Can I add 4x4 auto to my Ram?

[Wild one]

I have a conventional differential and 3.55 gears according to my build sheet. Perhaps I should be looking into installing a LSD and not adding auto 4x4?

That'd be where i'd start adding at least the factory limited slip.Not overly familiar with the Wild Peaks,but i have Falkens on the wifes 6.4 Challenger,and they're basically useless on wet pavement,and not really great on dry pavement either,but like i said i'm not familiar with the Wild Peak versions of Falkens,all i know,is i'll never buy another set of their street tires,lol.Her car has no problem spinning the Falkens for as far as you want,lol

 

[BellevilleRam]

For what it's worth, my original tires were BFG KO2'S and they were even worse!

 

[retired]

I have had Falken at3w and they are great tires in all kinds of conditions. what PSI are you running them at?

 

[BellevilleRam]

I have had Falken at3w and they are great tires in all kinds of conditions. what PSI are you running them at?

Right now around 35 psi . They are on 17" rims. Lots of sidewall.

 

[pacofortacos]

If you would have bought the 3.6 Ram, you wouldn't have this problem

 

[BellevilleRam]

If you would have bought the 3.6 Ram, you wouldn't have this problem

Funny guy! Not my style bro!

 

[pacofortacos]

I know what you mean, I have the same transfer case so no auto., 5.7 with the 8 speed with 3.92 gear and street tires - I do have limited slip though and it helps some but just a touch too much throttle and you are going up in smoke.

Being in 4 WD and turning with our transfer case isn't a real option either.

 

[BellevilleRam]

I know what you mean, I have the same transfer case so no auto., 5.7 with the 8 speed with 3.92 gear and street tires - I do have limited slip though and it helps some but just a touch too much throttle and you are going up in smoke.

Nice to hear that I'm not the only one with the issue! Mine's the 6 speed by the way.

 

[BadHemi2014]

I have 3.55 gears, open rear diff, 6 speed so no auto 4x4, Yokohama Geolandar ATs on stock 17 wheels, and a PC set to regular sport +4, and you bet I spin tires on wet roads!

I am guessing a locking diff would be your best bet but I have no actual experience in the matter. I would love to put one in mine someday.

 

[kurek]

I have 3.55 gears, open rear diff, 6 speed so no auto 4x4, Yokohama Geolandar ATs on stock 17 wheels, and a PC set to regular sport +4, and you bet I spin tires on wet roads!
.

I have the same gears, transmission and part-time transfer case, plus 285/70r17 Continentals, no pedal commander or anything else like that. But I have the factory limited slip diff. It doesn't spin the wheels or illuminate the traction control lamp even under hard acceleration in rain though I don't really make a habit of that.

 

[db208]

i live in idaho, and drive in 2 wheel 95% of the time. the 4x4 mode should always be on demand for me. not knowing the road conditions and having "auto" kick in and out is a terrible idea imo. it's better to know exactly what the road conditions are and adjust accordingly. as others have said, the auto mode is a death wish. we use 4wheel when it's needed, not whenever the truck decides it for us. personally, i would steer clear of it, but it's your deal. if you like it, go for it. keep in mind that it will kick in and out and change the driving characteristics on it's own.... that could spell disaster for some.

 

[kurek]

Man just about every little "AWD" suv or crossover on the road has a scaled down version of the same auto 4wd system because that is cheaper and lighter weight than true AWD... If it somehow caused all these unpredictable problems wouldn't we all see little jeep compasses and rav4's and CR-V's all piled up at every curve and intersection any time the weather changed?

 

[Ricks Ram]

I’d rather not have all that extra weight in my truck for the few times I need the front wheel traction to help me pull into traffic my friend. I guess coming from the AWD car I drove before getting the Ram, I miss not needing to deal with wheel spin. As I mentioned, when there’s snow, I’ll put the truck into 4 wheel lock and keep it there. It’s for the few times I go to turn left from my building into the busy main road that I can’t afford to have unexpected rear wheel spin. I’m afraid of getting t boned. But I also can’t keep the truck in 4 wheel drive for fear of burning up clutches when turning on dry roads. Traffic is too busy for me to be looking down at my switches to go from 4 wheel back to 2 wheel drive hence my desire for that to be an automatic process. Only 4 wheel drive when needed without me having to touch anything.

