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JustOlBill · Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 6:10 am Post subject: 4 Wheel Drive Question

I have a stock 05 Dodge 2500 diesel 4wd and when I get into soft sand the rear end chatters so bad it will knock your fillings out. Has no traction when it's doing this. What do I do? Other pickups seem to have no problem.
Thanks,
JustOlBill

ironmanstan · Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 6:17 am Post subject:

does it do it when in 4wd?or while in just in 2wd? probably better to just keep that dodge in 4wd when in softer sand.
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rabbit · Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 6:47 am Post subject:

Sound like too much power and the tires are spinning in the soft sand. Back off the diesel or do like ironmanstan says use 4wd. Just curious, what size tires and what airpressure are you using?
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Skoalman · Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:37 am Post subject:

Bill, just do a quick Google search on "axle wrap" and you will find some solutions. One quick one that I do is air down my tires when in soft sand.

"Axle wrap is a problem that plagues leaf sprung vehicles with soft springs, particularly those that are set up SOA (Spring Over Axle). Axle wrap is something different than wheel hop. Wheel hop is when an axle on your 4x4 rapidly hops up and down. Axle wrap is unwanted suspension movement that allows the pinion angle to change. Wheel hop is annoying and could cause drivetrain breakage, but usually it's not the actual hopping that breaks parts, it's the axle wrap that results from the hop that causes drivelines to bind and breaks yokes, drive shafts and sometimes even pinions. "

brad lewis · Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 5 Location: San Antonio

I air down from 75 to 30 PSI. You won't beleive the difference.

Big John · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 2647

Air down the tires. I run the beach at 20psi, and ease off the throttle if your truck starts chatter boxing. If you are in 4H, trying shifting into 4L if neither the tire pressure or throttle seems to fix it.
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JustOlBill · Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 5:40 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the advice. I did have it in 4wd and I am sure it is axel hop. I checked my tires and the had 75 lbs in them. I lowered them to 40 but haven't had a chance to try it yet. I can let more out if necessary. I think I'll try low range next time also.
If this doesn't work I guess I'll have to go back to Ford, I never had a problem with them.
Thanks again,
JustOlBill

Bigun23 · Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 12:37 pm Post subject:

the lowering of the tire pressure is a great idea but one other question needs to be asked. Does this truck in question have a limited slip rear end? Then we can move on to all the other aspects as mentioned by the rest of the guys.
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JustOlBill · Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 5:33 am Post subject:

I have the stock 17 1/2 in tires on the truck and it does have a limited slip rear end (or it's supposed to)

JustOlBill

txslowpoke · Finger Mullet Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 27

It sounds like a 2wd problem, but you got it in 4wd. Are you sure the the front hubs are locked? When the rearend starts bouncing/hopping etc, does it feel/act like you are getting stuck?
Most trucks will do this in 2wd, cuz the backend is lighter than the front. My brother has 05 Dodge diesel that we use along with my Suburban for fishing trips down the beach. He has not had a rearend problem in 4x4, in 2wd oh yea its bad.
The front axle and rear turn at the same RPM's when in 4wd( thats why you gotta have the same size tires all the way around on the truck unless you are mud/sand drag racing). I have had axle wrap when rockcrawling in 4wd in my offroad buggy, no hopping or loss of traction to say-- broken ujoints from the wrap, but never on the beach in my Burb or past beach rigs. My brothers Dodge is solid on the beach in 4 wd, no chatter/hoppin/axle wrap.
I'd be curious as to what you find out. Good luck

Big John · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 2647

You may want to check and see that your 4wd is engaging.

Even if the indicator light tells you so, here's how to check. On dry pavement, place your truck in 4wd and turn the wheels hard to the left or right, while very slowly moving forward. You should feel it "crabbing." It won't feel like normal at all, but will be hard to move when turning sharply.

This works because if all 4 wheels ar spinning at the same speed, then the inside tire will turn slower than the outside tire on a curve. 4wd forces them to move the same speed which doesn't work on dry pavement.

I drive a Dodge Durango, and have never had trouble with the 4wd system. As said above, its always been strong on the beach.

Let us know if what happens when you do this test.
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medic6 · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:04 pm Post subject:

lil late with this reply. Is your truck a standard? If i get to low on RPM's in to high of a gear.. As soon as i hit loose sand, i chatter and hop.. Have to slow down and down shift or feather the clutch(slows truck down). Then just to remember to watch my gauges as much as the surf. You may also feel it start in your gear shift before the backend starts doing the shimmy shimmy shake.
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