I have been looking at 1 ton dodge diesel auto srw pickups (used) to purchase for a dd and tow rig when I ran across an article that says there was an option (specifically the 2005 year and maybe more?) to get a full time t-case. I was surprised to read this as I don’t know what use this would be but here are my questions:

When distinguishing between the full time and part time cases is it the part time units that have the tcase shifter lever on the floor and the full time ones have a selector knob on the dash (I thought I saw one like this)? Or does this have nothing to do with it?

Why a full time case on a 1 ton truck? Doesn’t this kill the gas mileage and just wear out front end parts? Or is the article wrong and there is no full time case?

I found a 2005 3500 truck that I like but don’t want to get hosed with a full time case. Whats the story with these?

i have not heard of a full time transfer case availible on a 1 ton truck. id agree the market that values such a thing is certainly not the same market that buys a 1 ton truck,so it would be pretty pointless...

full time is simply the case stays in 4wd all the time and has a provision for the front and rear driveshafts to not be mechanically locked together,to allow for differentiation around corners. typically this is a viscuous coupling filled with magic silicone fluid,but there could be other variations as well.

a full time case may have a lock position or button,so the case can be mechanically locked like any other transfer case in 4wd. this mode should not be used on high traction surfaces(dry pavement)

a full time case may even have a 2wd(like the nvg 242 found in xjs,zjs,and wjs) but most folks like to call this case fulltime/part time.

a part time case has simply a 2wd,a 4wd high range,and most of the time a neutral position and low range.

if youve found a truck you like,just look or ask what case is in it. new process/new venture gear puts a tag on the rear with the model number and low range. also look at the shifter. if the shifter just has H-N-L,or there is no shifter then it could be a full time case! :laughing: easy as that... dont buy a truck that doesnt have 2H-4H-N-4L onthe shifter.

Doesn’t this kill the gas mileage and just wear out front end parts? Or is the article wrong and there is no full time case?

I found a 2005 3500 truck that I like but don’t want to get hosed with a full time case. Whats the story with these?

i dont think dodge offered a full time case in the 3/4 or 1ton trucks but that put aside it wouldnt wear the front end out any faster than a non awd because the fron end always spins on the newer dodges no hubs to unlock so the axle and driveshafts always spins

if the shifter just has H-N-L,or there is no shifter then it could be a full time case! :laughing: easy as that... dont buy a truck that doesnt have 2H-4H-N-4L onthe shifter.

If this is how to tell the two cases apart then the truck I am looking at is full time, there is no mechanical shifter, its a switch on the dash. Although, my wifes 4runner has the dash mounted selector and its a part time case even though it has no neutral.

The truck is in Washington and I am in Reno so this a long distance purchase, I cant just go take a look easily. And you know how some owners are, they dont even know what they got.

i dont think dodge offered a full time case in the 3/4 or 1ton trucks but that put aside it wouldnt wear the front end out any faster than a non awd because the fron end always spins on the newer dodges no hubs to unlock so the axle and driveshafts always spins


I didnt even think of this point and I agree 100%.

If I am able to get a deal worked with the owner I plan to have him take the truck to a shop for a quick look at the entire rig and hopefully they can tell me for sure what case it has. I would really like to know before getting this far though so I am not wasting my time or the sellers.

No full time 4wd on 3/4 and one ton dodge pick-ups.

The difference between the floor shifter and the knob is one is in the floor and one is on the dash. The floor shifter is manually connected to the case and the knob is electric.

i dont think dodge offered a full time case in the 3/4 or 1ton trucks but that put aside it wouldnt wear the front end out any faster than a non awd because the fron end always spins on the newer dodges no hubs to unlock so the axle and driveshafts always spins

They don't have the splined disconnect in the front diff, like Chevy uses, and like my old '96 Dodge 2500 did (wasn't into it, but it had a couple of vacuum(?) lines running down to the front diff)?? Chevys unlock one side of the diff output, so you've both outer shafts spinning, but since the sides aren't locked together, the passenger side outer shaft spins with the tire, and the driver's side outer shaft spins with the tire. The driver's side shaft spins the spider gears, which spin the inner passenger side shaft (the one with the splined disconnect) backward; and the carrier, ring/pinion, and front prop shaft sit still...

Mike

No full time 4wd on 3/4 and one ton dodge pick-ups.

The difference between the floor shifter and the knob is one is in the floor and one is on the dash. The floor shifter is manually connected to the case and the knob is electric.

Also in 94-02 trucks they had the nv241d or the nv241dhd. the shifters have a different pattern between the two.

My 05 Dodge 3500 CC Dually has the selector knob on the dash and it has 2wd, 4wdH, and 4wdL settings. I have never heard of a full time case in these trucks.

Lockout hubs went away in '94. CAD went away in '02. There has never been a diesel truck built from Dodge with a full time t-case. I think just the Durango/Dakota and 1500's have a "fulltime" tcase. Our last durango did not even have a low 4x4 selection, just fulltime, and lock.

