Weather Mode or 4 Auto

[Big-Foot]

If you drove your truck in Normal Mode in 4 Auto on a dry road for the purpose of testing, would it feel different to you than driving in Normal Mode in 2WD? The manual says you can drive in 4 Auto on dry roads, but I would never do that based on what I am feeling. Unlike my wife's Acura MDX or my Nissan Armada, I am feeling some binding just like I would feel if I put it in 4WD high on a dry road. Unless I am having issues, the 4 Auto function is no where near as smooth as expected. In fact, it feels bad enough that I don't think I will use it unless the roads are almost completely covered in snow.

I just tried weather mode with mine today when I was driving in blowing snow - still had good traction though.
I was running 65 MPH at the time and towing a 4k trailer. The truck immediately started slowing down and felt like I was pulling 20k rather than 4! Stepping harder and harder on the gas to try and maintain speed. I gave up and I clicked it back into normal mode and thought I would research it here...
I wonder if my speed had something to do with it?

 

[reaper1441]

4A in normal mode is better for me than weather mode. Weather mode is purposely neutered.

 

[Jeff-Ohio]

I just tried weather mode with mine today when I was driving in blowing snow - still had good traction though.
I was running 65 MPH at the time and towing a 4k trailer. The truck immediately started slowing down and felt like I was pulling 20k rather than 4! Stepping harder and harder on the gas to try and maintain speed. I gave up and I clicked it back into normal mode and thought I would research it here...
I wonder if my speed had something to do with it?

Weather mode is the last mode you would want to tow with because it lowers shift points and modifies how the transmission works to decrease throttle response, etc... If you are towing in bad conditions, definitely just use 4A in normal or tow mode.

 

[Uncas]

4A in normal mode is better for me than weather mode. Weather mode is purposely neutered.

I have only driven about 10 miles in weather mode but I think it is helpful in certain situations. I don't think it would be useful driving around town in a couple of inches of snow, and a hindrance if you want to sling the assend around or do donuts in the Walmart parking lot. I do think it will be great when your trying to navigate a mountain pass without guardrails in the dark in whiteout conditions. The reduced throttle response should decrease pulse rates and help alleviate white-knuckling.

 

[smurfslayer]

Jeff,
I’ve not run weather with the power distribution display, but 4a/normal power distribution sounds much more reactive; whereas weather mode seems to be sending power to the front on a more active basis.

I’ve watched power distribution in downpour style rain to gain some “feel” for when the tires were breaking loose and was a little surprised at just how infrequently power was transferred to the front. I can see where this wouldn’t be optimal in snow. So far, Raptor Privilege has insulated me from major exposure to snow.

 

[Big-Foot]

The primary reason for my post was to signify my surprise as to the trucks immediate reaction when switched to Weather Mode. It sure seemed to me like something was not working right or binding up when it was engaged. I had my doubts that I could have even maintained my speed (65) while in that mode..

Weather mode is the last mode you would want to tow with because it lowers shift points and modifies how the transmission works to decrease throttle response, etc... If you are towing in bad conditions, definitely just use 4A in normal or tow mode.

Interesting comments...
No where in the owners manual or Raptor supplement could I find anything about not combining tow/haul and weather modes. There are enough other programmed safeguards built into this system that I would expect that the systems would have programmatically de-selected towing mode if it conflicted with Weather Mode.
Actually it appears that the only transfer case position NOT available in Weather Mode is 4x2.

I have used 4A when traveling desert mountain trails and it worked seamlessly..

Pictures for reference.

 

[jaz13]

We had our first minor snowfall in Cincinnati since I got my truck. To keep things safe, I tried "Weather Mode" this morning, but something didn't feel quite right. I could definitely feel additional drag and mechanical engagement at all times whether there was wheel slippage or not. I checked the Power Distribution display and it confirmed what I was feeling and showed that the front wheels were always powered, albeit, to a lesser extent than the rear. My wife's Acura MDX behaves this way regardless of whether or not there is wheel slippage, but her all wheel drive system is unnoticeable, whereas what I felt in the Raptor was unsettling. Has anybody else tried the Weather Mode? I did not try 4 Auto with the Normal Mode (I'm assuming this is possible), but I'm pretty sure the difference I felt wasn't just due to the change in throttle mapping in Weather Mode; it definitely had a restricting mechanical feel.

