Truck help please...which 4WD system for the money thatb has Auto

[Diewithyourbootson]

Two sixty pound sandbags in the back end, done deal

 

[Bailer]

On the binding in a turn... when going straight all 4 wheels are going the same distance and speed. When you turn sharp that changes. 2 wheel drive truck with an open rear differential it doesn't matter as the other 3 wheels are free to adjust and match to the same speed. At the other extreme, 4 wheel drive with both differentials locked the tires need to break traction in order for the speed to match. My part-time 4x4 f150 is kind of in between. If I don't have my rear differential locked, it will make gentle turns on dry pavement without binding because left and right wheel on each axle can match each other. Sharp turns the front and rear are trying to go different speeds which the transfer case isn't allowing. "Full time 4x4" and AWD build slip in the transfer case or "center differential". More slip makes it more forgiving on intermittent dry pavement. The ability to lock everything is better when you really need it. Lots of choices these days.

 

[Gr8bawana]

I'm no expert but I don't that is correct. My dealer told me the front pulls slower than the rear and when you are in mud, you will never know it. On dry land, you feel that conflict. That is how I understand it
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Your dealer has no clue what he is talking about.
What Bailer said is correct. The inside wheels are trying to keep up with the outside wheels during a turn but they can't because they are turning in a much smaller radius than the outside wheels.

 

[bpotter]

Your dealer has no clue what he is talking about.
What Bailer said is correct. The inside wheels are trying to keep up with the outside wheels during a turn but they can't because they are turning in a much smaller radius than the outside wheels.

What Bailer said. I live in snow country and seldom use 4WD in winter. Mud and wet grass on the other hand gets it switched on. Pickups need weight in the bed in winter and are often GTG in 2WD.



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[Low_Sky]

I also live in AK. Manual shift on the fly does it for me, I like to control when it's in and out of 4HI (and that's not often for road driving). For about 5 months last winter my truck saw nothing but ice and snow on 3-peak rated tires. 2HI and traction control are enough for 95% of driving. 4HI is for accelerating from a stop and cruising down unplowed highway where the drag from the front tires makes the rear end want to get squirrelly.

If I had a truck with auto 4WD I'd never use it. In my friends truck it comes on most in parking lots and makes the tires scrub when turning.

My truck is a 2015 power wagon, about as modern as it gets. New trucks don't ALL come with auto push button trannies.

And the dealer that is explaining 4WD being biased to the rear is confusing all wheel drive coming through a center differential with 4 wheel drive coming through a transfer case. The transfer case (which is what trucks use) locks the front and rear output shafts to the same speed. The differentials in each axle make the average of the left and right wheel speed proportional to the input speed of the drive shaft. If one goes faster, the other has to go slower. In a straight line, all four tires want to go the same speed, so nothing binds up. In a turn, the front axle takes a longer path than the rear axle. Since the front and rear drive shaft speeds have to be the same, but the tires want them to be different, at least one tire has to break traction to relieve the bind and make its axle's average speed equal to the other axle's. At parking lot speeds this tire(s) binding and breaking traction repeatedly is what causes the bucking.

And what's why manual control of 4WD is king. I know when I'll need and don't need 4WD. Auto is dumb just knows to engage when a wheel slips.


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[nrh6.7]

One of my first 4x4's was a Jeep Grand Cherokee with their Quadra Trac system. Hated it because it was never full time, but on demand. Also couldn't just put it in 4 hi either...just neutral for towing and 4 lo. All of my trucks have been ESOF (electronic shift on the fly) which is nice to not have to get out to lock hubs, plus you know how the vehicle will perform rather than guessing about the on demand.

As stated above, the "hop" you feel is due to the front wheels turning at different speeds in a tight turn.

 

[huntsman22]

which is nice to not have to get out to lock hubs.

What is 'nice' is not having electronic shit go bad on you...... Give me hubs and mechanical transfer case anytime, as I've never been too lazy to get out and turn hubs......

 

[Gr8bawana]

What is 'nice' is not having electronic shit go bad on you...... Give me hubs and mechanical transfer case anytime, as I've never been too lazy to get out and turn hubs......

