4x4 problem Ram 2013+ 8-speed 44-44 transfer case

[baydog]

There isn't one situation out there where it would be better. It takes a truck that should be able to do some sort of mild off roading and castrates it. Some people have issues, some don't, but there were zero issues with the New Venture transfer cases the pre 2013 had.

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Anyone who doesn't think this is a problem with their truck obviously has very little experience with 4 X4 1/2 ton pick ups. This transfer case is a disgrace in all ways. Mine has been apart and completely rebuilt three times, the transmission because of the slipping in the transfer case has been completely rebuilt twice.
I have been running four wheel drive half ton trucks for thirty years guiding fisherman and hunters in Maine. I try not to get in really bad places, but occasionally really need a real 4x4 and end up sideways in a ditch because this stupid transfer case won't send power to the front and rear at the same time. My dealer has gone all out for me making my truck better than it was when new, but nowhere near as good as my 06 Ram with the same options on my 4x4 switch.
My next truck will not include this transfer case, and unless Ram comes around, my next truck wont have a Ram badge on it.

 

[7777xm]

Anyone who doesn't think this is a problem with their truck obviously has very little experience with 4 X4 1/2 ton pick ups. This transfer case is a disgrace in all ways. Mine has been apart and completely rebuilt three times, the transmission because of the slipping in the transfer case has been completely rebuilt twice.
I have been running four wheel drive half ton trucks for thirty years guiding fisherman and hunters in Maine. I try not to get in really bad places, but occasionally really need a real 4x4 and end up sideways in a ditch because this stupid transfer case won't send power to the front and rear at the same time. My dealer has gone all out for me making my truck better than it was when new, but nowhere near as good as my 06 Ram with the same options on my 4x4 switch.
My next truck will not include this transfer case, and unless Ram comes around, my next truck wont have a Ram badge on it.

That's a bold statement. I have, and many others, have had no issues with this t-case and have plenty of 4x4 experience. It's not good to generalize everyone like that.

Mine handles snow, mud, ice, grass, etc just fine. I guess you got a bad one, but that doesn't make everyone else inexperienced.

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[loveracing1988]

That's a bold statement. I have, and many others, have had no issues with this t-case and have plenty of 4x4 experience. It's not good to generalize everyone like that.

Mine handles snow, mud, ice, grass, etc just fine. I guess you got a bad one, but that doesn't make everyone else inexperienced.

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Unless you are making trips up north you don't exactly have a whole lot of experience in snow, which was the entire problem with mine.

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[7777xm]

Unless you are making trips up north you don't exactly have a whole lot of experience in snow, which was the entire problem with mine.

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Again, you judge way to quick.

Ive spent years in Utah, and 6 in Pacific Northwest. I was no stranger to the forestry roads all up and about the mountains year-round. Snow and ice is nothing new to me. Please don't tell me about my experience unless you actually know me.



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[loveracing1988]

Again, you judge way to quick.

Ive spent years in Utah, and 6 in Pacific Northwest. I was no stranger to the forestry roads all up and about the mountains year-round. Snow and ice is nothing new to me. Please don't tell me about my experience unless you actually know me.



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Hence why I said "Unless you have made trips up north".

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[roadshow]

It's not a matter of whether or not most people can't get along just fine with that wannabe 4wd. It's whether or not some people want to buy a 4WD truck that's more like AWD. I certainly don't want to. If it was a car or minivan or one of those little CUV's etc sure, but I wouldn't want an "AWD" truck (or jeep). I'm sure by 2019 when I'm ready for my next truck I'll probabaly be screwed because it's looking like all the manufacturers will have moved to V6 engines with AWD to cater to the bigger majority of truck buyers who aren't really using pickups for working+personal, and will put real 4WD only on the HD level trims.

 

[yillbs]

Fyi Here is what it is supposed to do in 4 low, and 4 lock. According to RAM technicians and customer service

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That one was already posted , it too has an issue. Front tires spin at idle. Maybe not idle idle with 3.9x gears due to torque output to the wheels, but they do spin. The fact we've seen videos of them spinning should be all you need. The ones actually in 4wd can't be the defective ones.

 

[yillbs]

It's not a matter of whether or not most people can't get along just fine with that wannabe 4wd. It's whether or not some people want to buy a 4WD truck that's more like AWD. I certainly don't want to. If it was a car or minivan or one of those little CUV's etc sure, but I wouldn't want an "AWD" truck (or jeep). I'm sure by 2019 when I'm ready for my next truck I'll probabaly be screwed because it's looking like all the manufacturers will have moved to V6 engines with AWD to cater to the bigger majority of truck buyers who aren't really using pickups for working+personal, and will put real 4WD only on the HD level trims.

This is the problem, you're getting bad jnformation. These trucks have 4wd not awd . This is nothing like a car , SUV, etc , not even remotely

 

[yillbs]

Am I reading this thread right, that ALL of the upper trim 1500's use that transfer case and the only way to get the good one is with an Express or a Rebel?

The "good one" is either of them. You're just getting incorrect information from the thread, which is what I was worried about. The guys complaining have malfunctioning transfer cases. The 44-44 locks just as its supposed to, the only difference is the clutches , which for most of these grocery getters works wonders.

 

[black14sport]

The "good one" is either of them. You're just getting incorrect information from the thread, which is what I was worried about. The guys complaining have malfunctioning transfer cases. The 44-44 locks just as its supposed to, the only difference is the clutches , which for most of these grocery getters works wonders.