Your truck has the 44-45 transfer case. You don't have any clutches in it at this time that can be damaged. I have Never had an issue with my truck binding when I put it in 4x4 high with my 44-45 transfer case in wet or icy conditions and my truck also has the limited slip differential. This is what they are made for. Of course I don't put my truck in 4 high and turn in tight circles in the parking lot on dry pavement either. It's just a matter of common sense. You aren't going to hurt your current T case if you lock it in in slippery conditions. If it looks icy or there is a lot of slush and snow or if the truck starts to get a little lose I lock the truck in 4x4 high and it instantly feels more stable. I will usually just leave it there until the roads get better or I get where I'm going. People will argue the advantages and disadvantages of both T cases but I personally have no use for the 44-44 4x4 auto.....and yes I have driven both. My realtor has a Sport with 4x4 auto and spun out in an intersection the other day in the snow because his truck got lose before the 4x4 auto kicked in. As stated already if you were to convert your truck to the 44-44 T case and install the bypass switch to keep in engaged all the time what are you gaining? You now have a T case with clutches that are locked and can possibly get hot or cause wear in certain conditions. Rams auto T case system is flawd and it's a known issue in many trucks most likely related to programming. Some trucks seem to be worse than others. I bought my truck with the 44-45 transfer case specifically for that reason. To each his own. You need to make your truck the way you like it. Having a Pedal Comander with an open differential in a pickup that already has little weight on the back axel also isn't helping your situation any. A limited slip will definitely help your traction on all surfaces but remember if you lose traction with limited slip especially in a corner the truck is going to go sideways because both tires are now spinning and losing traction instead of just one. Just be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of both systems.

Sent from my SM-G981U1 using Tapatalk

 

[turkeybird56]

Respectfully, it's the stupid people driving too fast that I'm trying to avoid colliding with when pulling out onto the main road. You only have a limited field of view and barely time to pull out before a vehicle is right there. I just want the safety of not spinning my rear tires when it's wet in situations like that.

Dial down yer Pedal Commander and drive safely, maybe all the way to ECON mode when on wet roads, the extra power to rear end not yer friend. As far as Auto, not gonna do much on you mashing down the accelerator to move from a stop. That system works more when moving down the road, not initially from stops. But does give U the option of having auto engagement when slippage detected, BUT no magic bullet when U R starting from a start...or going down the road for that matter . Drive safely and for conditions.

I run my auto when we get rain deluges here while operating on road. Roads are in places badly grooved and ****** over/sunken due to tar and high heat, so U get a lot of ponding on the highway surfaces where your vehicle tracks, just saying. All IMHO.....


ADDED: Sometimes some traveling weight in the bed of the truck in winter do wonders. Many moons ago, my Dad had a 65 Buick Special, typical 4 door, nothing auto, AM radio, V6 GM car in the day. He always carried 100-200 lbs of sand in the truck and a shovel for when things go bad, LOL.

 

[turkeybird56]

Here's my tires... https://www.falkentire.com/tires/light-truck-suv-cuv-tires/wildpeaka/t3w-tire

WELL U do have decent tires on yer ride. Unless U want to spend boat loads of $$$ changing stuff, throw 300-400 lbs of sand bags, whateva in bed above axle.

I have the same tires, bought specifically because of towing trailer in field and driving on roadway. (No snow now, lol, only get 1-3" a year, but lots of water and ponded roadways).

 

[turkeybird56]

Right now around 35 psi . They are on 17" rims. Lots of sidewall.

Too soft at 35, U got a lot more tread on road surface than OEM, run em at 41, and make sure when weather changes, U make the proper adjustments for temp change, all IMHO...

 

[McBroom]

.

 

[BellevilleRam]

Thanks so much for all the feedback and comments guys! I'll dial back the Pedal Commander in wet conditions and also try driving in 4 high and see if there's any binding when turning. From all the comments, it would appear that I have the more desirable transfer case already. Another thing I've been curious about doing is re-gearing but that would be for when I make the jump to 37" tires from my 35's.

 

[DiverTooTall]

I have the 4x4 auto and what it’s supposed to do is when there is slippage it will engage although delayed and will unlock during turns. It’s engaged via a clutch pack like a LSD. I live in Texas and it doesn’t snow here often but I do use my truck off-road and will swap to the different transfer case and front Diff

 

[Quyonmob]

Man just about every little "AWD" suv or crossover on the road has a scaled down version of the same auto 4wd system because that is cheaper and lighter weight than true AWD... If it somehow caused all these unpredictable problems wouldn't we all see little jeep compasses and rav4's and CR-V's all piled up at every curve and intersection any time the weather changed?

Honestly, those are what is always in the ditch all winter here.

But generally it’s is the “I have AWD now, so I can go fast with no skills at all” mentality that gets them in the ditch, not the mechanics of the system.