So it's about to start getting cold and snowing, I know you can switch to 4 HI "at any legal speed," but to get the Tcase to go back to 2 HI, do you HAVE to reverse? Anybody know any tricks so I don't have to find a spot to reverse if the road gets clear after I hit snow?

 

No if you have vacuum check thous hoses to se that's how it goes back to 2 hi

 

What? Shouldn't have to do that. I'd agree that there may be a vac issue.. Dunno..

 

Vacuum hose to the Tcase or vacuum hose to the front diff?

 

By the way it's a 94 4.0 AW4

 

try letting off the gas as you shift 4x4, shift into nuetral and back to drive. the owners manual actually gives a very good discription of how to properly shift 4x4

 

Here's your answer:

Here's how the factory suggests you shift the transfer case and I've been doing this since these things were new and I worked at the dealership. Quoted from the owner's manual.

"To engage, shift the transfer case lever from 2H to 4H while the vehicle is moving at any legal speed". I let off the gas, throw the lever and then tap the gas and let off.

4L position: " To engage, slow the vehicle to 2-3 MPH , shift the transmission to Neutral, then shift the transfer lever to the right and pull firmly rearward to 4L".

 

Front diff

 

No vacuum hose to the front diff from 91 on.

 

My 82 Ramcharger has auto hubs, and after you shift back into 2HI, you need to back up a few feet to disengage the hubs. I wonder if this is what the OP is referring to.

 

Probably. But driving in a straight line in 4H, letting off the gas, throwing the lever to 2H and then tapping the gas and letting off again should disengage it.

One thing that will aggravate the situation is different size tires from front to rear or unmaintained tire pressures.

 

That's what I was thinking.

 

I messed with it this morning in a gravel parking lot. Switching the tranny into neutral and putting the Tcase back in 2 HI works perfectly.
About the ramcharger, thats exactly what I had to do before.
I did have low tire pressure when that was happening, but it still did it this morning with normal tire pressure.

 

Not accurate. Vacuum only engages/disengages the right front axle on the earlier models. All transfer case shifting is done with the lever, not vacuum.

 

Just shift at speed using the instructions provided. Less strain on the shift forks/linkage.