Hello all, new to the forum. I have a question about the 4x4 shifting on a 2005 Dakota. There is a small **** to turn to 4Lock and 4lo. I assume 4lock is the normal gear to put it in for 4x4. Is this correct? My truck does not have a manual. Thanks.

 

Yes, 4 Lock= 4 hi

 

Ok, thanks much for the quick response.

 

becarefull when switching the **** into 4 hi. while driving. i think the max speed is 30 mph. before turning ****. dont think you can switch while driving at highway speeds.

 

I thought you could do the shift on the fly transfer cases at any reasonable speed?

 

Is it normal for the truck to kind of 'drag' at low speeds in 4x4? Seems like its really fighting to keep moving when going through a parking lot, or turning for example. Drag is not the right word, but just feels clunky. My last vehicles with full 4x4 were jeeps and had the full-time 4x4 so I dont know if this is normal.

 

your not sappost to put it in 4x4 on hard surfaces like pavement because the tires want to turn at the same speed but cant when turning on pavement

 

You can turn the 4x4 **** from 2wd to 4x4 high at any speed, but you have to drop to or below 55 MPH before the computer lets the shift occur. Once it's engaged you can exceed 55 again.

Bad handling, tire scrub, etc are normal with a locked transfer case on dry hard surfaced roads. When you're turning, each tire wants to rotate at a different speed, because each tire follows a different path around the turn; this causes the front and rear axles to want to be rotating at different speeds. 4wd makes both axles turn at the same speed, causing the weird handling. You're best off to leave it in 2wd (w/ part-time TC) or AWD (w/ full-time TC) and shifting only when needed (for ice/snow/sleet, mud/off-roading, etc.)

 

thats good, 55 or under. my full size had the lever you had to pull, aqnything over 30 mph and it would bang and clank while trying to go into 4 hi

 

Thanks everyone for the help!