Electric shift-on-fly transfer case

[skillsaw]

Hey all,



I can't let go of the fact of having a lever to pull to engage my 4wd. There are 2 choices for the transfer case on the new trucks. Manual or electric..... any input/prefrences?



TIA



Erik

 

[robertyoke]

I like the electric shifter. both trucks no problem.

 

[macdaddy]

skill

Ah interesting you ask last weekend over the holiday we were in the desert motorcycle riding here in the south west and when we were packed up and leaving I was boxed in by some other RV's. Not being in 4WD but 2WD and with a 10K toy box behind I decide to take the 05 out and around through the bushes and buried the dauls in the rear almost to the axel. Scared like H*** I always thought you had to be moving to get into 4WD with these Dodge trucks. My 99 with the shifter on the floor and vacuum actuated hubs would never go into 4WD unless you were moving so I thought the 05 was the same way. But alas with the duals buried I reach up and fling the ol electronic shift on the fly from 2WD to 4WD and the beast hooked up and pulled the 10K lb monster right out man was I impressed and relieved due to the crowd that was beginning to develop. So what does this mean? I am not sure if the floor shifted 3rd gens will go into 4WD like the electronic does. Do some research but I am happy with the elec shift it works like a charm.

Mac

 

[coobie]

Hey all,



I can't let go of the fact of having a lever to pull to engage my 4wd. There are 2 choices for the transfer case on the new trucks. Manual or electric..... any input/prefrences?



TIA



Erik

I like the floor shift lever,Just my personal choice. Had problems with shift on the fly 2002 cheby,gun shy I guess. No problems with my 2004 on the floor shifter. coobie Oo.

 

[SVenable]

Both t-cases "shift on the fly". The main difference is how the operator shifts them. Internally in the t-case the shift fork goes essentially through the same motion. I have had both and selected the manual for my truck because I got tired of messing with the electric disconnect on my Suburban, (not necessarily rational). The T-case shifter on the Suburban always worked. On the new Rams there is no front axle disconnect so if the t-case shifts you have the front axle engaged.



Steve

 

[rbattelle]

I don't think I've read of anyone having any trouble with the electric shift on the 3rd gen trucks.



Personally, I like a vehicle that has so many lights, levers, switches, and gauges that it takes 10 full minutes to explain to someone how it should be driven. A big part of me would rather be driving a SD-90MAC locomotive. Hence, I have a manual shift.



#ad

 

[mfrost]

Like my electric shift. It works great and keeps the floor clear if you should have the 3rd person in the front. Just wish they would have put it on left of the steering wheel so some kid wouldn't be playing with it. It's good that it won't shift unless all parameters are met.

 

[DocDetonancour]

I like the floor shift. I have owned many 4x4 and this works as well as any I have ever used. didn't want the dial on the dash, and didn't want to pay for it either. MO. . Doc

 

[Sarge]

Me too. There is something testosterone enriching when I reach down and pull the beast into 4 WD when I need that extra muscle... ... ... ...

 

[WStoops]

Had a Ferd with the electric shift which was good to about 90,000 miles then it stuck in 4x4. Came out eventually though. I have the electric on mine and love it. Perfect performance and, like you, I go in 2wd until I'm stuck or nearly so and it engages perfectly every time. I would go electric again.

 

[Matt400]

Manual or electric..... any input/prefrences?

Hey Eric,



I had electric on a Ford Ranger cuz I needed the floor space in that little truck, went trough 2 shift motors in 120K. No way on my Ram. The lever is right there next to your knee. . just lower your right hand and it rests on the knob, even more easy to shift than taking your eye off the road to look at and lean forward for the knob on the dash. Pull back one notch and your in 4H right now, no wondering... did it happen? or stepping harder on the go pedal to make sure- one notch and your done.



There is more to the system than an electric shift motor and those parts are very expensive if they go bad. All you have to do is search here on TDR. I found these. .



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119479&highlight=electric+shift



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93641&highlight=electric+shift



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102904&highlight=electric+shift

 

[Tim]

Dunno what kind of Ranger you have, but mine has never had issues with the electric shift transfer case. Bought it used so I couldn't avoid it, and it was all that was offered in 2000 anyway.



