I apologize if this has been covered, but is there a way to bypass 4wd but still use the transfer case in low range? I'm not sure if the "gray wire or blue wire" mod allows this, but it would be useful at times. My driveway is VERY steep and 4low works great for backing a trailer in except that it's a hard surface and doesn't allow much steering while engaged. FWIW, this is a '97 w/the regular J shifter. I've always been able to accomplish the same thing on trucks w/manual hubs by shifting into low and just not locking the hubs. Thanks in advance.

Can I stick it in Low Range 2WD

Most excellent! Thanks much!
Charles

After reading up on the "2WD Lo" mod I decided to do it. It seems pretty straight forward and will come in handy for backing trailers up my steep driveway. I went to OTRATTW and had them make a custom laser etched switch to mount in one of the knockouts to the left of the steering wheel. They had several stock switches that were for front lockers, but since I don't have a front locker I thought "Front Hubs" was a more accurate description. The "Front Hubs On/Off" will be illuminated with the rest of the interior lighting and the logo and indicator bar will illuminate when the switch (and hubs) is on. It may be a couple of weeks before I have time to wire it up, but I think it's gonna be awesome.
Charles

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Let us know how this goes when you get it finished. I've been considering this too.

Good luck.

Doesn't this mod really make 3 wheel drive? Turning off the ADD means the passenger side axle isn't connected to the wheel, but the driver side still will be and with a j shift case the front driveline will still be under power

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An open differential will prevent that from happening.

I converted my Dodge Ram to a cable operated ADD which allows me to have 2wd low.

If this is technically"3wd", shouldn't it still prevent the binding that regular 4low will cause on hard surfaces? Thanks!
Charles

Mostly

You'll be fine doing it with an ADD defeat switch. Your front driveshaft will still be spinning but as long as you remember to turn off the ADD defeat every time after backing something up your driveway you won't have any ill effects.

There's another method to obtain true 2lo. It requires twin sticking the stock t-case. You pull the case, split the case, remove the interlock pin, grind a small portion of the 2wd/4wd shift rail off and put it back in. Then you add a twin stick. That allows 2wd with the front driveshaft not being engaged.. It also leaves the stock ADD system untouched.

That's probably the best "real" way, but I won't use it frequently enough to work that hard for it.
Charles

You also get a 2lo with manual hubs. Put the transfer case in 4lo with the hubs in the free position. The front driveshaft will be turning as well as the front differential and CV axles, but with the hubs unlocked, no power will be transferred to the front wheels. So, you don’t have to worry about binding on the pavement when turning the wheels potentially damaging your CV axles or front differential.

That's exactly what got me wondering if there was a mod that would not engage the front hubs. I've used 4lo w/o locking in manual hubs to get 2lo many times.
Charles

Here’s 2 videos on the subject:

You can but if your front driveshaft is spinning your not actually in 2wd. Leaving the hubs unlocked and the ADD defeat system both work fine but there not real 2lo. My rig has real 2lo. The transfer case mod takes about 2 hours from removal to re-install. A set of shifters is 200 bucks. It's cheaper then a manual hub conversion but not as cheap as an ADD defeat switch.