Ok, i'm on my second 2000 DII. I have gotten stuck a few times (I am an idiot and will attempt to drive anywhere including taking my Rover across the Stryker obstacle course at FT Lewis - google pics of strykers sometimes and then thing of the playground the army would build to test and train someone in one of those... yup did it in my D2!). Always forgot to engage my CDL before I got it hot - hint: do NOT reach up to engage it with your handy 10mm wrench (mine was velcro'd to my headliner above my driver's side sunvisor) once your exhaust has gotten hot - but was also afraid of driving to wheelin' spot with it on.
So 2 Q's: how far can I drive it with CDL engaged w/o damaging my truck on dry pavement?
What/how much do I gain my engaging my CDL? Basically is it REALLY worth crawling under the mud stuck truck and burning myself to do it or am I just getting dirty and burnt to no avail?

 

Well I gave it a try today on a 2-hour offroad trip in the desert - so obviously mostly on sand. Not having the CDL shift mechanism, I did it by getting underneath and operating the nipple with a spanner. That, of course, was OK at the start of the trip when the transmission was cool but was a lot more painful at the end of it (I have a nasty collection of burns on my right arm now!). I would not drive more than a few hundred yards on road, though - I've no idea exactly how long it will take to wreck something but it will wreck something!

As for the effects - wow, what a difference! Getting a proper shift mechanism rigged up is now a priority

 

It's an enormous difference

 

"So 2 Q's: how far can I drive it with CDL engaged w/o damaging my truck on dry pavement?" as short a distance as possible

 

That's the switch you need. Don't buy a chinese knock off. I learned that lesson the hard way. Had to wait for a week to get a good replacement after the cheap one broke while threading it in with my fingers.

I made my harness myself, I did not know they sold it. Took about ten minutes to solder it into the existing wiring.

 

Looking for advice on how to add CLD to a 2002 D2 with out the nipple. I am guessing I will need to replace the entire Transfer Case, but was 'hoping' that there would be an easier / better way. I was wanting to pick the collective brains of all the experienced members here

Thank you

 

You can just swap the front part of the case out. ��
No real easy way

 

Update; fitting the CDL shift mechanism from a D1 has avoided any potential scarring and life-threatening burns

 

Hey Guys. See this video. He is discussing the advantages of CDL...