Low Range 2wd

Reading Doug's post about rebuilding a transfer case got me thinking again about using low range in two wheel drive. Any 4x4 I've owned that's had an owners manual has said not to do it. In the case of a single stick make sure the hubs are always locked. Some go on to explain that all the torque directed to one axle will damage it. How do our jeeps stand up to occasional use of low range 2wd? Is the D44 rear end up to it?

 

I always take out the pill. I have read the same was you and while it haven't spent a lot of time in 2WD low, I haven't experienced issues. Maybe others can chime in to the longevity of the associated parts.

 

I think if you go easy on the skinny pedal you won't break stuff.

 

The only time I used 2wd low, was to pull out a boat from a steep boat ramp and it was only for a short pull up to the parking lot. Boat weighed about three times the Jeeps weight. Owner had a full sized Blazer that just blew its rear end trying to pull it out. Of course I was kind enough to pull the Blazer up to the parking lot first.

 

I once saw a Willys truck where the owner had busted both differentials, by using low range while the wheels were frozen into deep ice.

So yeah, go easy.

 

mine has a worn pill and a single lever,use 2 lo around the yard a lot moving trailers and yard debris and such. not sure i will have to as much now that i have a granny gear.

 

I have remove the pills in a few T-cases for myself and otherswhen converting to twin sticks. No 2wd failures yet. I run in 2 low on the trail most of the time. The T-cases I have done it in for myself are the Bronco Dana 20 and Jeep Dana 20. The weak spot will be the T-case output shaft, I have broke 2 of these in the Bronco 20. In my defense I was in my V8 powered flatty,35" Boggers, and a foot full of the skinny pedal. Yes,I entertained everyone for a moment.

 

According to this other thread Transfer Case Pill you cannot remove the pill on a D18 single shifter and get 2LO. Kinda sounded like this is what the OP had in mind. You can get 2LO if you go twin stick and remove the pill.

On the Dana 20 shifter used '72-79, 2LO is already there but it's not marked on the knob. IME this will work even on a brand new Jeep. Maybe there's no detent for 2LO but all of my Jeeps would stay in 2LO if I put the shifter halfway between 2HI and 4LO. Realize there is nearly 90 degrees difference between 2HI and 4LO, so there's plenty of angle territory to use 2LO.

 

if your going to rebuild the transfer case
now would be a good time to convert to twin stick housing

 

I have never seen a good reason to have a 2wd low option. I have removed the interlock pill a few times for friends with twin stick setups, because they wanted that option.
If I need low range, Its in 4wd too. I have never seen an instance of breaking axles or driveshafts from using 2wd low range.
-Donny

 

I have found 2wd low is great, drive line bind does not happen when not on an obstacle. Same concept as having a select-able locker.

 

All my personal transfer cases on trail rigs get the 2wd low option. As was said, going slow in 2 wd to avoid driveline wind-up (binding) is desirable on tight trails with hard ground.
I also use my Jeep for moving trailers around the property so it helps with that as well.
All depends on use of the vehicle.

 

Personally, I think the strength concern is a non-issue. Think about it; when you are bouncing your way up a steep, rocky, nasty hillclimb in 4wd, 95% of your weight and traction is on your rear axle. The front isn't doing much at all.

If your axles were only designed to handle half the stress of your available torque output, we'd have a lot of broken parts.

Most of my trail riding life, unless the trail is nasty from the get go, I'll run in 2-low until I need the front's help. No issues so far.

 

I have and use 2 low often on my 70...converted it to twin stick many years ago.
I use it a lot on the trail because I have manual steering and a front power lok diff....steering effort is significantly harder with the hubs engaged but it's nice to have the low range reduction. Many easier trails I never even put it in 4WD.

 

I too think 2low has its place. The usefulness probably depends on a guys driving style and his overall gearing. Of course the transfer case in 4low is just reducing the drive ratio and turning the front drive shaft. My jeep is a single stick but it's got 4:88s and an sm420...so on easier stuff 1st gear high range is low enough in 2wd. The final low ratio on these old rigs without a truck 4 speed usually does not even hit 40:1. A true granny box and 4:88s gets you close to 35:1 in just high range. And i'd think, if they can handle final drive ratios of 80:1 or 100:1+ in 4wd low, like ITLKSEZ says, strength is a non-issue.

FWIW I put it in 4low unlocked (thus 2low), towing my dump trailers all the time in my diesel truck with a 5 Speed. Especially backing hills and threading the needle.

 

Not in an older Jeep, but I have run a Dana 300 equipped later CJ5 in 4 low with the front hubs unlocked as I didn't want to get out in knee deep deep mud to lock them in.

 

I use 2 low all the time in my jeep. Steers much nicer and then when you need 4wd, just pull the lever.

 

i'm also a 2wd low user. over 20 years of doing so on the d20 in my '75.