Hoss10

Hello I was wondering how well the AWD mode works on the F 150. Is it just a switch or does Ford add components needed in the upgrade?

I will be ordering one soon and see it's only available on Lariats and up (at least here in Canada). If I did upgrade to a Lariat it would be for the AWD. Up here we get a lot of snow covered roads and I think it would make the truck a much better winter driver.

Does the Ford system differ from the Chev/Gm AWD system, a friend (Chev owner) leaves his in AWD for the entire winter.

Thanks for the help.

snakebitten

I LOVE the AWD option!

And it's much more than just a switch. It's an additional "differential" allowing you to send power to all 4 wheels even on dry high traction conditions.

You can FEEL the extra grip in sloppy conditions. As well as the feedback through the steering wheel. Also, Ford has the electric power steering really figured out now, compared to when it first started to show up in new vehicles. So for a pickup truck, these new F150's that are fully loaded are quite a drivers delight.

50thpony

Hoss10

Believe it or not after having trucks for my entire life this will my first 4 wheel drive truck. We would just load the beds with sand bags in the winter!

I do find it odd that AWD is only available on higher end F 150s when GM offers it across the line up. I guess I will have to pony up for the Lariat and "suffer" with the leather seats.

rdg04578

There maybe a bit of a disconnect here-- 4 wheel auto (4A) is not the same as all wheel drive-- AWD. Ford does not make an all wheel drive truck. The F-150 is a rear wheel drive with a part time transfer case. In auto the truck is still in rear wheel drive but if it senses slippage it will shift into 4 WD. It has the ability to control the power to the front via a clutch system which will allow up to a 50 50 split (the system can never put more power to the front as compared to the rear). In AWD systems the vehicle is always driven by 4 wheels and the power can be adjusted to front or back depending on the needs the split front or rear can be greater than 50% and is performed with a center differential type component. It is normally a system used in cars and SUV's not trucks since it is not as strong as out part time system.

Ricktwuhk

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/xlt-s...0/#post5665101

Hoss10

Thanks for all the replies and the link which I have read completely.

I seem to still have a few questions. Where I live we will often have weeks of snow covered roads. Our second car is a Honda CRV AWD which with it's 4 snow tires is great in these conditions. It too is not really AWD just a front drive which sends power to the rear wheels when slippage is detected.

Is the Ford AWD similar? Can you drive in AWD for extended periods. Without the AWD would you simply shift to 4 Wheel High when needed. My present truck is a 2 wheel drive Tundra long bed which useless in snow to be fair it does not have snows or weight in the rear.

As for XLT 302a vs. Lariat unless I'm missing something up here in the Great White North (where we pay a lot more for cars!) the base Lariat is $3500 (dealer cost) more then the XLT 302a and you get (Canadian build)

Leather
AWD
Push button start and locks
Dual Zone climate
Power Tail gate
Folding Mirrors
Flow through Console
Soft touch Interior
Memory seats and steering wheel
Different Wheels
and all of the XLT 302a stuff EXCEPT Running boards!

I am a little worried about the Payload hit but I don't think any of the above is all that heavy.

Ricktwuhk

Read the link.

idrive

iTrader: (3)

Read his reply - post #7

Hoss10

I did but I will again.