Automatic On Demand 4x4...is it worth 10 Benjamins?

[BuckeyeinNV]

Why do so many of you think that 4wd actively engaging without your input is going to help with stopping or turning?

Auto 4wd isn't going to make a vehicle safer in any way. If you can't start from a stop in bad pavement conditions then you shouldn't be driving in those conditions.

Uh, 4WD absolutely helps turn in slippery conditions. You just have to make the non-intuitive move of pressing the skinny pedal when you lose traction.

The chest thumping over this is ridiculous. Nobody is out-driving their vehicle's computer. If you don't want 4A don't buy it, but it's not worthless. AWD is always better for real world performance (i.e. not racing).

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[WNC_Bronco]

You select it, just as you need to select 4hi/4lo. If you get it, you’ll have 4A, 4hi/4lo, and 2h.

Oh,cool. I want that option then for sure. Sometimes here in the mountains of NC it can be raining or snowing in one spot then nothing a few miles down the road.

The 4A would be perfect around here.Thanks for the clarification on how it works.

 

[mountainbiker90]

No idea on whether or not it is included with the Sasquatch package. I'd like to know that as well. My hope is that 4H and 4L can be manually operated. Having a deeper low gear is a good thing but having to rely on a bunch of computerized stuff to access 4L would be a huge detriment, IMHO. I'm a fan of simplicity for reliability, especially for wheeling.

 

[Rocketeer Rick]

Well, in either case, operating the t-case is a matter of rotating a knob. So, you're not truly "manually" operating it, only manually making a request that the PCM will (hopefully) carry out. This is true of any automatic transmission shifter as well these days, BTW (that's how F150 can offer column and console shifters concurrently), they're just big toggle switches. But this is also true of any 4WD system that doesn't have an actual shift lever connected to the case. So, regardless of whether the system has knobs, buttons, whatever, electronics control the actual engagement of the system. The 4A is no different in that regard.

I really liked when the Ranger FX4 L2 had a manual transfer case. You could shift in and out anytime you needed and knew it was in or out of 4WD. No waiting for the system to catch up. Obviously, owners of other older trucks, or Jeeps that still have that will probably concur. I rather doubt Ford will ever use one again; the chassis controls people don't like having anything in the system that they can't directly control. I'm still a bit shocked that they're offering the manual transmission...

 

[Timsvtgen1]

4A is great when here during the NE winters when the main roads are plowed but everything else isn't.

 

[Bmadda]

No idea on whether or not it is included with the Sasquatch package. I'd like to know that as well. My hope is that 4H and 4L can be manually operated. Having a deeper low gear is a good thing but having to rely on a bunch of computerized stuff to access 4L would be a huge detriment, IMHO. I'm a fan of simplicity for reliability, especially for wheeling.

How do u mean manually operated? Remove the encoder and put a vise grip on it? They are all electrically shifted, theres no stick

 

[mountainbiker90]

How do u mean manually operated? Remove the encoder and put a vise grip on it? They are all electrically shifted, theres no stick

Ah. I don't like that. Was hoping to see a possibility of finding a twin stick lever underneath some cover plate with Bronco logo bolts on it. Kidding aside, I really prefer a manual shift lever. I've owned a few Ford vehicles with electronic T-case shifters and all have either needed work or performed poorly. Transfer case issues on the trail usually causes big trouble.

Edit- and yes, I have had to get under a vehicle and remove the actuator and break out the vice grips more times than I care to think about. (Mainly on other's rigs).

 

[Bmadda]

Ah. I don't like that. Was hoping to see a possibility of finding a twin stick lever underneath some cover plate with Bronco logo bolts on it. Kidding aside, I really prefer a manual shift lever. I've owned a few Ford vehicles with electronic T-case shifters and all have either needed work or performed poorly. Transfer case issues on the trail usually causes big trouble.

Edit- and yes, I have had to get under a vehicle and remove the actuator and break out the vice grips more times than I care to think about. (Mainly on other's rigs).

I agree 100% this does suck...but it's the way the world is now. Whats worse is wait till you see the encoder this one has...I will try to find the pic. Looks like it has one of those linear encoders like toyota used for a while? I'm assuming the motor looking thing above the frt driveshaft is the encoder motor....AAARGH!

 

[Corsair]

Here’s a list of what’s included in the Sasquatc Package that I saw Ford post the other day.

 

[vrtical]

My xlt doesn't have 4A but has snow mode so 4A is great for intermediate conditions it's not really a need

 

[mountainbiker90]

I agree 100% this does suck...but it's the way the world is now. Whats worse is wait till you see the encoder this one has...I will try to find the pic. Looks like it has one of those linear encoders like toyota used for a while? I'm assuming the motor looking thing above the frt driveshaft is the encoder motor....AAARGH!

Oh, yikes. I didn't look really hard at a lot of the chassis pics but I don't even know how I'd be able to get that to work, if it didn't. Guess I'm getting too old. I think the folks wanting snorkels and all will be complaining about this too. I'll be complaining if a snorkel is offered. I already don't like all this overlanding talk. Oh, and get off my lawn...

 

[Corsair]

If everyone is right in the expectation that having 4A is required to get the 4.7:1 ratio, then I’d have to go with yes.

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