If you have the Torsen diff, it makes the steering feel different in 4A/4H because it pushes power to the inside wheel in a turn and gives the steering wheel a rubberband centering feel. Also, 4A often sends power to the rears, so there is nothing unusual.

 

[ss_raptor]

We had our first minor snowfall in Cincinnati since I got my truck. To keep things safe, I tried "Weather Mode" this morning, but something didn't feel quite right. I could definitely feel additional drag and mechanical engagement at all times whether there was wheel slippage or not. I checked the Power Distribution display and it confirmed what I was feeling and showed that the front wheels were always powered, albeit, to a lesser extent than the rear. My wife's Acura MDX behaves this way regardless of whether or not there is wheel slippage, but her all wheel drive system is unnoticeable, whereas what I felt in the Raptor was unsettling. Has anybody else tried the Weather Mode? I did not try 4 Auto with the Normal Mode (I'm assuming this is possible), but I'm pretty sure the difference I felt wasn't just due to the change in throttle mapping in Weather Mode; it definitely had a restricting mechanical feel.

Hey, i feel exatly what you describe. Even in 4A in normal mode, it feels and sounds the same but with better throttle response. I always felt something but I only started to notice when I turned down the radio and starting hearing the nose. Under light to moderate acceleration, I hear this humming sound coming from what appears to be right under the shifter. I took it to the dealer and these were the words out of my service advisor mouths after he talked to his tech. He said when in 4A the front axle isn't locked so its spinning freely and this is the sound your feeling and hearing. We have a GMC Denali XL that doesn't have all this drama with the 4A system it's smooth and quiet as can be. I'm not sure what ford is doing differently with the Raptors system.

 

[nikhsub1]

Weather mode also always skips 2nd gear - goes from 1-3 which is totally weird although I understand why they did that.

 

[Jackkk]

Hey, i feel exatly what you describe. Even in 4A in normal mode, it feels and sounds the same but with better throttle response. I always felt something but I only started to notice when I turned down the radio and starting hearing the nose. Under light to moderate acceleration, I hear this humming sound coming from what appears to be right under the shifter. I took it to the dealer and these were the words out of my service advisor mouths after he talked to his tech. He said when in 4A the front axle isn't locked so its spinning freely and this is the sound your feeling and hearing. We have a GMC Denali XL that doesn't have all this drama with the 4A system it's smooth and quiet as can be. I'm not sure what ford is doing differently with the Raptors system.

My 2014 Sierra Denali had the same 4A sounds. In a 4 wheel drive truck I can't see how you can get around the additional noise.

---------- Post added at 10:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:18 AM ----------

We had our first minor snowfall in Cincinnati since I got my truck. To keep things safe, I tried "Weather Mode" this morning, but something didn't feel quite right. I could definitely feel additional drag and mechanical engagement at all times whether there was wheel slippage or not. I checked the Power Distribution display and it confirmed what I was feeling and showed that the front wheels were always powered, albeit, to a lesser extent than the rear. My wife's Acura MDX behaves this way regardless of whether or not there is wheel slippage, but her all wheel drive system is unnoticeable, whereas what I felt in the Raptor was unsettling. Has anybody else tried the Weather Mode? I did not try 4 Auto with the Normal Mode (I'm assuming this is possible), but I'm pretty sure the difference I felt wasn't just due to the change in throttle mapping in Weather Mode; it definitely had a restricting mechanical feel.

My wife had a 2007 MDX and now a 2018 Audi Q7... both with AWD. You cannot compare AWD with 4A. I'm unable to explain the mechanics, but I can say that they are mechanically different. The feeling that you described are feelings that I have felt on every 4 wheel Auto I've owned....going back to my 2000 suburban. In my opinion, my 2018 Raptors drive system is far superior than all my previous 4WD vehicles.