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Why is there no Auto 4X4 function?

40310 Views 14 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  johnj, 
W
This function was deliberately removed. This is a very useful function for the snow/ice covered roadways that We have up north. I don't understand why they made this choice.

For me it will be a deal breaker as I rely on this too much during treacherous winter conditions.
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T
I don't believe this is true but maybe one of the owners will chime in.

All the pictures I have seen of the interior still have the auto 4x4 button. Maybe this removed on the v6? The V8 laramie I test drove the other day had it so I dont know why it would be removed from the rebel. Looking for pics of the interior I do now see some that only have 2wd and 4hi/lo but there are more with auto 4.

https://youtu.be/GTr_3acTrB8?t=3m2s

http://www.ramrebel.org/attachments/2015-ram-1500-rebel-interior-view-jpg.1/

http://image.motortrend.com/f/85776986/2015-Ram-1500-Rebel-interior-02.jpg

Looks like it is missing in this one from the chicago auto show though,
Ram 1500 Rebel 360 Spin | 2015 Chicago Auto Show 360 Spins | 360 Revo | A Marketing Company with 360 Vision
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seeareeff
I have a Hemi 4x4 and it doesn't have auto 4x4.
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W
test123 said:
I don't believe this is true but maybe one of the owners will chime in.

All the pictures I have seen of the interior still have the auto 4x4 button. Maybe this removed on the v6? The V8 laramie I test drove the other day had it so I dont know why it would be removed from the rebel. Looking for pics of the interior I do now see some that only have 2wd and 4hi/lo but there are more with auto 4....
Click to expand...

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...and it's so true!
The black-out space in the north-west corner of the 4X4 control is where the "Auto" function normally resides in other Ram's


I was just looking to understand why such a choice was made. Maybe a Mopar person can chime in and let us know?


and can it be installed by the dealer and activated in the 4X4 system?
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T
OK I looked into it because I remembered that ram uses two different transfer cases, and this is the cause. They use the borg warner 44-44 and 44-45. Lets call it, 44-44 "auto" and 44-45 "locking".

No it cannot be installed afterwords, at least not simply, as the transfer cases for the 4x4 work differently and would need to be replaced.

The AUTO is in the higher trim models and is more of a convenience thing. Letting you put it in 4 auto so you dont need to mess with it. HOWEVER it is NOT as "good" of a transfer case for a situation when you really need 4 wheel drive. The reason they use the locking and not the auto is because the truck is intended for offroad. The AUTO transfer case uses a clutch like an LSD to engage and disengage the front portion of the drive train. IT DOES NOT ACTUALLY LOCK, EVER.

The one that comes in the lower trims, and the Rebel, DOES ACTUALLY LOCK into 4 wheel drive. This is why the outdoorsman comes with it too. The slipping clutch of the auto transfer case will eat its self up in heavy mud or snow. The "lower trim" does not since it actually locks and is locked the whole time.

If you want to see what I am talking about check out this video,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEhT-scgV2o

and this old thread that talks about it,
outdoorsman vs big horn differences - Page 2

So it looks like it was removed to provide a more robust vehicle and better performance. Which judging by the first reviews linked on here it does very very well. I bet the initial rams that they showed in detroit were just laramies that had the rebel interior put in. Its basically a laramie anyway. The ones at the chicago show missing the auto button were likely made later and were actually 2015 rebels.
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test123 said:
OK I looked into it because I remembered that ram uses two different transfer cases, and this is the cause. They use the borg warner 44-44 and 44-45. Lets call it, 44-44 "auto" and 44-45 "locking".

No it cannot be installed afterwords, at least not simply, as the transfer cases for the 4x4 work differently and would need to be replaced.

The AUTO is in the higher trim models and is more of a convenience thing. Letting you put it in 4 auto so you dont need to mess with it. HOWEVER it is NOT as "good" of a transfer case for a situation when you really need 4 wheel drive. The reason they use the locking and not the auto is because the truck is intended for offroad. The AUTO transfer case uses a clutch like an LSD to engage and disengage the front portion of the drive train. IT DOES NOT ACTUALLY LOCK, EVER.

The one that comes in the lower trims, and the Rebel, DOES ACTUALLY LOCK into 4 wheel drive. This is why the outdoorsman comes with it too. The slipping clutch of the auto transfer case will eat its self up in heavy mud or snow. The "lower trim" does not since it actually locks and is locked the whole time.

If you want to see what I am talking about check out this video,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEhT-scgV2o

and this old thread that talks about it,
outdoorsman vs big horn differences - Page 2

So it looks like it was removed to provide a more robust vehicle and better performance. Which judging by the first reviews linked on here it does very very well. I bet the initial rams that they showed in detroit were just laramies that had the rebel interior put in. Its basically a laramie anyway. The ones at the chicago show missing the auto button were likely made later and were actually 2015 rebels.
Click to expand...


Wow! that's an explanation. I understand the difference now. Thanks Test for looking into this.
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T
Just to be clear, the video is showing the front wheel start and stop moving. This is the clutch engaging and disengaging. Notice the back wheel is smooth.

It's not a huge issue really, unless you get really really stuck in something and have to rock your way out of it. and really I don't know how much it would take to have issues. As long as your giving it gas the clutch is engaged and will stay that way. It's the start stop that causes the issue.

Personally I have had auto and non auto vehicles and I have never thought wow good thing I have auto 4x4. Once you see you need it just pull a lever or push a button and your good to go. It's not like you have to stop and put it in neutral any more (for 4 low you do but that's expected) or get out and lock hubs. It's still on the fly with a button push.
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Stmarybk
locking the hubs.. ahhh the memories lol...
DO NOT miss those days lol
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W
How fast can you go with 4x4 locked in without risking mechanical damage. Is driving on the highway while locked in 4 is a possibility, let's say during a snow storm on an icy highway
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T
faster than is safe if you really need it. 50 or 60 i think.
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W
Thanks i guess it depends what kind of weather one expects to encounter. The driving in 4x4 mode on a an icy highway or slippery snowy highway sometimes means the difference between driving it into the ditch or not. But 50-60 is enough in those conditions (mph I assume? I'm in Canada and we enjoy the metric system over here, an idiocy they did to us in the 70's).
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W
BTW Test123 I'm shopping for a new one and I had hesitations between this cool looking sporty model vs a more luxurious Longhorn. Thanks for your answers they have been very helpful.
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REBEL04
test123, good info. Of course, I was dumb and didn't notice my rebel missing the auto 4x4 until a few days after I bought it. I figured I could switch it into 4 lock if I need it....granted, i'm going under 50mph.
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Tucker73
I was disappointed about this as well! Other thing was no seat memory this really sucks!
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johnj
I like mine. Don't miss AWD. It's so easy to switch into 4 hi lock if needed, and back out to 2wd. So much better than getting out to lock the hubs. And looking at the descriptions of the differences between the two systems Ram has, I prefer this one.
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