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

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Markcuda

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Last week, we went up to Wisconsin for Christmas, my mother had 8 inches of snow on her property.
I had to play, with the new tires and NOT having a 4X4 with this transfer case, I did my best to try and get stuck, I would stop on inclines with fresh snow, the Ram worked flawlessly.
Guys, I truly tried to get stuck and I tried to get the four wheel drive system to falter, I could not do it.
So, I am in the camp that it works for ME, now, a foot of snow could make all the difference in the world, I don't know.
Trust me, I am not new to four wheel drives, a 1979 F250 long bed,4 speed, 351.
A 1978 F250 long bed,4X4,auto,410s and a 400.
A 1996, 1998 and a 2001 Ram 3/4 ton, V10s and a Cummins diesel.
Opps, about for got my 2006 Nissan Frontier 4X4.
 

loveracing1988

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Last week, we went up to Wisconsin for Christmas, my mother had 8 inches of snow on her property.
I had to play, with the new tires and NOT having a 4X4 with this transfer case, I did my best to try and get stuck, I would stop on inclines with fresh snow, the Ram worked flawlessly.
Guys, I truly tried to get stuck and I tried to get the four wheel drive system to falter, I could not do it.
So, I am in the camp that it works for ME, now, a foot of snow could make all the difference in the world, I don't know.
Trust me, I am not new to four wheel drives, a 1979 F250 long bed,4 speed, 351.
A 1978 F250 long bed,4X4,auto,410s and a 400.
A 1996, 1998 and a 2001 Ram 3/4 ton, V10s and a Cummins diesel.
Opps, about for got my 2006 Nissan Frontier 4X4.
Which is fine, if it works for you great. In that much snow if you aren't messing around you won't get stuck or have any problems, I didn't have issues until i hit around 14" of snow and in 18" is where I had it overheating. The kicker is if you would have put it in 4 low you would have struggled to stop the rear tires at idle.

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yillbs

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If by "offroad" you mean drive back and forth to work with the expectations of not spinning out on a freshly dusted road with a truck that is sold as four wheel drive, then no I had no idea it would be as worthless as it was. My wife's Ford Escape out preforms that ram with absolutely no exaggeration. So like I said, be happy you got one that functions properly....for now. But then again you most likely live in Florida or California and just bought a 4x4 for a status symbol.

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User error, sorry :( If your truck is getting stuck with a freshly dusted road, then you're either a liar or just a bad driver. I am in Minnesota with my 2WD Durango, with BALD tires ( want pics ? ) and I can ( and will happily ) take pics of this bald tired 2wd truck climbing a hill with fresh snow, and ICE. There is no way you can't get through fresh powder, that's just illogical.
 

yillbs

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Which is fine, if it works for you great. In that much snow if you aren't messing around you won't get stuck or have any problems, I didn't have issues until i hit around 14" of snow and in 18" is where I had it overheating. The kicker is if you would have put it in 4 low you would have struggled to stop the rear tires at idle.

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you have others saying the truck spins out on fresh powder, so it's not that it's working for "him", it's working for everyone. These drama queens just want something to complain about.
 

yillbs

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Last week, we went up to Wisconsin for Christmas, my mother had 8 inches of snow on her property.
I had to play, with the new tires and NOT having a 4X4 with this transfer case, I did my best to try and get stuck, I would stop on inclines with fresh snow, the Ram worked flawlessly.
Guys, I truly tried to get stuck and I tried to get the four wheel drive system to falter, I could not do it.
So, I am in the camp that it works for ME, now, a foot of snow could make all the difference in the world, I don't know.
Trust me, I am not new to four wheel drives, a 1979 F250 long bed,4 speed, 351.
A 1978 F250 long bed,4X4,auto,410s and a 400.
A 1996, 1998 and a 2001 Ram 3/4 ton, V10s and a Cummins diesel.
Opps, about for got my 2006 Nissan Frontier 4X4.

I've done the same, multiples of times. The system while it might not meet the needs of these warriors that expected lockers on a 1500 from the factory, handles the exact same scenario for you, as it does thousands, upon thousands of other people.
 

loveracing1988

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you have others saying the truck spins out on fresh powder, so it's not that it's working for "him", it's working for everyone. These drama queens just want something to complain about.
I've said it about 100 times now. It isn't that the transfer case doesn't work, it just doesn't work how a transfer case in a truck should, it doesn't work how it is advertised. Ram knew this because if you compare a 2013 manual to a 2014 manual they removed the part where it says in 4 lock it will bind if turning on dry pavement, they removed the part where it said it locks the front and rear axles together. To me that is ram admitting they screwed up but never publicized anything.