Michael

my old 79 power wagon was all time 4wd. That was a piss poor design. Ate gas like ti was going out of style. havent ever seen a newer dodge truck that was full time though.

my old 79 power wagon was all time 4wd. That was a piss poor design. Ate gas like ti was going out of style. havent ever seen a newer dodge truck that was full time though.

My 2wd '77 Chevy heavy half got worse mileage then my BB '05 3/4 ton Avalanche which weighs at least 2000 lb more, and has 2.4L more engine, and lower axle gears. I wouldn't look at late seventies trucks as models of mileage.

The Av gets better mileage in AWD then the old Chevy 2wd too... And makes 350+ hp compared to 175 hp.

My 2wd '77 Chevy heavy half got worse mileage then my BB '05 3/4 ton Avalanche which weighs at least 2000 lb more, and has 2.4L more engine, and lower axle gears. I wouldn't look at late seventies trucks as models of mileage.

The Av gets better mileage in AWD then the old Chevy 2wd too... And makes 350+ hp compared to 175 hp.

I wasnt comparing mileage, Just stating that Dodge did make an all time 4w4, but it was quite awhile back. Try tuning up the old 2wd chevy once in awhile. it will help alot with fuel mielage.

If this is how to tell the two cases apart then the truck I am looking at is full time, there is no mechanical shifter, its a switch on the dash..

as has been mentioned allready,being a switch on the dash isnt the way to tell... its the pattern. if there is not a 2wd position on a mechanical lever,or a switch on the dash,then youd be lookig at full time.

sounds like you dont need to worry about it,tho... sounds like its got a conventional transfer case with a dash shifting setup. thats one thing i appreciate about my 96-a good old fasioned lever. when i move it i know im in 4wd. no flipping the switch and wondering :laughing:

I wasnt comparing mileage, Just stating that Dodge did make an all time 4w4, but it was quite awhile back. Try tuning up the old 2wd chevy once in awhile. it will help alot with fuel mielage.

Yeah, it used to hold a tune ok, but then the stock Quadrajet starting leaking, I made the mistake of putting a rebuild unit on it, and it never seem to be able to tune perfect. In retrospect rebuilding the original would have been the way to go.

Sorry for being OT.

The knob on the dash on the truck that I am looking at has 2wd-4hi-4lo and taking all the info that everyone provided I would say its part time. We are haggling price and I am losing. I think he should drop 1k just cause its electric shift and no lever!:D

There has not been a full time transfer case in any 3/4 or 1 ton truck since the 80's. What dodge did do in 2005 that was differant than the older ones was to remove the CAS from the front axle assembly so that the drive shaft spun all of the time.

There has not been a full time transfer case in any 3/4 or 1 ton truck since the 80's. What dodge did do in 2005 that was differant than the older ones was to remove the CAS from the front axle assembly so that the drive shaft spun all of the time.

Actually 2003 with the introduction of AAM axles in the HD trucks.

There has not been a full time transfer case in any 3/4 or 1 ton truck since the 80's. What dodge did do in 2005 that was differant than the older ones was to remove the CAS from the front axle assembly so that the drive shaft spun all of the time.

That sucks... With my '90 W-250 CTD (4.10), I get 20-21mpg with the hubs unlocked, and get 18-19 with them locked, in 2WD... Putting aftermarket lockouts on the front end of a newer truck might actually pay for itself if you're going to keep the truck for a long time...

Mike

Actually 2003 with the introduction of AAM axles in the HD trucks.

nope, '02 had a Dana 60 front end with no CAD.

nope, '02 had a Dana 60 front end with no CAD.

Ah.. good to know.

Some '01.5s had no CAD either. Not sure all did.
'03 was the first year for the AAM axle, just so that's clear.

In an era where the car companies will give their left nut for a 1mpg gain, they make a change that costs 1-2mpg... I know 1-tons didn't count for CAFE, but 3/4 tons did, right?

Mike

In an era where the car companies will give their left nut for a 1mpg gain, they make a change that costs 1-2mpg... I know 1-tons didn't count for CAFE, but 3/4 tons did, right?

Mike

Nope. That's why 2500/250+ truck's don't have an EPA sticker.

Nope. That's why 2500/250+ truck's don't have an EPA sticker.

OK, that makes sense... Cost savings with no CAFE hit...

Mike

Well, this deal fell through and it wasnt a good thing for me. Read it here:

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?p=11374013#post11374013

What a crappy seller.

In an era where the car companies will give their left nut for a 1mpg gain, they make a change that costs 1-2mpg... I know 1-tons didn't count for CAFE, but 3/4 tons did, right?

Mike
They'd probably consider offering it if 90% of their buyers weren't too lazy to get out and lock the hubs in. Hell, lock the hubs in if you even THINK there is a possibility of needing 4x4...it's no worse than the way all trucks are now, you just have the option to free it all up if you want.