6.4L Power Stroke Engine and DrivetrainDiscussion of the 6.4L Power Stroke diesel engine and drivetrain in the 2008 Super-Duty trucks. No gas engine discussion allowed except on transmissions and drivetrain that pertain to all models. Please confine discussion of topics in this forum to those items that are specific to the 6.4L Power Stroke engine.
Am I crazy for buying a 450 with manual shift transfer case?
Early in my 2004 F-250's life, ESOF let me down. I had selected 4wd High on a slick wet boat ramp. After climbing to the top of the ramp, the transfer case would not shift out of 4high. Nothing I attempted would switch it to 2wd. Repaired under warranty, shift motor on transfer case and switch assembly were replaceed, plus about a month later dut to impossible to rotate, the hubs were also replaced. When I ordered the new truck, I decided to go with the manual shift transfer case and manual hubs, neither of which I have ever had any problems with in other Fords. Curious how many others with 450 Lariets optioned the manual transfer case.
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2008 F-450 Lariat Dark Stone Metallic over Pueblo Gold 4x4(manual shift transfer case, manual hubs), High capacity tow 4:88s, Off Road, Camper packages, Sirius Sat, Upfitter switches, DVD entertainment, tailgate step, traction control, Audiophile 6-disc, PTC Supplemental heat and heated seats(warm buns), rear sensors, traction control, tailgate step. Built May 8, delivered May 24
Reese Signature Series 24k fiver hitch, I installed it myself, best hitch I have found yet
Line-X bedliner, heavy duty floor mats
2003 Sunline F281SR(weekend getaways)
SeaRay 215EC http://community.webshots.com/user/C...host=community
Re: Am I crazy for buying a 450 with manual shift transfer case?
Capt, I don't have a F-450 yet..... but when I do decide which truck I order whether a 450 or 350, I will make sure I get the manual Xfer case and not the ESOF.
I currently have the manual case in my F-250 and wouldn't have it any other way. I know that you tow a large camper, I have followed a lot
of your posts over at the RV.net forum. The manual case will allow you to select 4Lo to get the extra low gearing without having to lock in the front hubs. This feature comes in very handy for me each time I back my 5'er up the incline of my driveway. This way, since I have to make some sharp turns of the steering wheel while in 4Lo to get the trailer lined up with the driveway, front end won't bind up.
Since the hubs on the ESOF are automatic locking, and engage when 4wd is selected, you would not be able to accomplish this without defeating the vacuum system someway to not engage the hubs.
Anyway, I hope this makes sense....
Duane
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2008 F-350 6.4 Job 1 SRW LWB 4x4 Lariat Crew Cab, Dark Blue Pearl/Pueblo Gold, With all options except the tailgate step and cab clearance lights.
2006 F350 CC LB 4WD 6.0L Lariat G/N Hitch 4285mi - 1 Turbo Trashed 1600mi, MetaL in Oil,F*rd no help, Bad instrument cluster - significant oil leak - Sold at a Loss!Thanks F*&D
2005 F250 CC SB 6.0L Torqshift Lariat G/N Hitch and Tonneau - Wife's Truck 29K miles Turbo at 14K.
2002 F350 XLT 4WD CC SWB 7.3 PSD 100K miles MPRB 4" Exhaust, Ford AIS, AutoMeter Guages,Hypertech Pwr Prg Stage 2,Rancho 5000's Aluminum Diff Cover, G/N Hitch, 285/75/16 BFG Mud Terrains, 1 CPS 33k 1 Turbo at 85K - Will Drive till it Rusts Away!
1996 F250 SC 4x4 7.3L PSD XLT 5 Speed 86K miles G/N - Sold -To Buy the POS F350 6.0 L 2006 - why did I do it ?
1997 Dodge 2500 CC 4WD 12V Cummins 5 speed Turned up Pump and Boost, 4" MPRB Turbo Back Exhaust, AFE Stage 2 Intake - 285/75R Mud Terrains 151K miles- Hammer Down Blows Black Smoke :-) Son's Truck!