What do you work for Chrysler? I went to multiple dealerships and made multiple phone calls and every one of them said that's how they are designed to work. Junk design. Never actually locks and no one will stand behind it and there's videos to prove that it fails repeatedly.

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[Hemi395]

What do you work for Chrysler? I went to multiple dealerships and made multiple phone calls and every one of them said that's how they are designed to work. Junk design. Never actually locks and no one will stand behind it and there's videos to prove that it fails repeatedly.

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Lol yup!

 

[yillbs]

What do you work for Chrysler? I went to multiple dealerships and made multiple phone calls and every one of them said that's how they are designed to work. Junk design. Never actually locks and no one will stand behind it and there are videos to prove that it fails repeatedly.

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I do actually, that has nothing to do with my opinion, though. The reason for the clutches are due to the 4wd AUTO feature, it wouldn't be effective ( cost wise ) to add in a chain drive, as well as a clutch setup, so, it uses the clutches for both locking/lo and auto. If you put it in 4LO, and you do not have front wheels moving before slippage of the back, you have a faulty unit.

There are also videos of it showing that it DOES work the way I described. The videos of it working far outweigh those of it not working.

Period.

 

[Hemi395]

That one was already posted , it too has an issue. Front tires spin at idle. Maybe not idle idle with 3.9x gears due to torque output to the wheels, but they do spin. The fact we've seen videos of them spinning should be all you need. The ones actually in 4wd can't be the defective ones.

ONE video you posted showed the fronts spinning at idle. There are many more that show they don't.

Edit: Well that explains everything.

 

[smiley]

How hard would it be to swap the transfer case and the switch? That is what I would do.

 

[Hemi395]

I do actually, that has nothing to do with my opinion, though. The reason for the clutches are due to the 4wd AUTO feature, it wouldn't be effective ( cost wise ) to add in a chain drive, as well as a clutch setup, so, it uses the clutches for both locking/lo and auto. If you put it in 4LO, and you do not have front wheels moving before slippage of the back, you have a faulty unit.

There are also videos of it showing that it DOES work the way I described. The videos of it working far outweigh those of it not working.

Period.

One video vs what, 4? Ok....

 

[Hemi395]

How hard would it be to swap the transfer case and the switch? That is what I would do.

Good question. I would do this in a heartbeat if it were possible. I have a feeling the electronics would be the limiting factor. I couldn't care less about 4 auto. The 44 and 45 are physically the same so they will bolt up...

 

[yillbs]

ONE video you posted showed the fronts spinning at idle. There are much more that show they don't. Seriously, do you work for FCA?

I actually posted 2, and that's because the number of people ( 3 or 4 ) on youtube are doing it wrong. I've also already explained this. There isn't enough torque to move the front wheels at idle unless you're on very very slippery surfaces, such as snow/ice. I strongly encourage someone here to go out to the snow ( none here ), put it at idle, and have someone record the results. you'll need to rev it up a bit, 1800 should do the trick. Once the engine is WARM, plop it down into neutral, push the transfer case neutral button until it lights up. if you do NOT wait until it lights up, it WILL default to 4AUTO, even if the 4lo / lock is blinking or lit up. Once the transfer case is in neutral, push it over to 4LO, give it some gas, no wheel spin needed, then record it.

It sounds to me like the dealers don't know, so they are merely telling you that's how it works. 99% of those eggheads rely on youtube as much as you guys do.

The problem I'm seeing, and it's extremely hard to tell between the two is people complaining because they THINK it works this way, or, people who are going to be unbiased and provide accurate data. The truck doesn't leave you stranded any more than any other truck. THAT is the ultimate data source.

As for videos, I'll refer back to this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiVFBAb5iCk

This is about as useful as you can show with the truck on ice inclines. The 44-44 system works as designed, and yes, the front wheels often move before the black even detects a slip, as designed.

As for me working for Fiat, yes, I do. However, I'm not here in a work capacity or any other capacity, I'm a RAM owner, just like you guys.

 

[smiley]

This is the problem, you're getting bad jnformation. These trucks have 4wd not awd . This is nothing like a car , SUV, etc , not even remotely

It is a lot like the AWD in the cars for FCA in the fact it allows the front to not be engaged unless slipping is sensed. It is a cool idea for gas mileage but fails in real life. Too much delay and ability to go back to 2WD. It is not like AWD in the sense it is not able to "smartly" apply apply traction from the wheel that slips to the wheel that grips.

 

[loveracing1988]

The fact that every single winter this thread pops back up is hilarious. To whoever said that the 44-44 is a good transfer case back down on that dose of medical marijuana. Gm has made a transfer case work just fine with 4 auto and 4 lock since the early 2000's and ram had the New Venture transfer case with 4 auto and lock without issue as well.
If you look through this thread you can read my saga where I made it way up the chain at chrysler and instead of fixing my truck they paid $3300 to pay off my lease, have me a number to get employee pricing on any chrysler product and a free maxcare warranty instead of replacing the transfer case. Which do you think would have been more cost effective if mine was defective as you say? It is designed to disconnect the clutch at idle and back off the pressure to the clutch as the wheel is turned, that is how it is programmed. To say that people like me had defective transfer cases just shows you don't really understand what is going on and you are trying to say "well mine works so yours should to" when you are the one with the unicorn, not us.

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[black14sport]

Good question. I would do this in a heartbeat if it were possible. I have a feeling the electronics would be the limiting factor. I couldn't care less about 4 auto.

I was told its a direct swap and the 4auto switch would just function as 4 hi. Other than voiding the warranty I don't see a downfall. I looked into it but just said screw it and traded it in after the ridiculous answers I received from ram customer service over and over again.

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