Difference between 4-Auto and 4-Lock

[RLJ10X]

4 low turns the traction control off, right?

In the 44-44, in theory, if you have a LSD, or locker in back, which should get more traction than an open, the LSD rear should make the front axle more effective by sending more power sooner. Correct?

 

[corneileous]

In the 44-44, in theory, if you have a LSD, or locker in back, which should get more traction than an open, the LSD rear should make the front axle more effective by sending more power sooner. Correct?

I don’t know about that, but...

4 low turns the traction control off, right?

....yes, 4-Lo turns off the traction control. If equipped, you can even turn the traction control off to a lesser state in 4-HI or Lock by pushing and holding the traction control button for 5 seconds.




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[crash68]

In the 44-44, in theory, if you have a LSD, or locker in back, which should get more traction than an open, the LSD rear should make the front axle more effective by sending more power sooner. Correct?

I'm going to lean in the other direction, the LSD will delay when/how much the 44-44 engages the front axle due to less slippage.

 

[chrisbh17]

Yes, I believe the combination of traction control, LSD and the programming of the xfer case are all contributing to a lesser effective experience. Take just one out of the equation and things get better, although not 44-45 ideal.

My last truck had zero nannies... Chain driven xfer case, clutch based LSD, no traction or stability control. Made for a much more predictable 4wd experience.

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[Brandon-w]

I've often thought about building a spool/locking the front diff. And making a front diff bypas so it didn't lock that slip yolk in the diff. Then a guy could get pretty far and when needed activate the slip yolk and have all Time, front wheels spinning the same as the back 4x4, the truck would still Handle like stock I Beleive, until the actuator locked it up.
[emoji48]

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[fivestar]

I'm going to lean in the other direction, the LSD will delay when/how much the 44-44 engages the front axle due to less slippage.

That makes sense. Never thought of it that way, but I could see why it might hinder things.

 

[RLJ10X]

I know it's not a fair comparison, but my 2 door Wrangler, with the real 4X4, Shifter on the floor, would absolutely leave my Ram for dead, no problem, when the going gets tough. I have comparable tires on each.

The AWD, 44-44 is just another example of auto makers dumbing things down. And they probably have to. Some idiot will figure out a way to hurt himself. Then the ambulance chasing lawyers, looking for a quick buck start circling like vultures.

I may look into changing mine to a -45.

I appreciate everyone's input on this. I always wondered why the truck acted so much differently than the Jeep.

 

[corneileous]

I know it's not a fair comparison, but my 2 door Wrangler, with the real 4X4, Shifter on the floor, would absolutely leave my Ram for dead, no problem, when the going gets tough. I have comparable tires on each.

The AWD, 44-44 is just another example of auto makers dumbing things down. And they probably have to. Some idiot will figure out a way to hurt himself. Then the ambulance chasing lawyers, looking for a quick buck start circling like vultures.

I may look into changing mine to a -45.

I appreciate everyone's input on this. I always wondered why the truck acted so much differently than the Jeep.

As far as whether anybody else would agree with me on this or not, or at least in the least bit understand why these new breeds of halftons are the way they are, is because in my humble little ole opinion, today’s halftons are just too much designed for daily drivers, schoolkid-hauling, soccer practice and traveling on long trips(family mobiles). Basically SUV’s with truck beds. Pretty much why they all come with crew cabs anymore for hauling people, and with the shorter bed so they’ll fit in most garages...lol.

I guess in a slight way I’m kinda bummed that my 4WD system doesn’t work anymore like what I’m used to in case I ever did wanna get a little bit adventurous but, it’s ok. Maybe someday in my future a side by side will be my outlet to that instead of my daily driver.

My Limited basically is my large SUV with a little pickup bed....lol. I could’ve very easily gotten a 392 Durango and been just as happy because I really don’t need a truck but, I still like my trucks. If I wanted a truck capable enough of going where that Jeep can, I’d have gotten a Power Wagon, or some other 3/4-ton truck. Or, there is the Rebel. But the Sports, Laramies, Laramie Longhorns and Limiteds- aren’t going to get used very much off the highway or the beaten path by most folks.

But then again, I understand that some brands made a trucks with auto 4WD that also lock the transfer case together so, this would be a shame on you to Chrysler for not doing this.


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[chrisbh17]

As far as whether anybody else would agree with me on this or not, or at least in the least bit understand why these new breeds of halftons are the way they are, is because in my humble little ole opinion, today’s halftons are just too much designed for daily drivers, schoolkid-hauling, soccer practice and traveling on long trips(family mobiles). Basically SUV’s with truck beds. Pretty much why they all come with crew cabs anymore for hauling people, and with the shorter bed so they’ll fit in most garages...lol.

I guess in a slight way I’m kinda bummed that my 4WD system doesn’t work anymore like what I’m used to in case I ever did wanna get a little bit adventurous but, it’s ok. Maybe someday in my future a side by side will be my outlet to that instead of my daily driver.

