What did you do with your 4th Gen this week?

[Islander39er]

Traded my beloved ‘14 Big Horn for a ‘22 Longhorn. The old girl treated me so well and was still running strong but the siren call of the wondrous 5th gen features was finally just too much to resist.

I feel a little guilty like I have committed an act of betrayal though. The ‘14 was a good truck.

Congrats.

 

[1977dually]

I installed a transfer case lock switch this weekend from Brandon at Black Fox Industries. If you live in snow country this is a game changer. I've got a 1500 hundred foot, very steep driveway and in the winter it was always a butt puckering experience going up and down it. More embarrassing, my wife's AWD Mazda CX3 with studded tires was infinitely more capable than my 4x4 Ram.

The truck is fantastic now. I can stop and start on the iciest sections now without issue, where I would have been in trouble before. It's just like a manual transfer case and like a 4x4 should be.

 

[Islander39er]

I installed a transfer case lock switch this weekend from Brandon at Black Fox Industries. If you live in snow country this is a game changer. I've got a 1500 hundred foot, very steep driveway and in the winter it was always a butt puckering experience going up and down it. More embarrassing, my wife's AWD Mazda CX3 with studded tires was infinitely more capable than my 4x4 Ram.

The truck is fantastic now. I can stop and start on the iciest sections now without issue, where I would have been in trouble before. It's just like a manual transfer case and like a 4x4 should be.

What exactly does that locker do? I've never heard of it before.

If I may ask, what area of NS are you in?

 

[PA Ram]

What exactly does that locker do? I've never heard of it before.

If I may ask, what area of NS are you in?

Only applicable if you have auto 4x4. I was curious so I looked it up. Normally in auto 4x4 tires have to slip before 4x4 kicks in. The switch allows you to select 4x4 on all the time or off. I didn't think Ram had a 4x4 auto only feature. I thought there was a switch to put it in 4x4 or leave in auto mode. My 2017 doesn't have the auto mode. I believe the newer models are either in auto mode or forced 4x4, there is no 2 wheel drive switch. My only guess is that even in switched 4x4 mode it must still only engage when wheels slip?

 

[Islander39er]

Only applicable if you have auto 4x4. I was curious so I looked it up. Normally in auto 4x4 tires have to slip before 4x4 kicks in. The switch allows you to select 4x4 on all the time or off. I didn't think Ram had a 4x4 auto only feature. I thought there was a switch to put it in 4x4 or leave in auto mode. My 2017 doesn't have the auto mode. I believe the newer models are either in auto mode or forced 4x4, there is no 2 wheel drive switch. My only guess is that even in switched 4x4 mode it must still only engage when wheels slip?

Interesting. I just have 2 high, 4 high and 4 low. I've looked at a few newer trucks, test drove one 2025, and while they may have had 4x4 auto, I don't recall seeing one without buttons for 2wd and 4 high/4 low.

 

[PA Ram]

Interesting. I just have 2 high, 4 high and 4 low. I've looked at a few newer trucks, test drove one 2025, and while they may have had 4x4 auto, I don't recall seeing one without buttons for 2wd and 4 high/4 low.

Yeah, that what I don't understand. I know the newer ones don't have a standalone 2 wheel drive button,but they do have 4 high and 4 low. 4 low should definitely not be an on demand w wheel drive, it should be fully locked.

 

[Islander39er]

Yeah, that what I don't understand. I know the newer ones don't have a standalone 2 wheel drive button,but they do have 4 high and 4 low. 4 low should definitely not be an on demand w wheel drive, it should be fully locked.

I'm using another Google picture since it's more clear, but I just found a 2025 leftover listed somewhat local to me. Set up like this. Can select neutral, 2wd, 4 auto, 4 high, and 4 low. I guess they aren't all set up like this, but this is what I'd want.

 

[PA Ram]

I'm using another Google picture since it's more clear, but I just found a 2025 leftover listed somewhat local to me. Set up like this. Can select neutral, 2wd, 4 auto, 4 high, and 4 low. I guess they aren't all set up like this, but this is what I'd want.

View attachment 580624

I've definitely seen the ones without the 2 wheel drive button. Not sure if it's trim or model year specific. They definitely had the 4 high and 4 low buttons though so not sure what the locker switch does.