Re: Am I crazy for buying a 450 with manual shift transfer case?
I had a 99 and 01 with shift on the fly. Both let me down. My KR has the manual and has never let me down. All were F-350's. So when I ordered my new 450, I ordered the manual.
Re: Am I crazy for buying a 450 with manual shift transfer case?
Manual shift is the only way to go, I think you are smart to get it!
My current truck has a manual transmission, transfer case and hubs, and my next truck will have the same. The less automatic features the better for me...
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Silver Metallic 2008 F-350 Lariat, Crew Cab, PSD, 4x4, Auto, MoonRoof, Medium Stone Leather, Heated Captains Chairs, Tow Command, Audiophile, Camper, Tow and Off-Road Package...
White 2002 F-350 XLT, Standard Cab, PSD, 4x4, 6 speed, Donahoe 3" leveling kit, 305 Toyo AT's, Bilsteins, Air Bags, AutoMeter Pyro and Boost Pillar Gauges...
Re: Am I crazy for buying a 450 with manual shift transfer case?
You're not crazy...Ford's ESOF has always had problems. I think while Dodge and GM have a decent shift on the fly system Ford does not. My friend was giving me crap for ordering manual hubs and this winter the ESOF didn't work on his F150 Lariat...mine worked all winter without a hitch. Getting out in a blizzard does indeed suck, but at least I'll have the piece of mind that a mechanical connection is there and not some crappy vacuum switch system.
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2006 CC LB F350 XLT 4x4, 6.0, 6spd, man hubs, FX4 minus the bed stickers, 6 disc changer, power seats, AIC mod, TorkLift camper tiedowns.
Re: Am I crazy for buying a 450 with manual shift transfer case?
You make a very good point that I have not thought about. With the manual type transfer case and manually locking hubs, having the ability to select 4hi or 4low without locking the hubs is a great idea for backing uphill. One of the many reasons I have not bought a Dodge 4wd is that the hubs are locked all the time, with that front drivetrain spinning constantly while underway. I had a Jeep Wrangler with the same setup and did not like it. I am sure it is a cost cutting measure but I would much rather have the control of locking/unlocking when I want to.
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2008 F-450 Lariat Dark Stone Metallic over Pueblo Gold 4x4(manual shift transfer case, manual hubs), High capacity tow 4:88s, Off Road, Camper packages, Sirius Sat, Upfitter switches, DVD entertainment, tailgate step, traction control, Audiophile 6-disc, PTC Supplemental heat and heated seats(warm buns), rear sensors, traction control, tailgate step. Built May 8, delivered May 24
Reese Signature Series 24k fiver hitch, I installed it myself, best hitch I have found yet
Line-X bedliner, heavy duty floor mats
2003 Sunline F281SR(weekend getaways)
SeaRay 215EC http://community.webshots.com/user/C...host=community
Re: Am I crazy for buying a 450 with manual shift transfer case?
Greetings,
I have ESOF and have had no issues last two winters here in MN. Love the snow so once it starts snowing I go out just to enjoy.
I wonder how many people that have had problems with ESOF may not have had them if they put it into 4wd at least once a month even if not needed? I put mine into 4wd once or twice a month even when there is no snow or a need. Just do it on a dirt rod when I come accross one.
Is their some seal or something that needs to be lubed every once in a while? Would throwing it in 4wd ensure that something does not dry out, etc?
Peace and Blessings
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Charity, Faith, Hope, and Love!
Re: Am I crazy for buying a 450 with manual shift transfer case?
Hi,
I'm a new user but I have been reading with great interest post concerning the 6.4 because I have ordered my first ever Ford Pickup Truck. Concerning your question as to whether you should purchase "SOF" or a "Manual" four wheel drive shifter, I have struggled with the same issue but arrived at the following conclusion.
1) I have read that the most reliable shift system is a "Manual" shifter and if you have the choice, choose the manual.
