Good news, and a gripe

[gnutruk]

Well, took her out to the dunes today for a little spin, first time doing 4x in a few months. Good idea to “limber up” the transfer case every so often, and around these parts we almost never have a serious need to 4x on a daily basis (this is Calif., on the North Coast, where a day under 40 deg. F is a bone chiller, and a summer day over 70 deg. F is a scorcher. Yes, life is just d**n hard here).

 

Anyhow, came around a tight corner running through the salt grass and, WOW, LOOK OUT, super deep sand, all cut up by other 4 wheelers. Unfortunately, I crossed back the steering wheel, so it started doing that “plow” maneuver we all hate.

 

Come to a stop to avoid burying the front in the dune, then into reverse, but down I go, wheels spinning, sand flying, truck groaning and bouncing, slowly sinking, no progress.

 

Ok, I’m stuck.

 

Gear shift into neutral, and pop from 4 Hi into 4 Lo. Gear shift into 2nd, hit the gas and, HOLY COW, away she goes. Pulled out of there practically like she was on pavement.

 

That’s the good news : 5.3 and 4x4 and these trucks have got what it takes.

 

Now the gripe.

 

I can see having to come to a stop, or almost a full stop, to go INTO 4 Lo.

 

BUT, why is it necessary to come once again to almost a full stop to EXIT 4 Lo, whether going back to 4 Hi or 2 Hi?

 

And what I’d really like to know is; is it possible to reprogram the tranny or Auto-Trak system so you can upshift, to avoid coming to a stop like that?

 

Comments appreciated, as always.

 

gnutruk

[99-2door]

Its simply the way a transfer case works mechanically. If you ever see how one actually works you will understand why you have to come to a stop.

Actually I have seen people with the floor shift trucks put them into 2HI out of 4LO on the move, but you should hear the noise it makes YIKES

[Redapple]

99-2door has it right. The 4lo portion of the transfer case is a serious reduction drive. Those gears are spinning so fast that if you tried to switch something is going to give. You only want to switch either in or out when nothing is spinning.

 

Bill

[tmf6902]

Its simply the way a transfer case works mechanically. If you ever see how one actually works you will understand why you have to come to a stop.

Actually I have seen people with the floor shift trucks put them into 2HI out of 4LO on the move, but you should hear the noise it makes YIKES

LMAO...I did that once in my blazer...I wasn't going fast...I stopped and I guess my truck just moved a little....sounded like I had a stick shift in there.