No intenerary as of yet may try and nail one down tomorrow night. If it stops raining today we should be okay i've been up there back during our monsoon of August/ September when we had a couple of dry days and it wasn't bad at all. Actually a little better since it cuts down on the dust.
similar thing happened to me at skyline..... 4*4 did not work... found out once I was way down the muddy trail ...going downhill where traction was not a big deal.... determined that going up muddy hill required 4*4.
I know on my former GM pickup.... it would take 30sec or more for 4*4 to engage, once lever set to 4*4. I would bet its something to do with teh acuator or electronic controls...whatever the ford usese to enable the front axle.