6.0 Tranny/Transfer case issue

[Posthole]

Yesterday, I was coming to an intersection and came to a stop. As I went to accelerate, the engine free revved without moving. (auto tranny). I tried to back up, same thing. I finally got it to move by engaging 4 low. As I got through the intersection to a place where I could pull over & put back into 2wd, the truck would move, but not shift up into 3rd. I went a short distance & again pulled over to see if I could figure it out. I put the truck in park & that was all she wrote. It wouldn't move again & when you try to put in drive, it growls as if something isn't engaging. anyone got any experiences as this???
ps: checked this evening, doesn't seem to want to pull into 4 low all the way. Son says growl is at rear tail of transfer case. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I've put alot of $$$ into fixes on this thing since purchased used. Thanks for viewing.

2004 F250 2" leveling nothing special, 140k
Latest update: Turns out to be front Range Fork & Range Shift Sleeve in transfer case. Fork wore to a knife edge causing shift sleeve to drop out.

[6.0 Stroker2003]

when it wouldn't shift into third that's called "limp home mode" its fords idea of trying to tell you something is wrong with the truck as far as it wont go anywhere it sounds like the tranny is shot, not sure though could be it was just slipping