SMB 4x4 - Front Axle Only Engaged?

[sdwindansea]

I have a 2007 SMB 4x4. I can place the rear axle in low/high with the front in neutral. I can also engage both axles in high/low for 4x4. However, should I be able to leave the rear in neutral and just engage the front in the case of some kind of "emergency"? I always thought this was the case, but I have not been able to do so. If you can do this, is there any tricks for getting it to engage? Or is this just a misunderstanding on my part? Thanks.

[woodbee]

Originally Posted by sdwindansea

I have a 2007 SMB 4x4. I can place the rear axle in low/high with the front in neutral. I can also engage both axles in high/low for 4x4. However, should I be able to leave the rear in neutral and just engage the front in the case of some kind of "emergency"? I always thought this was the case, but I have not been able to do so. If you can do this, is there any tricks for getting it to engage? Or is this just a misunderstanding on my part? Thanks.

Yes, you can have only the front engaged. That is what I do before I go 4 wheeling just make sure the front does engage.
It might work to engage front and rear and then try to put the rear in neutral.

Good luck,
Woody

[EMrider]

Originally Posted by sdwindansea

I have a 2007 SMB 4x4. I can place the rear axle in low/high with the front in neutral. I can also engage both axles in high/low for 4x4. However, should I be able to leave the rear in neutral and just engage the front in the case of some kind of "emergency"? I always thought this was the case, but I have not been able to do so. If you can do this, is there any tricks for getting it to engage? Or is this just a misunderstanding on my part? Thanks.

You should be able to engage the front axle only in low range, but not in high range. This is a design feature of the atlas transfer case to get you out of a jam if something breaks in the rear. I am hold it will only engage the front in low range for safety reasons.

I have driven front only in low range several times. Cannot engage front only in high.

Sometimes it is difficult to get the front only to engage. That is a concern of mine if the rear were really broken.

R

[sdwindansea]

Thanks Woody and EMrider. I'll give the front low only option a try next time I drive and let you know what I find out.

[sdwindansea]

Just tried it this morning, I was able to engage front/low only...and the van actually moved as well. Thanks again for the help.

[daveb]

So you can't put it in high four wheel drive and put the back axle in neutral?

Can't say I've tried it but have done it by accident in low range. Had to winch myself out of a snow bank then realized what I had done

[sdwindansea]

Dave, I was never able to do put it in front, high only...which is what I was always trying to do and why I made the post. It didn't matter if I had both axles in high, then tried to place the rear in neutral or both in neutral and attempt to engage front, high only. In both cases it wouldn't budge.

[daveb]

Well that's good to know. When my rear U-Joint was failing in Nevada I called SMB and asked about pulling the driveline to limp home and they said I could, just to keep speed below 45. I can't imagine low range at 45mph though.

[jage]

Originally Posted by daveb

Well that's good to know. When my rear U-Joint was failing in Nevada I called SMB and asked about pulling the driveline to limp home and they said I could, just to keep speed below 45. I can't imagine low range at 45mph though.

Pulling the driveline and putting it in 4hi, not shifting the rear into N with the front engaged in Hi... small difference. And I don't know why you'd need to keep it to 45mph, you can drive faster in 4x4. I would not hard start or do hard pulls though- personal preference, to keep the strain off the front shaft and axle.

[daveb]

Yo, that would work. Just leave the rear engaged