Anyone HAPPY with Borg Warner 44-44 / Auto 4WD

[Murphy Slaw]

As the OP I have to admit this is concerning me.

I live in Illinois, and we DO have 14" snows from time to time, freeze/thaw mud, and I own land without roads, and hunt a little, and etc.

So my only choice now, if I want a Ram, are the lower trim levels, or a $55,000 + Rebel with air suspension and red seats if I decide against the 44-44.

Curious why they wouldn't offer you a choice on a Sport, Bighorn or Laramie. This is becoming a dilemma on my next purchase, that's why I wanted to know how many people were actually perfectly happy with theirs.

I guess actual failures have only been one poster so far, the guy with the boat, and a lot of people are perfectly happy with theirs including a guy from Alaska!

I will keep following this thread before making my purchase, for sure....

 

[baydog]

You had your brakes on and the rear wheels were spinning?

Yup, brake firmly on the floor. Opened the door for service manager to see, both rear wheels(limited slip) spinning freely.

 

[baydog]

Curious, you're putting the break on and trying to get your front wheels to spin? You're story makes zero sense. Soon as you put it into any of the 4x4 modes and have it gas it would have performed. You're saying you purchased it, then purposely got it stuck as if you knew it sucked. If that's the case.... why buy it, extremely failed logic. You shouldn't be going into a 4x4 situation without 4x4 first engaged. It sounds to me like you're just whining because you need some attention.

I got it stuck after the dealer had rebuilt the transfer case, owned the truck awhile before this. I had it in 4 low before going into snow. had the brake on to try to stop the rears from spinning. If you don't like it, or are not interested in real world reports, please move on. I am a professional Maine guide working in very remote places relying on a 4x4 truck for my living. I had wonderful luck with an 95 Dodge, a 2000 Dodge, and an 06 Dodge. I had no reason to believe the 12 would have a piece of crap transfer case.

 

[ColdCase]

So my only choice now, if I want a Ram, are the lower trim levels, or a $55,000 + Rebel with air suspension and red seats if I decide against the 44-44.

...

or a 2500 -3500, I think, at least for this year.

 

[yillbs]

Since you don't live where there is ice on the roads many months of the year I will explain my side. The worst thing on ice is to slam on the brakes even a brake check can be fatal. The second worse thing is to start slipping on acceleration while at speed especially if only the rear is powered. That time it takes to move the power from rear only to front is terrible ok ice. By the time it catches up the damage is done you are fish tailing and the rest is a combo of experience and luck sometimes one more than the other. This reason is why I don't even use auto most of the time on my NVG transfer case. Locked in with power to front and rear is best for ice and as many have learned snow and mud too.

No offense to you but to say it can do it all when you have rain and sunshine most of the time is pretty limited.

In MN the 4wd is used a lot and not just to find off-road fun or something like that. Often times just to get to work. Also we ice fish and chances are good there is going to be some deep snow days with ice under the snow the 44-44 is not the setup to power through that either. This system belongs in a SUV or car at best case. I would actually prefer it not be offered at all when the ones like my "old" Ram has add more capable anyway.

All to save a very small amount of fuel.

I have a jouse in Michigan, our little summer time get away,but we go during the winter too, I'm well aware of driving in the ice / snow. Admittingly, not nearly as much as most of the people living north.your points are very much valid though.

Is it safe to assume you dislike the tcase because of the clutch system and its inhibitory to lock up, and not the fact that the system sucks because it can't perform? Would that be a good assessment ?

 

[ColdCase]

Out of curiosity , how would you rather it work? You shouldn't be going into a situation knowing you'll need four wheel drive without it engaged. If you are, then you need to go buy a civic or something, wouldn't you think?

The rub with the 44 is that its not really in 4WD when you engage it. It does its own thing, staying in 2WD when at a stop regardless of where the mode switch is set.

I'd rather it works like my Jeep Grand Cherokee. Switch to snow mode, it locks up at zero speed, before any wheel spin. Put it in 4WD low, its locked. It also has an auto mode for everyday driving that is similar to the 44 where the front gets very little power until wheel spin is detected or you stab the throttle. There is always power transferred to the front axle, but the clutch is set to allow for some slip.

Sounds like if FCA wanted to address the issue, they could add a traction control module or mode options to the RAM that provides a similar function. Unless the 44 can't handle it. The Jeep uses the same MP2023 transfer case as those in the Cheby light trucks, which may have a more robust clutch pack.

 

[Hemi395]

This could be somewhat remedied with a simple software update. Instead of having the clutch disengage when the throttle is let off, keep it engaged while in 4Lock and 4Low. It would still be relying on a clutch but it would be much less likely slip if it was already engaged...

 

[smiley]

Lock implies locking too which it isn't doing!

