Theres gotta be a trick. . .

[BroncoHauler]

An Atlas does take quite a bit of break-in, but it's worth it.

However, it could be that your shifters are binding up on something, or maybe the shifter hole wasn't cut properly. I would remove the shifter boot and take a look to make sure there's no interference.

BTW, when 'playing' around with Atlas shifters (at a standstill, not when deliberately rolling back and forth to get the shifters to engage), set the parking brake and chock the wheels on your rig. In neutral, it could roll on you when you least expect it to.


Herb

[edroid]

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

If you want to drive around in 4x4 on asphalt, leave one or both front axles unlocked. No bind on the drivetrain that way.

Mike

So do you think I would get the "break in" by just leaving it in 4x4 high all the time with the hubs unlocked?

[Ford_6L_E350]

The gears are still meshed and 'wearing' in to each other. Probably not nearly as fast as they would under load, but without all the stress 4wd on dry pavement puts on the drivetrain.

It is certainly more effective and more fun to put a few hundred miles in 4wd off road, but that takes more time than most of us have available.

Mike

[Carl]

I have found when new, my best process is to stop and shift into Neutral on a slight slope or slight roll as mentioned above. Gears need to mesh and sometimes are not aligned and a slight movement/roll helps untils used some.

[ProfessorPaddle]

Originally Posted by yvrr

you need to just feel your way from 4N toward 4L and then jam it.

TWSS

[SierraHawk]

Sorry to say but my van (w/Atlas) has over 200K mi and it is still hard to shift into and out of ranges.

[4MacFam]

Here's what Quadvan says to shift into 4L:

1) Stop (best in flat safe spot)
2) lock hubs in
3) put it in neutral
4) with your right hand push the 4x4 shifter back into 4L
5) if it doesn't drop into gear,
a) continue to apply pressure with your right hand to push shifter backwards into 4L
b) use left hand to shift into drive (common sense, don't use the gas pedal)

Works every time.
Good luck.

[edroid]

Originally Posted by 4MacFam

Here's what Quadvan says to shift into 4L:

1) Stop (best in flat safe spot)
2) lock hubs in
3) put it in neutral
4) with your right hand push the 4x4 shifter back into 4L
5) if it doesn't drop into gear,
a) continue to apply pressure with your right hand to push shifter backwards into 4L
b) use left hand to shift into drive (common sense, don't use the gas pedal)

Works every time.
Good luck.

Does Quadvan use the same components as Sportsmobile?

I have tried every combination and contortion to shift the transfer case, and it is just plain a stiff mother.

I think the bottom line is to shift in to four wheel before it is actually needed, cause it ain't gonna happen if the van is stuck someplace nasty.

[rionapo]

Originally Posted by edroid

I have a 2012 SMB with about 15,000 miles. It is an absolute bear to switch in to 4 wheel drive, and fuggedabout switching in to 4 low. . .

Is there a trick? It takes me 5 minutes of stopping, starting, shifting to neutral, shifting to reverse, rolling forward, back, etc, etc. . . Extremely stiff. . .

I remember an old willy's jeep my dad had when I was a kid, that thing would shift in to 4 wheel drive or 4 low like butter!

If I get the van stuck, and cannot move the vehicle back and forth to facilitate shifting, I don't think it will be possible to shift in to 4 wheel . . .

Will my van's drive train ever break in? Any tricks I am missing?

Late to this thread and you may now this already but here's what the Atlas manual says:


I've found that following these instructions precisely makes the shifting process easy.

Don
?

[BajaSportsmobile]

QuadVan does not use the Atlas II so shifting it would be totally different. With our Agile Off-Road system, you just push a button - and you won't trip over the shift levers. Apples and Oranges...