My Limited basically is my large SUV with a little pickup bed....lol. I could’ve very easily gotten a 392 Durango and been just as happy because I really don’t need a truck but, I still like my trucks. If I wanted a truck capable enough of going where that Jeep can, I’d have gotten a Power Wagon, or some other 3/4-ton truck. Or, there is the Rebel. But the Sports, Laramies, Laramie Longhorns and Limiteds- aren’t going to get used very much off the highway or the beaten path by most folks.

But then again, I understand that some brands made a trucks with auto 4WD that also lock the transfer case together so, this would be a shame on you to Chrysler for not doing this.


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On the flipside, if I wanted something capable enough of going where a Jeep can, I would have bought a Jeep

I dont disagree with off-roading a pickup truck, but IMHO pickup trucks were made to haul stuff and do better in bad weather than a car or station wagon and maybe an SUV. I dont like the 44-44 operation, but so far it still hasnt left me stranded. I dont off-road my truck, thats not why I bought a pickup truck.

 

[corneileous]

On the flipside, if I wanted something capable enough of going where a Jeep can, I would have bought a Jeep

Very good point. Although those power wagons are a pretty off-road capable truck, they’re not as capable as a Jeep.

Back where I used to live in the Colorado Rockies, the little mountain towns would rent Jeeps to spend the day playing in the mountains. But see, they rented Jeeps, not power wagons. Lol.

I dont disagree with off-roading a pickup truck, but IMHO pickup trucks were made to haul stuff and do better in bad weather than a car or station wagon and maybe an SUV. I dont like the 44-44 operation, but so far it still hasnt left me stranded. I dont off-road my truck, thats not why I bought a pickup truck.

They were made to still haul stuff but, that’s why we have the halftons, and why we have the HD’s. Two completely different breeds of trucks for people with different needs. Helps satisfy us truck lovers still be able to own a truck when all we do is SUV stuff, without actually having to buy a large SUV.

But on the contrary tho, some of them little AWD/4WD hybrid SUV cars these days are worlds better on snowy or icy roads than any truck primarily because of them being too light in the back end. Growin’ up, my mom had a little ‘89 Subaru 3-door hatchback that was 4WD and, you couldn’t get that little sucker stuck. Lol. Well, if you tried too- like I did one night when I tried to climb a piled up snowbank with it, you could but that little car was a breeze on bad roads.

All the pickups I’ve had over the years, puttin’ about 5 or 6 Home Depot Tubesands in the back would make them almost match the capability of that little Soob....lol.


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[WilliamS]

But on the contrary tho, some of them little AWD/4WD hybrid SUV cars these days are worlds better on snowy or icy roads than any truck primarily because of them being too light in the back end.

All the difference in the world.

 

[fivestar]

I traded my 2015 JK Wrangler in for my 2018 Ram. The Jeep had 4.56 gears and Eaton E-lockers front and rear among other upgrades. She was a beast off road, and I took her to several off road parks and events.

In 2017 I got back into my first love/hobby which is motorcycling/track riding. I wanted a trailer to haul my track bike(s) in, and the Jeep just wasn't gonna cut it. Having 2 other Rams and a Dakota in the past, a Ram 1500 was the only choice for me. I admit that I hadn't done any real research on it prior to walking into the dealer on that Sunday afternoon. In fact, one of my "must haves" was the 4 position TC switch.....I wanted AWD just like our Journey, but I also wanted a true 4wd/low range. You know.....like most of the other trucks out there...Money didnt allow me to get a 2500, and honestly I dont need one. Im only towing an 1100 lb trailer, with one or two 450 lb bikes. A 1500 is more than enough for this, while retaining ride quality for the 85% of the time its used with no trailer.

After joining here, I started to read about the TC stuff but hadnt fully grasped what was being discussed until I experienced it first hand. During this year's winter storm Harper our area got about 8-10" of snow. On that Sunday morning I loaded up my snowblower to take to my elderly parents house a few miles away. After I was done "playing around" in AWD mode, I locked it into 4H to get moving. I immediately noticed that there was a delay in forward motion. Very weird, and I was a bit unsettled by it. It was after that that I started to fully understand how this particular TC works. And im completely unhappy.

Having said all of that....my truck did fine. At no point in about 10" of unplowed snow did I ever get stuck. Even driving up their cul-de-sac hill which is notorious for stranding cars at the bottom did the truck ever fail. The night before we went driving to enjoy the empty streets when it was snowing the hardest. We drove close to 75 miles that night thru a couple of different counties. Half of that was in 2wd with only traction control and the factory LSD. I was quite amazed at how well the truck did. Still though.....I hate the fact that Ram has programmed this TC in a way that makes it behave like it does. Especially in 4 low.