put it back into 2WD before stopping at the next light) - but I need it when I'm in the Ottawa Valley and/or Quebec in the winter as the roads there are severe to say the least, and 2WD just doesn't cut it for safety and traction ability.

 

[olyelr]

You can absolutely drive in 4wd on the highway, especially with snow covered roads. Isnt gonna hurt a thing.