2wd Low?

[carringb]

Originally Posted by capnjim

So which should I do? 1/4 mile up a very steep dry pavement incline in 2wd low or 4wd low. Both seem to have risk and downside. My unit weighs 11500 lbs and I don't want to snap anything in the Dana 70. Thoughts?

Jim

I wouldn't hesitate to use 2wd low. The steady-state torque isn't what you need to worry about. It's a sudden peak-torque from all the driveline windup if you mash on the go-pedal too quickly. So as long as you are smooth on the throttle.... should not be a issue.

But if you got the trans hot enough to retard power (which I'm pretty sure you did, since the 5.4L is not THAT underpowered), definitely upgrade the cooler, because there are likely other times you are getting it hot.

[capnjim]

I had a thought, my problem might have been operator error. The very steep service road came up very fast and I never stopped or switched the tranny into 1st gear on the tree. I'm not 100% sure that it ever switched into 1st gear on the climb. It could have been climbing in second with the trottle floored and hadn't switched down yet, NOT sure???? Anyway next time I'm going to make sure I'm in first gear and low if needed.

Jim

Quigley 21' 4x4 RV
E 350 DRW 5.4 L

[carringb]

If you have the shifter in 2nd or 3rd, it will not downshift. It locks it in those gears no matter what. This is actually really useful on ice, since it reduces torque, which makes wheel-spin less likely. Also kinda nice is slow traffic so you can select your creep speed at idle.

[capnjim]

I had the selector in D not 1, 2, or 3. So I'm not sure which gear was being utilized by the tranny.

Jim

[BajaSportsmobile]

Originally Posted by capnjim

I had the selector in D not 1, 2, or 3. So I'm not sure which gear was being utilized by the tranny.

Jim

Generally you have to come to a complete stop to automatically shift back to 1st or manually shift 1.

[UJOINT]

I do it often, especially when moving a loaded trailer.

[freddiejohn]

I have a 2002 Quigley SMB and live up an unbelievably steep cobble-stone hill. I regularly shift into low range to climb the hill (without the hubs locked as there is a sharp turn halfway up). As pointed out earlier, I'm extremely careful to drive smoothly and not "goose" it. I've got the 7.3L diesel chipped, piped, dipped in chocolate... I've had had no ill-effects. Ride 'er smooth cowboy and, in my experience, you should be okay.

Hope you guys are getting things put back together after the flooding.