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yillbs

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I've said it about 100 times now. It isn't that the transfer case doesn't work, it just doesn't work how a transfer case in a truck should, it doesn't work how it is advertised. Ram knew this because if you compare a 2013 manual to a 2014 manual they removed the part where it says in 4 lock it will bind if turning on dry pavement, they removed the part where it said it locks the front and rear axles together. To me that is ram admitting they screwed up but never publicized anything.

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So it's a disagreement, it works exactly as it should. I haven't gotten stuck, I can't recall anyone that's actually shown any " proof " of being " stuck " other than sitting at idle ******** about something they will never notice. It matters not how many times a person says " ZOMG THIS IS THE END OF THE WORLD I NEED THIS ", fact is, they don't. The case / truck / tranny work PERFECT, as hundreds of thousands of people have attested to. Thanks Dodge!
 

black14sport

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So it's a disagreement, it works exactly as it should. I haven't gotten stuck, I can't recall anyone that's actually shown any " proof " of being " stuck " other than sitting at idle ******** about something they will never notice. It matters not how many times a person says " ZOMG THIS IS THE END OF THE WORLD I NEED THIS ", fact is, they don't. The case / truck / tranny work PERFECT, as hundreds of thousands of people have attested to. Thanks Dodge!
I have a galaxy note 7 that works fine and never catches on fire so the rest of the world is full of liars. That's YOUR logic.

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loveracing1988

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So it's a disagreement, it works exactly as it should. I haven't gotten stuck, I can't recall anyone that's actually shown any " proof " of being " stuck " other than sitting at idle ******** about something they will never notice. It matters not how many times a person says " ZOMG THIS IS THE END OF THE WORLD I NEED THIS ", fact is, they don't. The case / truck / tranny work PERFECT, as hundreds of thousands of people have attested to. Thanks Dodge!

You must have a really thick skull... It works exactly how RAM not DODGE designed it yes. It is not a" misunderstanding" it is false advertising. When you label something as 4 LOCK it should actually LOCK. You have pulled a 180 on here, you started by saying it does lock, now you are saying rams line of operating as designed because now you know it doesn't actually lock. You are thanking ram, but for what? You've had about an hour now, what is any advantage of this transfer case over the GM setup? Both have 4 auto yet the GM version still locks in 4 hi and 4 low. So what are you thinking ram for? By the way, the thick skull comment would be because you apparently do not realize that you are talking to the person​ who is "********" about something I did notice, every single time I put my truck in 4 low in the snow I noticed it because I couldn't stop without the truck burying the rear tires. I also am the one who did get stuck with this transfer case but apparently you missed that the 18 times I've mentioned that in this thread.

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yillbs

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You must have a really thick skull... It works exactly how RAM not DODGE designed it yes. It is not a" misunderstanding" it is false advertising. When you label something as 4 LOCK it should actually LOCK. You have pulled a 180 on here, you started by saying it does lock, now you are saying rams line of operating as designed because now you know it doesn't actually lock. You are thanking ram, but for what? You've had about an hour now, what is any advantage of this transfer case over the GM setup? Both have 4 auto yet the GM version still locks in 4 hi and 4 low. So what are you thinking ram for? By the way, the thick skull comment would be because you apparently do not realize that you are talking to the person who is "********" about something I did notice, every single time I put my truck in 4 low in the snow I noticed it because I couldn't stop without the truck burying the rear tires. I also am the one who did get stuck with this transfer case but apparently you missed that the 18 times I've mentioned that in this thread.

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I haven't done a 180. The only evidence anyone in this thread has shown it dodsn't lock is two people at idle without the tires spinning. I've shown two at idle with them spinning. That's not thick.. that's facts? We already came to the conclusion ( not sure who said it, but i accepted that as acceptable ), as to WHY some might work, and some might not. I left it alone, then some idiot asked where I was, so.. here I am. Did you not see that part of the thread? you're asking about me reading... but it appears you're not....?!?!?

As for you getting stuck, that's extremely disappointing, and i'm sorry that happened. However, you're one of the very, very few that happens to. As i said before, user error, bad tires, exceptional conditions? Take your pick. Nothing you, or anyone can change the fact that the case is working as designed. 4LOCK merely means the axle locks when engaged. This definition can be modified based on who's giving you the definition. I'll spell this out for you guys since you're confused.

