i was just wondering wether most of you had a 4x4 shift on the floor (manual) or an electronic *** on the dash....also how often do you use it??

 

i got a shift on the floor 4X4 and i have used it quite a few times since i got my truck in July. its gone through lots of mud and have had no problems of getting stuck. the only thing with the floor shifter is that it has troubles goin to 4 low the easiest way to get it in 4 low is roll at 5kmh and then put it nuetral and shift.

 

I have a 2002 Ram 4x4 and a 95 Dakota 4x4. Both have the transfer shift on the floor. Not a problem. I don’t need it too much but my 1,000 ft uphill gravel driveway can require it sometimes. The Ram has LSD and has less need. Weather washing down the hill plays a large part. Towing the livestock trailer up the hill always requires it.

A button on the dash would be nice, but not required. Beats the old lock out/in hubs!

 

Pardon me for mentioning, but....

I had an F150 last winter w/ the switch style 4X4. Used it once in a blizzard. Other than that, I didn't need it.
The snow was 4' deep, and the only ones on the road were 4X4's.
Glad I had one.

I am soooo looking forward to trying out the Ram this year in the snow!
I live just south of Worcester (Wista), MA , and at times, the roads are treacherous.

I now have an '03 Ram with the floor shift. I've always liked the floor shift better
(something with the feeling of engaging the thing manually...) I'm a machinery mechanic, little things like that excite me!

I'm not sure that I would trust a servo motor to shift the transfer case for me, as I have a few friends who have had
problems with the electronic shifting after the vehicle became a little "aged"...

Just my two cents woith!

'Stottle

 

wista ma. haha, i live north a half hour or so and 4x4 in the snow does work very well...

 

Mines electric. It's a cleaner look than the manual but the manula shifter is cool too! ;-) If I bought this truck brand new I would have likely went with the manual but it's not a big deal. I just hope I don't have the servo going out on me! I haven't really tried it yet other than seeing if it works. Just had the truck 2 weeks! <G> I know it will get use as I live in Ontario near Toronto! Looking forward to the blizzards!!!

Sean

 

I have an 03 with the electronic shifter. I like it. So damn easy just to reach up and turn the ****. Especially shifting to 4high, can do that up to 45 mph safely. Nice and easy to use.

 

I have the **** on the dash, but only because I wanted the Laramie package. Originally I wanted the floor shifter, because I was like the guy above that had a thing for manually shifting the lever. I've had the truck for a year and half so far, and haven't regretted getting the **** style shifter. It works very well. The comment above, about difficultly getting into 4LO... well that goes for both styles. I remember back when they were developing the 3rd gen Ram out at the Proving Grounds, we had tons of lady drivers that would get stuck shifting either into, or out of 4LO. So what I recommend is make sure your in a position that the truck can roll slightly, and while rolling shift into 4LO. That trick works for me every time. Lastly, I shift mine into all ranges at least a couple times a month, usually because I need it, but if not they say to do it once a month to make sure everything doesn't stick or freeze up.

 

Ive got the **** type, would have preferred the manual shifter but I cant argue with price and it is awful convenient, but no where to hang my coozie(SP?). I have had my truck almost a year and I have used the 4wd probably 4 times. Not much snow in GA, but I have pulled a few vehicles with it, the last was moving a 70s Lincoln for a neighbor, his ford couldnt move it....HA HA HA. 4 flats on the biggest lincoln I ever seen. It was a boat.....

 

ive got the shift on the floor, i personally wouldnt buy a truck with the electronic shift just because there is alot of things that can go wrong. And with the shift on the floor u are manually shifting it into 4x4 and know its in 4x4, i find it alot more reliable. Never ahd a problem with it, dad has one in his truck and never had a problem either