Ford F-150 Raptor’s Dual-Mode Transfer Case Makes it Monstrously Powerful Off-Road
The new 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor gets more than its fair share of praise for everything from its six-mode Terrain Management System to its 450-horsepower EcoBoost engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. But one of the components that most makes it the off-road beast that it is its all-new dual-mode AWD/4WD transfer case, which utilizes that Terrain Management System to adapt automatically to road (or not-quite-road) conditions for the utmost performance in any situation.
“Raptor’s transfer case provides the best of both worlds, with the natural benefits from all-wheel drive, such as increased traction in rain and snow, as well as extreme off-road capability that comes with a mechanically locked system,” said Tony Greco, Ford F-150 Raptor program manager.
The F-150 Raptor’s transfer case is significant in separating it from its competition, offering the option of both automatic adjustment through the Terrain Management System and manual adjustment via the 4×4 switch for drivers wanting complete control.
With clutch-based, on-demand all-wheel drive, drivers will not need to worry about the risks of component damage or driveline binding, both of which are common when mechanically locked systems are used on high traction surfaces, while resting assured that they get as much torque as they would need for their circumstances. Still, when weather gets rough, all-weather mode enables mechanical lock to provide more confidence.
Off-road, the Raptor uses a shift-on-the-fly system to adapt to everything from 4×4 high situations like driving in mud or sand to 4×4 situations like rock climbing. In short, there really isn’t very much that the 2017 F-150 Raptor isn’t capable of handling.
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