Just curious to see if anyone else hates these electronic 4wd shift *****...especially the location?

I was pulling on the highway the other day and went to crank the heat on in the truck and I accidentally switched it to 4wd as I am already doing 60mph on the on ramp ...I noticed it the minute I switched it b/c the switch is a little stiffer. So I switched it right back before it had time to engage but I heard quite a bit of a clunk, pulled over just to cycle it and make sure it was fully disengaged, all seems to work fine. You'd think they'd add a safety interlock switch to allow it not to shift above a certain speed... right?

But why put it RIGHT next to the fan speed/power switch for the a/c & heat...?? What happened to the good ole days w/ the standard 4wd shift and getting out to manually lock the hubs lol (seems like now you have to buy a BASIC truck for that option).

 

I know what you mean, my '02 Dakota was the first truck I had with dial ****, and used to bump it with my knee. Then when making a sharpe turn I would realize what I did and wondering how long it had been engaged.

When I ordered my '05 Ram I made sure I ordered as the standard floor shifter, but now look, I'm back to the dial, oh well.

 

Those people who have the auto climate control (like myself) dont have to worry about adjusting the heat!

 

I physically view the control **** when I adjust the fan speed so I do not do what you just mentioned. I have the floor shifter option and the 4+4 **** is the only way.

 

Well aren't you special Nate! Haha just kiddin bud! Yah that feature would of been nice!

 

I was under the impression that it would not engage if you're going over a certain mph. It's all electronic, so if it can't sync, it won't engage. Is this not correct? I've shifted in and out while doing around 50mph a few times and I don't have any issues. I forget what the manual says, but I think you're supposed to be able to shift up to 55mph.

 

I'll have to go back and look, I thought it was 45mph, but hell I don't remember. You would think there would be a safety interlock switch to prevent this from happening. But I heard that loud clunk and all I was thinking was cussin in my head, wtf did I do...

 

I hate any type of electronic 4WD myself. Matter of fact it took me forever to trust auto-locking hubs, swapped a set out for good, old-fashioned, get your a$$ out and turn them hubs set on the last Wrangler I had.

I had a hell of a time finding a Laramie package (wanted the leather seats) that had a manual (stick) 4WD shifter in '04 when I bought mine. Probably not even available now...

 

Hammer I right there with yah! Who cares if you have to get out and lock the hubs...but welcome to the world of ever failing technology! A little bit of TLC w/ the manual hubs they'll last forever! Well at least up north you need the TLC haha

 

Yep, manual shifting 4WD can fail too. I knocked my linkage arm off (bushing cracked) and had to go find it on the muddy trail the next day (I lost it when it was getting dark and pouring rain). But at least I could kneel under the truck and manually push the shifter on the side of the transfer case to go in and out of 4WD. Two six dollar bushings and five minutes and it was fixed. When a fancy electronic one fails on the trail, you're pretty much f*cked...