Ah the good old days before everyone got too lazy to get out and lock the hubs in. They also might get their shoes dirty!

 

[nrh6.7]

You guys need another cup of coffee this morning. : ) I drive a Ford and we all know that they never break. I guess if one of you sees me on the side of the road kicking my truck and muttering something about damned ol electronics crap, maybe you'll give me a lift into town.

What is 'nice' is not having electronic shit go bad on you...... Give me hubs and mechanical transfer case anytime, as I've never been too lazy to get out and turn hubs......

Ah the good old days before everyone got too lazy to get out and lock the hubs in. They also might get their shoes dirty!

 

[Billinsd]

You guys need another cup of coffee this morning. : ) I drive a Ford and we all know that they never break. I guess if one of you sees me on the side of the road kicking my truck and muttering something about damned ol electronics crap, maybe you'll give me a lift into town.

I'd like a truck with an interior I could hose out with a garden hose. However, I like my electronics for 4wdrive and my rear locker. It's nice not to have to get out of the truck, and I'm impatient, damn it, I'm not lazy!! lol. Maybe it's because when I drove in trucks with manual hubs it was me and not my dad that always got out. Lol A guy behind the counter at Kragen said synthetic oil is for guys too lazy to change their oil every 3,000 miles. I said call me what you like but my time is in much shorter supply than my money, however I'd still run synthetic over organic if I have lots of spare time. I usually don't take advice from the staff at auto parts stores, lol. I haven't heard of electronic drive systems failing with normal use, however I have heard and believe manual is stronger for hard core crawling, which I don't do much of. With all that said though, if I had a choice between manual or electric hubs and the manual was cheaper, I'd go manual. I'm more old school on trucks, mostly because new school is more expensive. However, instead of complaining of electronics, I embrace their positives!! Anyone want to talk about limited slip differentials? What a waste those have been to me, or rather a frustration when my rear different got high centered and the high wheel spins and the grounded wheel doesn't move. I love my electronic rear locker, which will allow my to get stuck further off the main road than ever before. Seriously, I love it!! I'd like to get a front locker, but don't want to spend the money and the best ones available for my truck use air, which can be problematic.

 

[Billinsd]

You guys need another cup of coffee this morning. : ) I drive a Ford and we all know that they never break. I guess if one of you sees me on the side of the road kicking my truck and muttering something about damned ol electronics crap, maybe you'll give me a lift into town.

I'd like a truck with an interior I could clean with a garden hose. However, I like my electronics for 4wdrive and my rear locker. It's nice not to have to get out of the truck, and I'm impatient, damn it, I'm not lazy!! Lazy, lol. A guy behind the counter said synthetic oil is for guys too lazy to change their oil every 3,000 miles. I said call me what you like but my time is in much shorter supply than my money, however I'd still run synthetic over organic if I have lots of spare time. I haven't heard of electronic drive systems failing, however I have heard and believe manual is stronger for hard core crawling, which I don't do much of. With all that said though, if I had a choice between manual or electric hubs and the manual was cheaper, I'd go manual. I'm more old school on trucks, mostly because new school is more expensive. However, instead of complaining of electronics, I embrace their positives!! Anyone want to talked about limited slip differentials? What a waste those have been to me, or rather a frustration when my rear different gets high centered and the high wheel spins and the grounded wheel doesn't move. I love my electronic rear locker, which will allow my to get stuck further off the main road than ever before. Seriously, I love it!!

 

[kicker338]

Interesting thread,there is some pro and con about all wheel drive and full time and both have their place. All wheel drive is great in town and highway driving especially for women in suv's plus most all wheel drive rigs have a button on the dash to kock them in full time when needed. This is now showing up on trucks but I think all trucks also have a full time mode. half ton trucks haven't had locking hubs for yrs now and are really not needed as there is no increase in fuel economy with locking hubs in todays trucks. Manual transfer shifters are also going by the way side and again not really needed anymore as the electric shifting is pretty full proof. Electronics ie computers control virtually all of todays trucks motor, trans and every thing els, just the way it is.

