Should 2 Wheel Drive Low Range be a option??

[Movin_Easy]

While visiting a local hilly campground I had finished my visit and was heading to the clean out. The location of the cleanout was up a steep incline and around a bend on pavement. I had to decide to pull in 2HI and strain my transmission or choose 4LOW and risk damaging my front axle. Who else thinks trucks should offer 2 wheel drive low range as a option??

[hotpepperkid]

That is exactly my truck has manual hubs and x-fer case

[blofgren]

Pretty simple in my Ram: flip BD 2 low switch, then turn the 4x4 shift knob to 4 Low. Reverse to take it out.

[Fordlover]

I miss my old 5 speed manual trans with the floor shifter, I could leave the hubs unlocked, and get 2lo. I could also shift between low range and high range while rolling at very very low speeds. Now I have to come to a complete stop, shift to neutral/park, and wait for the electric motor to switch the T-case, but I don't have to get out in the weather to lock in the front axle anymore.

[Dream_chaser]

My boss has a 2low button in his 2011 Denali dually he owns a marina. When he is moving 30 foot cruisers boats around the yard on the hydraulic trailer or at the boat ramp he uses 2low but when he needs 4 low he just pushes the button again and it's back in 4 wheel drive low. I think every tuck owner that move heavy trailers around should have this in their truck

[bid_time]

I one time engaged 4 Hi in a parking lot somehow by accident. Upon turning into a parking spot the wheel hop woke me up in a hurry, and I hadn't even went 3-feet. I dare say a continuous use on dry pavement as the OP described would probably result in major damage in short order.

[Bedlam]

How often do you plow with the wheels fully cut in either direction on dry pavement? This application for 2wd low is typically when you need to position a trailer in tight quarters while possibly fighting an incline or curb on a high traction surface.

[wanderingbob]

Maybe the OP is looking for a solution to a problem that does not exist !
The way I read it is that he fears that occasionally use of 4 wheel drive on good pavement might cause serious damage to truck . As any one who has plowed snow with a 4x4 will know many times we run 4x4 engaged off and on good traction , we do not disengage just because their is good traction .The occasional use of 4x4 low or high has caused no damage to me that I am aware of !

[bpounds]

I think 2WD-Low is a great modification, but I don't think you will ever see it offered as an option on LD trucks. Too many idgits would be using it on the highway, or to pull far more weight than designed for.

I don't know what it will take on a GM product, but I'll bet it isn't that much different than a Ford. On a Ford, your transfer case is electrically shifted (or manually if you have MSOF) and your hubs are locked with vacuum. So all it takes to achieve 2WD-Low is a switch and relay to interrupt the signal to the vacuum solenoid. Easy enough for a DIY with a little ingenuity. Really nice if you happen to have the upfitter switches.

[Bedlam]

I remember reading that on older units you could run a switch in series with the actuator to prevent the front end from engaging, but I don't know enough about the engagement setup to know if it is safe to do so.

[Movin_Easy]

WOW THANKS FOR ALL THE INPUT I DID NOTICE THE 2LOW KIT.I CALLED THEM AND DIDNT HAVE ONE TO FIT MY 05 SIERRA. ITS WORKS ON 2007 AND UP GMC TRUCKS. BUT STILL A GREAT IDEA.

[Love_to_Hunt]

Austingta.
My 2LOW kit was super easy to install as it just plugs into the OBDII under my dash. It had mine for about a year now without any problems. I see now they are available for GMC and CHEV also some Ford F-150 trucks. I paid $350 Canadian for mine but noticed them on ( can I say on here Ebay ) store for $300.00.

[austingta]

Bedlam wrote:
My previous Ford had manual locking hubs and I found 2wd low to be handy. My current Ram does not have this option, but is geared lower which helps. I have seen the manual hub conversions, but really don't want to spend that much for occasional convenience.

Looks easy enough. If it works long-term.

http://2low.ca/order/

[Bedlam]

My previous Ford had manual locking hubs and I found 2wd low to be handy. My current Ram does not have this option, but is geared lower which helps. I have seen the manual hub conversions, but really don't want to spend that much for occasional convenience.

[Love_to_Hunt]

I was reading these posts and had to comment. I drive a 2007 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4. Last fall I was backing up my dump trailer with my winters wood. Then without any warning I lost reverse. So after paying $2100.00 to have it rebuilt I was extremely nervous backing things up. Then I found a kit called 2LOW a front axle disconnect. It just plugs into the data link connector under my dash. It gives me 2 wheel drive low range at the push of a button. Now I can easily move my trailers around without the binding of 4WD. Now some people talk about damaging their axles or a u-joint from the extra torque. Well for me I will risk damaging a u-joint or a axle before replacing my transmission again. If anyone wants to know more about my kit I bought just ask. Thanks Jake.