New RAM transfer case choice

[Dieselnerd]

I'm preparing to place an order for a new RAM and I'm trying to finalize some of my choices. I'm ordering a 3500 SRW 4x4 with the auto trans. The one I test drove had the electric shift transfer case. I'm used to the manually shifted case but am open to change if it's worth it. Any opinions on manual vs electric transfer cases? I'm leaning towards the manual for simplicity and maybe reliability too. Thanks...

 

[SAvery]

I have an electric transfer case, and while being more complex I am not too concerned. Reason for me is that because I won't be four wheeling regularly in my truck, I am not concerned about wearing the feature out. I know that the servo and everything could wear out, but if I were wheeling every weekend I would go manual. With a shift lever already there, I feel it saves a little space. Plus, when you get the Laramie H like I did, you can't get a manual case. The Laramie J allows that, but I wanted the whole shebang (heated leather I highly recommend). Best of luck.

 

[DArndal]

Well my electric shift works great now, but it took 4 months and 7 tries by Dodge to fix the problem. There was a bad wiring harness that would blowup the module for the electric shift. I finally threatened lemon law and suddenly their Zone Troubling Shooting technician was working hard to fix the truck. IMO I would go with the manual shift. The electric shift works great unless you have two wires rubbing each other wrong. It was a rare case of a bad wiring harness, and technicians not knowing what was going wrong. There was several times during my 4 months of frastration that I wished I had a lever to pull.

 

[Matt400]

Any opinions on manual vs electric transfer cases?

Ok here is my take. .

If your don't really need that floor space then go for the manual shift. I had a Ranger for 10 years and the electric shift motor only failed twice but they are spendy. I have the manual shift in my Ram.



I work in the repair industry and I do lots of these shift motors on other makes but have yet to replace a manual shifter. Pushing a button is nice but pulling on the lever is no real big deal and when we ride 3 up front that shifter is not much in the way but would have been in the little Ranger.

 

[Bertram65]

In my opinion there are alot more negitives for the electronic shift than the manual.



Electric Pros

more space on the floor



Electric Cons

multiple points of failure, wiring, switches, and motors

Cannot operate without power

No positive engagment, could be in could be out, must depend on indication lights



Manual Pros

No electronic parts to fail

No doubt it is in 4WD or 2WD or neutral

Can be operated without power





Manual Cons

Takes floor space

 

[jsimpson]

Bought mine used. Came with manual. Happy wih it. Another pro: more gauge or switch space available.

 

[R.M.THOMPSON]

If all of this helps make a desicion then consider the following idea ! Cost to convert from electric to manual $75(cut hole in floor and install linkage) Cost to convert manual to electric $1500 plus programming at dealer. Not counting initial $500 for electric. FWIW and BTW , a electric can be overrdden with a cresent wrench and pliers from under the truck :-laf

 

[HOBrian]

I have a 6shooter, so if I had one stick coming out of the floor why not two!

 

[DaveMorris]

Well a lot of the manual shift guys spoke up, but I am going to lean towards the electronic shift. I have (4) 4x4's (3) jeeps and this truck... . At first I really didn't want the electronic shift but my truck (dealer lot truck) had it. Now I wouldn't want it any other way. All my jeeps have manual levers, but for this truck it is really nice to reach up and flip the switch if you have to pull out in traffic on slick ground, and then just flip it back to 2H without even coming out of your driving position or taking your eyes off the road. It is also nice when going down the road and things get messy fast (roll the knob and get your hands back on the wheel) it will shift as soon as tire speeds match and your not yanking on a grinding lever while your truck is loosing RW traction. Also if your wife or anyone else is driving it, it is alot easier to explain the little knob, then a lever on the floor.



I have nothing against the manuals, but it sure is nice not to have to reach down and fight for 4-low when pulling into a steep gravel lot with jeep in tow... instead I just "creep roll" throw it in N and roll the lever to the desired position, then drop it in drive and go... For $40K I want the truck (little motor) to fight that x-case, not me... . :-laf





Another advantage to the electronic shift is: If the F/R tire speeds aren't the same then you will be hand fighting the manual lever until you get it to lock up. On the electronic shift, you roll the knob and the system will keep constant pressure on the shifter until it can be locked up (it wrestles the x-case for you) and some times that can be the difference between getting out of a sticky situation quickly or not. If your traveling down a road and hit black ice or something the last thing I want to do is leaning over, have on hand keeping pressure in the x-case lever, one on the steering wheel, and trying to pay with the throttle until I get it in 4H... .



I am sure some manual guy will get on here and tell me differently, but remember I have a (3) jeeps to (1) dodge way to "real life" prove this theroy and the x-cases in the jeeps are identical in design but the dodges is just a heavier duty version... Or lets just say I have "been there done that" ...



either way you really can't go wrong, but I really think there have been very little failures with the electronic system with all that are sold, I am sure there have been even less failures with the manual levers... But if you are letting added electronics concern you, then you might want to reconsider electronic windows, locks, etc (that 10 years ago I wouldn't touch :-laf , but now won't do without )...



Enjoy shopping and Merry Christmas... .

