There's two different systems on the 12th gen trucks, my dad has the 2011 Limited with the "AWD" setting, and when it detects slippage you can hear and feel the transfer case simply engage 4WD and stay in it for awhile. During this time the front end will bind and drag if you turn. On the 2012+ Lariats and above, with the 4A setting, it is absolutely seamless and you can't feel anything engage. It just sends power to the front hubs when slippage is detected and the system does not bind when turning. I'm not sure how it's different from the 2011 but I feel that it is indeed a set and forget type of system.

 

Leave them off your order and buy the rears as an OE Ford part or as an aftermarket part-might get them along with another aftermarket item and maybe even combine the shipping as they're large, not heavy. FWIW, I've never understood why they don't come on all PU's-it's a cheap, lightweight piece of plastic and does serve an important purpose too.

 

I suspect that's exactly what I'll end up doing thanks, however, if they became available before my order gets locked in, I would definitely add them to the order because they would be residualized in the lease. Less fuss to of course. But we all know that won't happen right away....

 

Interesting. Heard the newer systems were better, but just assumed they came in the 2011 trucks, not mid-stream in the 2012s.

Is the lettering on the **** different? "AWD" in the old versions and "4A" in the newer?

 

Yea, the 2015s are labeled 2H, 4A, 4H, 4L and if you have an e-locker you pull out the same ****.

 

I have it on my Lariat. I did a couple hundred miles in Tahoe this weekend and left it in 4A the whole time. Just switch from 2H to 4A while driving (I was going about 50MPH when I engaged it). It will display on the dash that it's switching and then confirm when it's done. Didn't notice anything different in the way it drove.