 

[RamDiver]

This thread has discussions about the different transfer cases.

How to Identify Which Transfer Case ?

Several possibilities exist as to which transfer case is installed in Your Truck. They are not readily identifiable on the Build Sheet (which typically only specifies 4-wheel drive). The case itself has no identifying placard or numbers cast into/onto it. What are the identifying features...

www.ramforum.com

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[Islander39er]

I've definitely seen the ones without the 2 wheel drive button. Not sure if it's trim or model year specific. They definitely had the 4 high and 4 low buttons though so not sure what the locker switch does.

Right on. Something to keep an eye out for if I get another ram.

I still have a dial knob for 4x4 and a lever for my transmission

 

[Islander39er]

This thread has discussions about the different transfer cases.

How to Identify Which Transfer Case ?

Several possibilities exist as to which transfer case is installed in Your Truck. They are not readily identifiable on the Build Sheet (which typically only specifies 4-wheel drive). The case itself has no identifying placard or numbers cast into/onto it. What are the identifying features...

www.ramforum.com

.

Thanks, that's interesting to look at, and possibly quite helpful at some point.

 

[PA Ram]

Right on. Something to keep an eye out for if I get another ram.

I still have a dial knob for 4x4 and a lever for my transmission

I miss the floor 4x4 shifter and column shifter of my 2005 Ram. I've gotten used to the dial shifter,but everytime I use my brother in laws work trucks I get in my truck and reach for the column shifter.

 

[Islander39er]

I miss the floor 4x4 shifter and column shifter of my 2005 Ram. I've gotten used to the dial shifter,but everytime I use my brother in laws work trucks I get in my truck and reach for the column shifter.

Understandable. I wouldn't mind a manual 4x4 shifter, but those are quite rare now.

The 2025 1500 I test drove was the only dial shifter I've driven, I'm sure I'd get used to it but it's definitely different at first.

 

[PA Ram]

Understandable. I wouldn't mind a manual 4x4 shifter, but those are quite rare now.

The 2025 1500 I test drove was the only dial shifter I've driven, I'm sure I'd get used to it but it's definitely different at first.

Yep, when you forget to shift it to park it electronically shifts to park for you.

 

[RamDiver]

Yep, when you forget to shift it to park it electronically shifts to park for you.

Unless you turn off the Auto-Park feature, using AlfaOBD.

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[PA Ram]

Unless you turn off the Auto-Park feature, using AlfaOBD.

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True, doesn't bother me enough to disable it.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Unless you turn off the Auto-Park feature, using AlfaOBD.

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Interesting. My alfa printout says "Auto Park Function Present: NO", but I know it's there. If door is open, truck in drive and disconnect seatbelt, it goes into Auto Park

 

[Islander39er]

True, doesn't bother me enough to disable it.

2021+ F-150s do the same thing. A guy I know discovered, by opening his door, that it won't do it if you're still wearing your seatbelt. I wonder if the rams are the same?

 

[Islander39er]

2021+ F-150s do the same thing. A guy I know discovered, by opening his door, that it won't do it if you're still wearing your seatbelt. I wonder if the rams are the same?

Interesting. My alfa printout says "Auto Park Function Present: NO", but I know it's there. If door is open, truck in drive and disconnect seatbelt, it goes into Auto Park

Sounds like it

 

[RamDiver]

Interesting. My alfa printout says "Auto Park Function Present: NO", but I know it's there. If door is open, truck in drive and disconnect seatbelt, it goes into Auto Park

IIRC, I was testing a few tweaks last year (or, before now )and had the Auto Park Present disabled (VehConfig 3-Auto Park Present), and yet it still slammed the tranny into park when I tried backing up, door open, seatbelt off.

While I had this Auto Park Present feature set to NO, I could shut off the engine in reverse, and it wouldn't switch to park, as it does normally.

The takeaway for me was that this specific Auto Park setting is only related to the function during engine shutdown. I thought I had identified & tested another tweak, which was for the silly door-open, seatbelt off protocol.

I was attempting to find a solution for several members who used their trucks in agriculture, and who were unhappy with this nanny.

I will browse my tweaking notes to see if I recorded all the details and report.

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