Which is better, Part time or Full time?

[Bstout]

Nothing wrong with either one..WELL the bearing set-up in a full time in my w150 is weaker than a dana 44 parttime..poor design..Thats why i changed over better bearing set up I can now use bigger tires and not have to worry about bearings..If you have ever taken one apart and see how close the bearings are placed together you will see..no need to chime in and argue about it..Its really no big deal..OH and if you have parttime and are stupid enough not to lock in the hubs before you get into the truck then you need fulltime. there is pros and cons for both but you get the same performance with part time providing you engage it as you do with full time but no full timer can put theirs in 2 and save wear and tear on parts and driveline..I will say what I hate about the 203 parttime conversion is having to engage it every 100 miles or so to sling lube to the back bushing..that sucks..but I like my 2 wheel function..doing slides and throwing serious rooster tails are a blast..

[MoparNorm]

... there is pros and cons for both but you get the same performance with part time providing you engage it as you do with full time ...

One big advantage of Full time is the ability to run on pavement, in the rain, in 4 WD and not have to worry about disengaging when the road dries off. You cannot do that with a Part Time case.
Here in the Southwest we'll get thunder storms that last on and off, all day. Tomorrow will be like that.
It's nice to just go into full time and forget about it, especially when the wife is driving to work and back.
My favorite case is the NP242, it offers both Full Time and Part Time, along with Low Range and it comes in an HD version that is used in trucks as big as the H1.

[KRB64]

One big advantage of Full time is the ability to run on pavement, in the rain, in 4 WD and not have to worry about disengaging when the road dries off. You cannot do that with a Part Time case.

And pull a large load on pavement (hills) with traction at both axles.

For a commuting vehicle, part-time may make more sense. But for a working truck that spends more time off the road plus going back and forth in and out of fields, full-time is the only way to go.

[powerwagon88]

part time

i prefer part time and the only transfer case i would choose for part time is the 205 they came in gm and dodge i belive. gm for sure, totaly gear driven unit strong as heck and weighs less than the 203. the weak part about the 203 is the chain. half the unit is chain and the other half is gear driven. the chain can strech and break. also the cross member that supports the 203 hangs down so low you dont have hardly any clearance mine has the 203 and as soon as i get my list of other projects il find a way to incorperate a 205 into it!

[Bstout]

One big advantage of Full time is the ability to run on pavement, in the rain, in 4 WD and not have to worry about disengaging when the road dries off. You cannot do that with a Part Time case.

I can run in the rain in 4x4 and when it stops raining i can disengage my 4x4 very easy..I dont understand what you mean unless its in a full time 4x4 it can not ever be disengaged to me thats not an advantage. a part time can be disengaged very true..doesnt change anything about running in the rain in 4x4..why would you even run your truck in 4x4 in the rain If you had a choice UNLESS your offroad..? I think i know what you where saying..

[MoparNorm]

i prefer part time and the only transfer case i would choose for part time is the 205 they came in gm and dodge i belive. gm for sure, totaly gear driven unit strong as heck and weighs less than the 203. the weak part about the 203 is the chain. half the unit is chain and the other half is gear driven. the chain can strech and break. also the cross member that supports the 203 hangs down so low you dont have hardly any clearance mine has the 203 and as soon as i get my list of other projects il find a way to incorperate a 205 into it!

The New Process Gear Division was a division of Chrysler, Both Ford and GM bought the transfer case from Dodge because they didn't have a case worth a darn.
The 203 and 205 are the same size, so if the 203 hangs down too far, it's because GM didn't know how to mount it....= )

[MoparNorm]

I can run in the rain in 4x4 and when it stops raining i can disengage my 4x4 very easy..I dont understand what you mean unless its in a full time 4x4 it can not ever be disengaged to me thats not an advantage. a part time can be disengaged very true..doesnt change anything about running in the rain in 4x4..why would you even run your truck in 4x4 in the rain If you had a choice UNLESS your offroad..? I think i know what you where saying..