2) I have always had "Manual shifters" in all my vehicles (Suburbans) because I like the organic feel of knowing it is REALLY engaged. Also when they were first introduced, I read stories about how unreliable they were.
3) During the last Fifteen years, I have only needed Four Wheel Drive a half dozen times. Three of those times where while moving heavy trailers in mud or on a steep grade. (For this reason I even considered not ordering four wheel drive at all in this vehicle!)
4) My original Truck Order included a "Manual Shifter" for the four wheel drive. However I began to think about the fact that I rarely see manual shifters anymore and so I questioned the Commercial Truck Manager (30 years with the dealership) as to how he viewed the SOF system. His answer seem to make sense. He commented that the SOF system has been around for nearly fifteen years and although it gave them fits in the early years, he hasn't seen one in the shop for a long, long time. I think his exact words were, "I can't remember the last time I've seen one in our shop."
5) All of this leads me to reason that: since I don't rely heavily on four wheel drive, and (all things being equal), the SOF appears to be a really slick operating system, and I think it fits better with the clean modern appearance fo the interior, I changed over to the SOF.
Time will tell if I made a good or bad choice!!!
Re: Am I crazy for buying a 450 with manual shift transfer case?
Mine had few miles on it when the ESOF decided not to shift out of 4hi. To make matters worse, I was 45 miles from home, it was getting late, had the Wife and three tired Daughters with me. I had to drive those 45 miles towing a 5500lb boat and trailer at 25mph, stopping frequently, backing up a few feet(to attempt to relieve drivetrain binding). I even tried disconnecting the batteries, hoping that the lost electrical system would allow any spring force to disengage the transfer case, no joy. And I do drive down a dirt road quite often and cycle the transfer case from 2hi to 4hi, also everytime I wash the truck or check tire pressures, I will spin the hubs from auto to lock and back. Nope, I think I will not regret stepping back in time and going manual. That shifter may look odd in a Lariet, but that is okay. I imagine it will be quite a reach through those 19.5" rims to reach the hubs to spin them to lock.
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2008 F-450 Lariat Dark Stone Metallic over Pueblo Gold 4x4(manual shift transfer case, manual hubs), High capacity tow 4:88s, Off Road, Camper packages, Sirius Sat, Upfitter switches, DVD entertainment, tailgate step, traction control, Audiophile 6-disc, PTC Supplemental heat and heated seats(warm buns), rear sensors, traction control, tailgate step. Built May 8, delivered May 24
Reese Signature Series 24k fiver hitch, I installed it myself, best hitch I have found yet
Line-X bedliner, heavy duty floor mats
2003 Sunline F281SR(weekend getaways)
SeaRay 215EC http://community.webshots.com/user/C...host=community
Re: Am I crazy for buying a 450 with manual shift transfer case?
I don't think you are crazy!
I've only ever owned manual shift TCs on my trucks and will continue to do so. I do use my 4x4 and when I want 4x4 I want it to work. No ifs ands or buts!!
When driving on the road I leave everything unlocked. When I go somewhere where I might want 4x4 or when the weather is icy I leave the hubs locked and then just shift manually inside when needed. Never had any issues at all.
I have lots of first hand experience with failed automatic 4x4 systems, fixing them.
The fact that Ford still offers the manual shift with manual hubs is the only reason I didn't get rid of this current truck and buy someone else's
It may well end up being the only thing that keeps me with Ford for my next unit.
As a little side note for us trailer owners if you want to be able to move really slow while positioning a trailer the manual 4x4 setup lets you run low range without locking the front end. I've found this very handy a few times.
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'03, F-350 Lariet, CC, DRW, 5sp torquemaster, 4X4, 4.10ls, Sonic Blue monotone. Hijacker 16K full pivot/slider 5th wh hitch. One PRETTY truck [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] UPDATE: Truck is still performing poorly, though it is better since the last reflash that removed the EBP sensor inputs. Has definately been the worst truck I've owned in my 30 years driving Fords.
'04 F-250 Harley-Davidson 6.0L CC SB 
Linear Mode