I just ordered my new Ram, got the "J" package Laramie specifically to AVOID having the dash dial, which i personally would prefer not to have.

 

[nickleinonen]

I don't think I've read of anyone having any trouble with the electric shift on the 3rd gen trucks.



Personally, I like a vehicle that has so many lights, levers, switches, and gauges that it takes 10 full minutes to explain to someone how it should be driven. A big part of me would rather be driving a SD-90MAC locomotive. Hence, I have a manual shift.



#ad

i've never seen the newer gm sd90's, but our gm sd60's, ge dash 8's, and the first ±25 of our ge dash 9's have a table top setup very similar to that pic [no electronic air brake displays on them]. while i like the cabs on these units much better than the control stand version all our other units have, but the control stand units are easier to move around the shop if you need to spot a wheel on the drop table or anything else. the table top version is harder to drive in reverse i think when moving in and out of the shop when you are trying to see the directions the groundman is trying to give you.





but for taking a snooze in the cab while on shift, the table top ones are best. large open floor plan on those :-laf lay down come cardboard and set your alarm

 

[BHolm]

I think Ford and GM have had plenty of troubles over the years with various electronic shift systems. I have been very happy with it on my '05 Dodge though. As mentioned it is an instantaneous engagement/disengagement forward or reverse. My '03s have the lever but the '05 has worked just fine, better than my '03 Chev did for sure. The Chev had a delay sometimes, the Dodge does not seem to be that way.

 

[sick_ram]

I love my floor shifter cannot trust electric doing 4th gear launches. Sometimes the elecrtric ones donot disengauge under high hp and tq.

 

[dclassens]

In my opinion, depends on how many options you get with the new truck. If you get leather, wood grain dash,... etc, all the bells and whisltes, then get push button. If you get a good old work truck and a manual trans get the floor shift. I have never had a push button shift and probably never would. No reason why, just what i am used to.

 

[Rick Stewart]

The lever is right there next to your knee. . just lower your right hand and it rests on the knob, even more easy to shift than taking your eye off the road to look at and lean forward for the knob on the dash. Pull back one notch and your in 4H right now, no wondering... did it happen? or stepping harder on the go pedal to make sure- one notch and your done.



There is more to the system than an electric shift motor and those parts are very expensive if they go bad. All you have to do is search here on TDR. I found these. .



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119479&highlight=electric+shift



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93641&highlight=electric+shift



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102904&highlight=electric+shift

I agree with this 100%. As explained on another thread, this system has no hubs to lock or unlock (whether automatically or manually) and works just like my '98 Jeep. Pull the lever at "any legal speed" and you are in 4WD; push to take it out. How much simpler can it be? Have used it a lot here in PA the last couple days.



I have heard a couple people have had problems with the electronic but they were covered under warranty. If you plan to keep the truck a long time... good luck.

 

[skillsaw]

Great input all..... thanks!!



My 99 has the good old fasioned manual 4wd lever w/5spd. This weekend has been some major rugged use for the truck & t-case. Every time I grabbed the shifter & engaged the 4wd I thought about the electronic method. I'd hate for some fuse or wire to crap out on me in a storm like we just had here in NY!! I also want to go with the Larime package, that's the only reason I would switch to the electronic t-case switch. Hmmmmmmmm... . decisions!!!



I don't even want the transmission to be automatic!! :-laf



It amazes me that the larime package would make it mandatory for the shifter to go on the dash.



Any loopholes at Dodge?



-Erik

 

[Jumbo Jet]

The lever on my 2004 is smoother and easier to operate than the 2000 & 2002 that I had.



And it does engage immediately.

 

[swexlin]

Like I replied in the other thread, I have had both. And while I originally wanted a lever, I now have electric. Having used it several times these last couple days, it engages easier than the lever. Today, I turned the knob, the light on the knob blinked for a second or two until she engaged, and off I went. With my 97 2500, it was sometimes up to 5 seconds before she would engage or disengage, after pulling the lever.



I know that was a different 'case (241) compared to this 272, but still. I guess I am getting old and lazy.