 

[nrh6.7]

...and I'm impatient, damn it, I'm not lazy!! lol. Maybe it's because when I drove in trucks with manual hubs it was me and not my dad that always got out. Lol A guy behind the counter at Kragen said synthetic oil is for guys too lazy to change their oil every 3,000 miles. I said call me what you like but my time is in much shorter supply than my money, however I'd still run synthetic over organic if I have lots of spare time. I usually don't take advice from the staff at auto parts stores, lol. I haven't heard of electronic drive systems failing with normal use, however I have heard and believe manual is stronger for hard core crawling, which I don't do much of. With all that said though, if I had a choice between manual or electric hubs and the manual was cheaper, I'd go manual. I'm more old school on trucks, mostly because new school is more expensive. However, instead of complaining of electronics, I embrace their positives!! Anyone want to talk about limited slip differentials? What a waste those have been to me, or rather a frustration when my rear different got high centered and the high wheel spins and the grounded wheel doesn't move. I love my electronic rear locker, which will allow my to get stuck further off the main road than ever before. Seriously, I love it!! I'd like to get a front locker, but don't want to spend the money and the best ones available for my truck use air, which can be problematic.

Agree with being impatient. Also agree that manual hubs have fewer things that can go wrong, and if the two boys above want to get out each time they need 4x4 then I hope the exercise does them well. Me, I have better things to do than worry about my new technology failing me at some point. If it does, then I'll just pick up my handy dandy cell phone and call somebody. In the interim, my boots will stay clean. : ) The (E) locking rear differential is great too.

 

[mtmuley]

I especially like driving around these new electronic trucks that are broken in the woods. mtmuley

 

[Gr8bawana]

I especially like driving around these new electronic trucks that are broken in the woods. mtmuley

I also enjoy driving past trucks that have been left there because idiots are stupid enough to drive around with no spare tire.

 

[nrh6.7]

Sounds like you fellas are some well prepared hunters. No electronics and multiple spares. Care to share what you keep in your truck for emergencies?

I also enjoy driving past trucks that have been left there because idiots are stupid enough to drive around with no spare tire.

I especially like driving around these new electronic trucks that are broken in the woods. mtmuley

 

[KurtR]

Fuel injection is junk.....damn electronics.

 

[backcountry_hunter]

Overall you'd be hardpressed to make an argument that new age trucks are worse than those from days gone by.... they're being driven more miles, pulling heavier loads and are a heckuva lot more comfortable and more reliable (this is questionable) than trucks from the 90's or before.

That said with the 4wd debate, I really don't care.... I buy what's available, mostly for work and don't have alot of control over what ford, chev or dodge put in their pickups and therefore don't spend alot of time worrying about it. I've cussed electronic 4wd three times in my life. One was on a chev and 2 were on fords.... All three times I found out it wasn't working when I needed it, two of the three were really, really bad. I still try to get 4wd on the floor if it's avail (someone said that only electronic 4wd was offered anymore and that is simply untrue) but if it's not I don't sweat electronic 4wd. Considering many of my work trucks spend 2/3rds of their life in 4wd, 3 occasions isn't horrible.

Update: I just changed oil yesterday on my wifes yukon and put it in 4wd drive to drive up on ramps.... it flashed at me to service the 4wd system.... d*mn electronics

 

[Pontius]

Chevy's true push button "Auto 4WD" system seems to be what the OP is referring to, it works fine but is ultimately a really crappy compromise, in that vehicle behavior becomes less predictable. It's for soccer moms with no comprehension of physics. The driver should select the configuration appropriate to conditions. I'd also argue that highway speeds in 4HI is not inherently bad, it's a better choice than getting loose and the rear end coming out without warning. Stopping is another matter, but I leave that to the drivers conscience.

 

[go4thegusto]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I have resigned myself to dropping into a Sport or XLT and giving up the auto feature mainly to get the payment down. I like the Lariat with leather and 4Auto but as stated here I can live without it.