My 94' 1500 5.2 auto (sadly) is rather hard to get in/out of 4HI and I have never been able to get it to neutral and 4Lo.It goes into 4Hi easier when moving in drive and is a little easier to get back in 2x4 when rolling in neutral. Still, I have to brace myself and get 2 hands on the shifter to move it. So I really need to figure out why it is so stiff and why I can't for the life of me get it in 4Lo.
On an aside, which is better for doing such work as heavy pulling short distances in slippery conditions, 4Hi or Lo? I'm not the brightest on 4x4, but I would assume 4Lo.

 

The 4x4 shifter is meant to be pulled while in motion, while you gently take your foot off the accelerator pedal firmly pull back on the 4x4 lever to 4hi. Same for shifting back to 2x4

Shifting to 4lo is done only at 3 to 5 mph, shifting is a little tricky, you will feel the teeth turning in the gear box. Shift firmly at a very slow roll. Same to shift back to 2x4

4 low would be best for the circumstance you mentioned. Only use 4x4 off road or on snow, or compact ice. Shift out of 4x4 when turning. Don't drive on wet or dry pavement in 4x4.

 

i have owned 2 rams and neither were hard to shift. its true u can do it on the fly while moving, but to goto low i already stopped and put tranny in neutral and then shift tcase. i would look at your tcase shifter linkage. see if its bent or something