Dave

 

[KBertetto]

I was always dead set against the electric shift t-cases... until I got this one which by the way was against my better judgement. When I ordered my truck, the laramie pkg was only available with the electric shift. I was all bent outta shape over this, wanted the lever. I like simplicity and reliability, and didn't believe the electric shift would provide that. After over 15k miles, lots of 4x4 use, I couldn't be happier with my electronic shifter. It works extremely well, very fast engagement, and as said before, no taking eyes off the road. The main thing that sold me on it was the 7/70 warranty, other than that I was not happy at all about flipping switches, but I am now. Couldn't be happier with my t-cae... get one for yourself and find out why.



Bert

 

[JHardwick]

I've owned 6 or 7 4x4 trucks, all manual shift ... ... ..... until this one.



Like Bert, I was a little concerned that the only way to get my truck the way I wanted it, was with the electric shifter.



60,000 miles later and no worries

 

[Fred Swanson]

For me, the Laramie is all that I could find on the lot, when I needed a new truck(old one sold in 3 days). I've had it almost 2 years and it has 58K on it, and the electronic shifter has perfomed perfectly everytime. But now that I am using 4wd much more on it, only time will tell. I may switch it over to manual.

 

[DPelletier]

I don't think it's a big deal either way; both transfer cases are the same except for the method of engagement. If I was getting an auto, I'd get the "dial a drive" to free up floor space, but with the 6spd, that advantage is lost IMO. As far as ultimate reliability is concerned, there is no doubt that the manual lever is better. I've heard of several people (probably not a lot, statistically speaking) that have had issues with their "dial a drive".

FWIW, power windows and locks seldom leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere if they fail, so that analogy is a little weak IMO.

I can say that the shifting action is excellent on my truck. Very little effort is required - I can reach down with two fingers and coax it into 2H.

For the record I currently own four 4x4's (three manual shift transfercases and one electronic) and have yet to have a problem with any of them.



Cheers,

Dave

 

[TSpecht]

I see the electronic transfer case as an unnecessary complication. I don't find it to be that difficult to modulate the throttle myself to make the wheel speeds match (back off the throttle and the front and rear wheel speeds will match very rapidly) and then pull the lever into 4wd. You surely don't need to take your eyes off the road to operate the manual transfer case. I'd be taking my eyes off the road more with the electronic one trying to watch the lights to see if it's engaged or not, and if not, why... In terms of the transfer case switching when the wheel speeds match, I suspect you'd need to back off the throttle whether you have the electronic or manual transfer case to get the wheel speeds matching. It's not going to magically synchronize the wheel speeds.



If you're going down the road and hit black ice, you don't want to be in 4wd, simply because the ABS will have a harder time working properly since you now have front and rear drivelines locked together. I suspect this is part of the reason so many have problems with the ABS... You're better off not using 4wd on black ice and simply slowing down, it's very easy without the 4wd crutch with just a little practice...



This post simply contains my $0. 02, so take it for what it's worth...



Edited to add: I just thought I'd mention that yes, I realize there are already a lot of complicated features on the trucks, including the engine, but my logic is to simply keep it as simple as it still possibly can be.

 

[Dieselnerd]

Thanks for all the good replies. Since I originally asked the question I've decided on the Laramie H package which comes with the electric transfer case. I don't use 4 wheel drive a lot, mostly low range for trailer parking on grass and on icy roads from time to time. It sounds like most of you who have the electric shift have had no problems so that eases my concerns. Thanks again...

 

[skillsaw]

with the larime package... ... how can I get the light group, security group, & the snow plowprep?



Is that doable??



Thanks,

-Erik

 

[TBrennan]

I have the electric shift and would never go back (I had the lever in my '96). I drove for about 10 hours this weekend on roads that required being into and out of 4WD every few minutes at times. The old style shifter took longer to engage and disengage and required more attention from the driver, waiting valuable time. I can reach down and turn the knob without even looking down and have both hands back on the wheel in 1 second flat. With the lever sometimes you had to fight the stick a little, keeping one hand off the wheel and causing a distraction.



The other point is I recall just about as many people having their mechanical linkage fail as having a problem with the electric system. Saying the mechanical linkage is "fail proof" isn't accurate at all.

 

[juicedcummins]

Before the Laramie J came out you had to take the electronic case. They must have been enough people that did not want it to make it an option.

There are times when I can not even get my transmission in park and one time reverse because of ice build up. There is now way that little servo has the jam to override the ice. Turn key off and let it disengage and you are screwed.

The trans in park thing has happened on 1 ram and 3 previous Gm's. Never had to walk yet but had to shovel when a solenoid went bad on a Gm.

 

[DPelletier]

As I posted before, the stick is effortless on my truck. Several people have posted dial-a-drive failures, but so far nobody has posted a problem with the lever.

Personally, I don't think its a big deal one way or the other, but don't fool yourself; there will be less problems with the lever. Period.



If I had an auto and the dial-a-drive meant no levers on the floor, then I might consider it. With the 6spd, the floor space is taken up anyway.



Dave

 

[Tim]

Before the Laramie J came out you had to take the electronic case. They must have been enough people that did not want it to make it an option.

Exactly... and that's what I ordered. I wanted leather but I wouldn't have bought it without the seat heaters. Before, this was not an option. With the "J" package, it was for me, and I spent another $2k on the truck as a result.



I would never give up my lever.