 

[Hemi395]

Lock implies locking too which it isn't doing!

Completely agree.

 

[Csanders1992]

Lock implies locking too which it isn't doing!

I don't know that it doesn't lock. I think it tries to but clutches slip


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[Gump]

FCA wants you to buy a Power Wagon if you want off road performance.

 

[smiley]

I don't know that it doesn't lock. I think it tries to but clutches slip


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Because it isn't "locked" like a normal one. It is allowed choice which it can't possibly know the surface like a human. Locked means locked not sort of locked haha!

 

[baydog]

Because it isn't "locked" like a normal one. It is allowed choice which it can't possibly know the surface like a human. Locked means locked not sort of locked haha!

Then they unlock as soon as possible causing the same problems the next time throttle is applied and wheel slip is sensed.

 

[Q68]

I will say, my 44-44 has performed great in deep snow. However I have AT tires so there wasn't a whole lot of wheel spin.

But with that said, I do have beaches around me that you can drive out on. I just don't trust the 44-44 not to leave me stranded out on the beach because it overheated due to all the clutch engagement.

Guess it's for the better really. Driving out on the beach is a surefire way to rot the truck out prematurely...

Not sure how the beaches are on the Cape vs. the Outer Banks of NC, but I can say I drove my '15 all over the Corolla, NC beaches in 4-Lock with absolutely no issues. I also plow a couple of driveways with it, which does expose the performance of the t-case somewhat. Last winter with the stock Goodyears, I found that if I had a blade full of snow and had to stop for traffic before pushing it across the road, I'd get stuck trying to get it moving again. Easy to deal with, just back up, get a running start, and reposition so I only hit about 1/2 the pile. This year I have a set of Toyo Observe GSI-5 on it, and for the one small storm we had I had zero issues plowing.

As for 4-Auto, it works fine on-road in wet & snowy conditions. Never use it when dry and rarely when wet, typically only if I know I need strong acceleration from a stop or low speed.

 

[SyN]

Q: During all of these situations did you have the Traction Control enabled?

I have heard rumors of the TC in many instances affecting the way L/S as well as the BW44-44 performed.

 

[Hemi395]

Not sure how the beaches are on the Cape vs. the Outer Banks of NC, but I can say I drove my '15 all over the Corolla, NC beaches in 4-Lock with absolutely no issues. I also plow a couple of driveways with it, which does expose the performance of the t-case somewhat. Last winter with the stock Goodyears, I found that if I had a blade full of snow and had to stop for traffic before pushing it across the road, I'd get stuck trying to get it moving again. Easy to deal with, just back up, get a running start, and reposition so I only hit about 1/2 the pile. This year I have a set of Toyo Observe GSI-5 on it, and for the one small storm we had I had zero issues plowing.

As for 4-Auto, it works fine on-road in wet & snowy conditions. Never use it when dry and rarely when wet, typically only if I know I need strong acceleration from a stop or low speed.

I would imagine its similar to the Outer Banks but I've never been there so I really can't say. The beaches here have very soft sand and if you don't air down you WILL get stuck. It's also not the most AWD friendly place either. I've seen many crossovers have a lot of trouble getting around out there. This is why I'm really hesitant to take my truck out there.

But you've given me a glimmer of hope that it would be OK out there if you've had good luck with 4Lock on the beach...

 

[jbr]

I have the 2013 CC with 44-44 transfer case and limited slip. For the soft sand on Long Island I air the stock Goodyears down to 20 psi and put in 4low (disables traction control). Keeping momentum I think is key. I usually stay in the "tracks" on the beach. The stock Goodyears are almost done.

For the most part the 44-44 transfer case meets my needs. I don't abuse it.
Time will tell.

 

[baydog]

Q: During all of these situations did you have the Traction Control enabled?

I have heard rumors of the TC in many instances affecting the way L/S as well as the BW44-44 performed.

I have tried every imaginable combination of traction control in hopes that I could get this transfer case to work......None of them work. By the way, traction control is for idiots.......To protect the least common denominator. When you pull out in traffic in the snow and expect to use a little power in four wheel drive to get going. The rear slips a bit sending truck into a bit of a slide. In the old days(pre traction control) you'd pour on the fuel, the front end would get traction, and you'd go right on down the road. Now, the engine *******, the brakes do goofy things, and you get hit on the side because some idiot in Detroit thinks he knows more about driving than you do. Buy the way, "yes" I do hold down the traction control button for ten seconds and hear the Ding, but apparently this does not completely disable the traction control. Oh, for my 06 back......

 

[Hemi395]

I know, my 06 Frontier was FAR superior off road than my Ram

 

[Gump]

I know, my 06 Frontier was FAR superior off road than my Ram

Congratulations