4LOCK means it locks the REAR, and FRONT axles , all the wheels spin.. that's EXACTLY what happens when it's engaged. It's a marketing gimmick... 4 lock is 4hi, hell 4lock can be 4 auto, essentially, by definition, ALL 4x4 systems lock in that regard. What the hell is so confusing about that? Because you're using a generalized term of what 4lock means? All that says is you spend WAY to much time reading forums, and less time learning about how they work.
 

loveracing1988

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I haven't done a 180. The only evidence anyone in this thread has shown it dodsn't lock is two people at idle without the tires spinning. I've shown two at idle with them spinning. That's not thick.. that's facts? We already came to the conclusion ( not sure who said it, but i accepted that as acceptable ), as to WHY some might work, and some might not. I left it alone, then some idiot asked where I was, so.. here I am. Did you not see that part of the thread? you're asking about me reading... but it appears you're not....?!?!?

As for you getting stuck, that's extremely disappointing, and i'm sorry that happened. However, you're one of the very, very few that happens to. As i said before, user error, bad tires, exceptional conditions? Take your pick. Nothing you, or anyone can change the fact that the case is working as designed. 4LOCK merely means the axle locks when engaged. This definition can be modified based on who's giving you the definition. I'll spell this out for you guys since you're confused.

4LOCK means it locks the REAR, and FRONT axles , all the wheels spin.. that's EXACTLY what happens when it's engaged. It's a marketing gimmick... 4 lock is 4hi, hell 4lock can be 4 auto, essentially, by definition, ALL 4x4 systems lock in that regard. What the hell is so confusing about that? Because you're using a generalized term of what 4lock means? All that says is you spend WAY to much time reading forums, and less time learning about how they work.
Lock, means it locks the axles together, it doesn't mean it locks when it wants to. It only locks when it sees wheel spin, and lock to me means it is a mechanical lock, not a lock through a clutch that isn't even designed to take the full torque that gets sent to it. If you can power brake and not engage the front axle that is not locking to me. If you have two different trucks with two different transfer cases and both say 4 lock they should operate the same way in 4 lock, they don't. Like I said a while ago, go put your truck in 4 low or 4 lock and take a video turning in a dry parking lot. If you don't have any binding you don't have a lock it is simple as that.

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7777xm

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I've said it about 100 times now. It isn't that the transfer case doesn't work, it just doesn't work how a transfer case in a truck should, it doesn't work how it is advertised. Ram knew this because if you compare a 2013 manual to a 2014 manual they removed the part where it says in 4 lock it will bind if turning on dry pavement, they removed the part where it said it locks the front and rear axles together. To me that is ram admitting they screwed up but never publicized anything.

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It still says it forces front and rear to rotate together.

4WD LOCK Four-Wheel Drive Lock High Range — This range maximizes torque to the front driveshaft, forcing the front and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed.


How should a tcase work in a truck? Back in the days, we had to hop out and lock hubs. Things have changed.

There is no rules out there that says a trucks 4wd system has to operate how you think it does.

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yillbs

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Lock, means it locks the axles together, it doesn't mean it locks when it wants to. It only locks when it sees wheel spin, and lock to me means it is a mechanical lock, not a lock through a clutch that isn't even designed to take the full torque that gets sent to it. If you can power brake and not engage the front axle that is not locking to me. If you have two different trucks with two different transfer cases and both say 4 lock they should operate the same way in 4 lock, they don't. Like I said a while ago, go put your truck in 4 low or 4 lock and take a video turning in a dry parking lot. If you don't have any binding you don't have a lock it is simple as that.

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LOL... two trucks from the different automakers need to do the exact same thing because of verbiage?... you poor thing.

That's not the case, it does EXACTLY what it says it'll do. I'm sorry you don't quite understand that.
 

loveracing1988

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LOL... two trucks from the different automakers need to do the exact same thing because of verbiage?... you poor thing.

That's not the case, it does EXACTLY what it says it'll do. I'm sorry you don't quite understand that.

No, two different trucks from the same manufacturer, not different brands, the exact same brands.
You want to pull that go ahead, but point out where in any ram literature it mentions that the clutch to the front axle will only engage when there is wheel spin. One shred of anything?

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loveracing1988

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It still says it forces front and rear to rotate together.

