4WD selector really hard to switch ranges - is that normal?

[Ericthemantis]

Even going from 4Auto to 4HI takes gorilla strength and I'm afraid I'm going to break something. Letting it slowly roll doesn't seem to help.

Going into 4H is different than 4L. You should still be in gear ('D') for 4H. It should be an "on-the-fly" type shift. You can be moving or not, just don't be accelerating. 4L, you need to be in neutral, and rolling slowly helps. In the rental Wrangler I drove, 2H to 4H was not bad. 4H to 4L was difficult (took two hands). I don't think the jeep really ever did 4WD as a rental - this was in Hawaii, so I think the experience would be somewhat analogous to yours. We took it up to Mauna Kea, which required the 4L so the brakes didn't overheat and give out on the way down.

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[Rubi64L]

Going into 4H is different than 4L. You should still be in gear ('D') for 4H. It should be an "on-the-fly" type shift. You can be moving or not, just don't be accelerating. 4L, you need to be in neutral, and rolling slowly helps. In the rental Wrangler I drove, 2H to 4H was not bad. 4H to 4L was difficult (took two hands). I don't think the jeep really ever did 4WD as a rental - this was in Hawaii, so I think the experience would be somewhat analogous to yours. We took it up to Mauna Kea, which required the 4L so the brakes didn't overheat and give out on the way down.

The "two handed forced shift" is exactly what I'm talking about when going from 4Auto to 4Hi. It's bizarre because the same thing happened to the dealer when he was explaining the rather unique transfer case in the 392. He was scratching his head about why going from 4Auto to 4Hi took so much "pull power" from the driver. It didn't seem right to him, and it doesn't seem right to me - so I will mess with it a bit and try to figure it out. Or, if it is consistent, I'll take it back to the shop for them to look at it.

Once I get into neutral, then going into 4Lo is much easier. So, the combinations of all the different behaviors really had me confused. It eventually will go from 4Auto to 4Hi, but it does take a gigantic pull that worries me.

It may just be the nature of the beast (I had a Gen II Viper that shifted like my tractor), and maybe I just need to get used to it. But, if they can fix it, that would be great.

 

[SSWIM]

Mine does not take very much effort. A little force but not 2 handed by any means.

Sam

 

[Mocopo]

My JK always required a ton of elbow grease. I got used to just shifting it like I was trying to break it, and it would work great.

 

[jhackathorne]

I'll second the "don't do it on the trail when you need to switch to 4LO" statement. You really need to be in 4LO already when you need it. I've rarely been on a trail when 4HI to 4LO was needed. 4LO can go plenty fast enough for most every trail.

My JL was the same when I first was changing from 2>4HI>4LO. after a few times doing it in the driveway and when out and about it has been fine ever since. As soon as I get to the trailhead I'll change to 4LO if I know I'll need it for the type of trail.

 

[AVGeek99]

JL Transfer cases are very stiff until they've been used a little. You just need to break it in a little. Don't wait until you are on the trail and need 4Lo. Find a gravel road and work it until it loosens up. Once it has loosened up it should be fine.

I had read several threads about stiff transfer cases when new. Prior to my first trip to Moab last March I took mine to a gravel parking lot near me. The first time getting it into 4Lo took a Hurclean effort. I drove around the parking lot a little switching from 4Hi to 4Lo and back a few times. It got easier each time. When I got on the trail in Moab I had no issues getting into 4Lo.

I just went back to Moab last week. I hadn't used 4Lo since March. I had no issues getting it into 4Lo.

I also completely agree with the comments of don't wait to switch to 4Lo until you need it. If you're on a trail that will require 4Lo at some point, then just put it in 4Lo right away, then you'll have it when you need it and not have to worry about getting stuck while your trying to get it in 4Lo.

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