red_dog007

My step-dad has a 4x4 5.2L v8 Automatic Ram 1500.
It has 4Lo and 4Hi.

Not really sure what is going on with it. 4Lo is pretty universal amougst everyone. low gear plus diffs are locked.
Now when it is in 4Hi, it gets confusing to me. The diffs are still open. I actually got stupidly stuck in 4Hi the other day with it (so apparently no auto lockers either.) Had to use 4Lo to get the diffs locked. But in 4Hi, whenever you make a turn it pulls like the front diffs are locked.
Whats going on there? It doesn't make any sense to me that it would do that.

HCCAFan

See what transfer case is in it. You sure it was locked?

red_dog007

Where do I find that on this Dodge. I checked the glovebox and door frame. No info.

The Sunvisor shows that 4Hi is only for slippery surface. So that means locking rear at least. Doesn't make sense because I should have gotten stuck twice in the places that I did and get only wheel spin instead of forward movement.

truckntractorhick

by "locked" it means the front and rear differentials are locked together not independent wheels on the axle type locker system. its prolly a part time system then

red_dog007

Yeah. Just weird. It pulls when I turn in 4Hi, but I get stuck in 4Hi where 4Lo gets me out, but it isn't in a place where 4Lo is needed.

1st case was
Incline, 2 front wheels on dry grass, right rear on gravel and left rear on pavement = stuck in 4Hi. Got out in 4Lo.

2nd case was very small incline on dirt/grass going over 2 to 4 inch branches. Get stuck in 4Hi but 4Lo gets me out.

This truck has some fresh nubs on it too. None of this should have needed 4Lo. I have done these in my Jeep in FullTime and it does just fine.


Stupid.

Mattpar

My guess is that the CAD(whatever that collar slide thing on the pass frt axle shaft) isnt engaging in 4HI, but is in 4LO

Might wanna put the trunk up on jack stands and see if the front wheels will turn in 4HI, and then in 4LO. Just make sure you stop the tires(foot on brake) when shifting in and out of 4Hi/4LO

That slide collar is controlled by vacuum,.. maybe its not getting vacuum to the front axle in 4hi, but is in 4lo.

I believe there is no power to the front drive shaft in 2wd(so it should not spin with all 4 tires off the ground, just the rear tires), in 4HI/4Lo it puts power to the front driveshaft and should slide the CAD collar over. That should power the front axle and get power to the tires. If the front driveshaft spins, but none of the front tires are spinning, chances are the CAD collar isnt sliding over in 4HI. Then try in 4LO, the front tires should spin.

Hope that helps?