What you are missing is the PAVEMENT part of my post. It's a little hard getting out and turning your hubs on a freeway...= ) It's a little hard to disengage your part time shifter at 65 mph....= )
The 203 and 242 both allow shift on the fly and both can run on hard dry surface while still engaged in 4WD. If it starts or stops raining, your always in the correct mode with Full Time, no stopping, no hubs, no shifting, the transfer case does all the work seamlessly, without driver input. If you prefer driver input, just reach over and shift the 203 or 242 lever...= )
Part Time has no advantage over Full Time, it's still the same ratio in Low Range and the fuel usage is nearly identical since the Full Time system is not under power unless there is wheel slippage.
I have NP 205's, Dana 300's, NP 203's and NV 242's, it's all good. I prefer the Full Time 242 in my daily drivers, just for the versatility and the Part Time units in my serious rock rigs.

[MoparNorm]

And pull a large load on pavement (hills) with traction at both axles.

For a commuting vehicle, part-time may make more sense. But for a working truck that spends more time off the road plus going back and forth in and out of fields, full-time is the only way to go.

Actually, JS is the biggest Full Time proponent on this board and he prefers Full Time on his farm, he doesn't have to get out into the muddy mess, to turn the hubs or mess with the shifter when he transitions from field to road and back again...= )

[powerwagon88]

reply

The New Process Gear Division was a division of Chrysler, Both Ford and GM bought the transfer case from Dodge because they didn't have a case worth a darn.
The 203 and 205 are the same size, so if the 203 hangs down too far, it's because GM didn't know how to mount it....= )

203 and 205 arent the same size, i can acutally carry a 205. the 203 weights alot more my dads 75 blazer has a 205 it sits up nice and tight unlike the dodge and there 203 that is mabye 12 to 15 inches from the ground

[KRB64]

Actually, JS is the biggest Full Time proponent on this board and he prefers Full Time on his farm, he doesn't have to get out into the muddy mess, to turn the hubs or mess with the shifter when he transitions from field to road and back again...= )

Exactly! My M880 full-time spends 75% of it's time in the field and that's where it shines. My W250 part-time turbo diesel spends 90% of its time on the pavement hauling or pulling and part-time is OK by me for that.

Trucks are just tools and while a hammer and pipe wrench will often work for many situations, a specif tool for each applpication works much better!

[MoparNorm]

203 and 205 arent the same size, i can acutally carry a 205. the 203 weights alot more my dads 75 blazer has a 205 it sits up nice and tight unlike the dodge and there 203 that is mabye 12 to 15 inches from the ground

If you can carry a 205, you're a big dude...= )



If you can't carry a 203, you have them confused....or you have the transmission still bolted to it....= )



Seriously, they are nearly the same size, the weight may be different, but not the size.
Also there are "clocking rings that can rotate the position of the case to allow better ground clearance, it sounds like GM, being cheap and not 4x4 savvy, took the easy route.

[powerwagon88]

reply

im not big lol 511 6ft, 150lbs the 203 weights about 170 lbs seems like more. the 205 weights i dont have a rough number but its has to be less cause i can carry one 5 to 10 feet. the only thing i can see if the 203 weights less the drum on the rear in front of the yoke and the other peice in front of the case the shifter is bolted to would make the 203 awkward to carry. yes i do kno the difference i can come up with 3, 205 can be twin sticked and has a better shifter than the 203, 203 the ones i have dont have slip yokes 205's do. also the 203's id plate is on the front pass side the 205 has the smaller round cover on the back with 3 bolts holding it.

[Bstout]

What you are missing is the PAVEMENT part of my post. It's a little hard getting out and turning your hubs on a freeway...= ) It's a little hard to disengage your part time shifter at 65 mph....= )
The 203 and 242 both allow shift on the fly and both can run on hard dry surface while still engaged in 4WD. If it starts or stops raining, your always in the correct mode with Full Time, no stopping, no hubs, no shifting, the transfer case does all the work seamlessly, without driver input. If you prefer driver input, just reach over and shift the 203 or 242 lever...= )
Part Time has no advantage over Full Time, it's still the same ratio in Low Range and the fuel usage is nearly identical since the Full Time system is not under power unless there is wheel slippage.
I have NP 205's, Dana 300's, NP 203's and NV 242's, it's all good. I prefer the Full Time 242 in my daily drivers, just for the versatility and the Part Time units in my serious rock rigs.

UUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHH OK...no advantage ok so your a full time man no prob but there is advantages just depends on what side of view you have..GEEZ..and disengaging at 65mph WHY? I have 2004 Avalanche that the manual says I can shift it at about anytime I like, but I dont, What the need..none..THE BIG ADVANTAGE You are missing for me is the bearings I have now in the frt end can handle bigger tires without having to replace bearings in time or even worry about it now..Thats the reason..When you change to part time you still have a 4x4 ---ofcourse its really a 2 wheel drive..and now I installed a locker.. I have a 3 wheel drive..if you dont get it I understand..

[MoparNorm]

UUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHH OK...no advantage ok so your a full time man no prob but there is advantages just depends on what side of view you have..GEEZ..and disengaging at 65mph WHY? I have 2004 Avalanche that the manual says I can shift it at about anytime I like, but I dont, What the need..none..THE BIG ADVANTAGE You are missing for me is the bearings I have now in the frt end can handle bigger tires without having to replace bearings in time or even worry about it now..Thats the reason..When you change to part time you still have a 4x4 ---ofcourse its really a 2 wheel drive..and now I installed a locker.. I have a 3 wheel drive..if you dont get it I understand..

Ha! Ha! What I don't get is your strange use of English....= )
I did say that I have both systems and that both have their place.
65 mph? You obviously didn't read the entire post, when you are running at freeway speeds, which is 65 out here and it begins to rain, you can engage the Full Time aspect, it prevents hydroplaning and loss of control. When the rain stops you can simply disengage the Full Time aspect and go back into Part Time, you certainly don't want to get out on the freeway and turn hubs...and you certainly don't want to stop in traffic...= )
What bearings are you talking about? The wheel bearings have no greater or lesser wear whether the rig is Full Time or Part Time. Your Part Time rig still has a front driveline turning even when disengaged.
All newer vehicles have sealed non-repairable (unless you are Gordon) unit bearings. They turn regardless of under load or power.
Although you are now off subject, whether a vehicle has 1-2-3 or 4 wheel drive has no bearing upon the Full Time or Part Time transfer case and if you had a Jeep instead of that plastic GM rig, a Full Time Jeep Quadra-drive case is 4 Wheel Drive, a differential in place of the transfer case and a differential at each end, in conjunction with a viscous couplings that allows power to all four wheels or power to only one, if only one has traction.
In my Power Wagon I have a Part Time case and ARB lockers front and rear, so yes I get it.
As for big tires, that has nothing to do with either Part Time or Full Time, you're confusing axle strength and gear ratios with another issue.
Face it, part time is old school technology, great in our Power Wagons, but not ever coming back.

[powerwagon88]

lol

such fun a discussion lol JK... any way unless you have a new ford with lock outs these days there are no turn the hub to lock them in, in new trucks. jeep dodge,gm,some fords and the ricers. if they have any type of lockin hub its auto in todays new trucks, 50-55 lift the lever and wala 4wd. the new dodge and jeeps have the worst hubs ever thought about! there a step above the push button 4wd next thing part time isnt a thing of the past and wont die! jeep wranglers,cherokee,grands use part time. grands use the 242 part time with full time option and they also have the full time case. ive never heard of a "full time" full size dodge, gm, ford not since the 203! the only thing i can think of right now for gm pick up that is awd is the new bad a$$ SS so i guess until the 3/4 ton and 1ton go back to the "full time tcase" you cant say part time is a thing of the past. also part time unless its has the locking hubs are gonna burn more fuel. it turns the diff and drive shaft cause they cant unlock. auto locking or manual locking hubs once you unlock them the axle shaft is free and the wheels spin free on the spindles and bearings only less restistance. now what ya got MoparNorm lmao JK