4WD LOCK Four-Wheel Drive Lock High Range — This range maximizes torque to the front driveshaft, forcing the front and rear wheels to rotate at the same speed.


How should a tcase work in a truck? Back in the days, we had to hop out and lock hubs. Things have changed.

There is no rules out there that says a trucks 4wd system has to operate how you think it does.

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Somewhere in this thread someone with a 2014 pointed out the verbiage had changed from 2013 to 2014, looking it up from 2013 to 2015 they are the same online, but it was shown otherwise on here.

The difference is back in the day and today the transfer case are the same, there just isn't manual hubs anymore which is an improvement because the electronic disconnect in the front axle is on the same level of reliability as the manual hubs. On the other hand not one person has ever pointed out the advantage of this transfer case. Not one.



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yillbs

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No, two different trucks from the same manufacturer, not different brands, the exact same brands.
You want to pull that go ahead, but point out where in any ram literature it mentions that the clutch to the front axle will only engage when there is wheel spin. One shred of anything?

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Again, the only actual evidence of this is two videos of two people idling in 4lo... i showed a video of someone in 4lo with all wheels spinning, two videos in fact. What's your point? Even if that were the case, it's the same as traction control. You already have momentum, so even if it DID wait until wheel spin was seen, that's not inferior by any means, long as you have momentum, then you won't get stuck. That's WHY 4wd systems exist, you should NOT be going into something that requires 4wd without 4wd first being engaged. Your argument is moot, and frankly, makes no sense.

I assure you , the ram 1500 brand ( any of them using the BW44-44 ) will out perform in mud, snow, ice, than any "car" AWD system available, which is what countless people seem to keep calling it. Maybe we could compare it to an AWD Durango, or an AWD 300? This way, we can get some evidence for you warriors to move on?
 
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loveracing1988

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Again, the only actual evidence of this is two videos of two people idling in 4lo... i showed a video of someone in 4lo with all wheels spinning, two videos in fact. What's your point? Even if that were the case, it's the same as traction control. You already have momentum, so even if it DID wait until wheel spin was seen, that's not inferior by any means, long as you have momentum, then you won't get stuck. That's WHY 4wd systems exist, you should NOT be going into something that requires 4wd without 4wd first being engaged. Your argument is moot, and frankly, makes no sense.
Directly from the person who is in charge of the 4wd system it requires wheel spin to work. I've told you how it is negative now one person has to give one single positive of the change, just one positive. Change is generally a good thing, but only when we move forward, not backwards.

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yillbs

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Directly from the person who is in charge of the 4wd system it requires wheel spin to work. I've told you how it is negative now one person has to give one single positive of the change, just one positive. Change is generally a good thing, but only when we move forward, not backwards.

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Where has that been published? If it's been published by FCA, and there is actual evidence they have said this, then i'll happily admit how ignorant I am, and that I was wrong regarding the wheel spin being needed. I can't seem to find it. Could you link us, please?
As for a positive change, the system gives us a 4Auto setting that works wonders with the traction control system. It's considerably faster than any of it's competitors, and it takes the guesswork out of knowing what " gears " you should be in.

Most people using the truck will at most see some nasty winters in the north, nothing more. Thus, the 4auto. Thanks Dodge.
 

loveracing1988

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Where has that been published? If it's been published by FCA, and there is actual evidence they have said this, then i'll happily admit how ignorant I am, and that I was wrong regarding the wheel spin being needed. I can't seem to find it. Could you link us, please?
As for a positive change, the system gives us a 4Auto setting that works wonders with the traction control system. It's considerably faster than any of it's competitors, and it takes the guesswork out of knowing what " gears " you should be in.

Most people using the truck will at most see some nasty winters in the north, nothing more. Thus, the 4auto. Thanks Dodge.
There is no published information, I've said that repeatedly. What I was talking about was the conversation I had over the phone with a man named Don Hughes who was the engineer I had spoken to on 8/14/2014. I can show emails back and forth between me and 3 high ups in Ram talking about this whole thing, and the information was posted here around that time, so if you want that information you can contact ram and speak to him, or just speak to ram customer care, they said the same thing.
You didn't answer my question. Above the old system that 4 auto, above the GM system with 4 auto, provide one advantage over those systems, the advantages of a system adding 4 auto are numerous, the advantages of this particular transfer case over those transfer cases don't exist.
Here is the email that I got from a case manager that halfway explains it.f134ad66b57987ad12c83cd7ffeec3a8.png

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