2004 Ranger full-time 4wd to 2wd conversion build Post .... saw before, cant find

[hlenhart]

Pretty sure I saw an Excellent Article on this Site ... Hopefully
GAS just to go to Work is Killing Me, 1 1/2 hour drive everyday @ 80 mph ... & I didnt Need 4WD for 2 Years, thanks to Global Warming.... why would U spin 300 pounds of gears & axles around when U dont need them????? Otherwise, Killer truck with the 4.0 !!! THX Alot

 

[superj]

is there 300 pounds difference between the 2wd and 4wd version of the truck? i have no idea, is why i ask

 

[RonD]

Yes, 100lbs is the transfer case, and about 200lbs in the front axle assembly
4x4 also sits higher, also tends to have heavier tires/wheels which lowers MPG

Swapping out a 4WD axle to 2WD wouldn't help you much

Running skinnier lower profile tires will increase MPG on any vehicle
The width of a tire increases its traction which means it increases its rolling resistance as well, i.e. you won't see alot of "fat tires" in bicycle races

The lower a vehicle sits the less air flow resistance occurs under the vehicle
Rangers are not exactly "aerodynamic" on the topside, lol
But they are even worse on the underside, skid plates actually help underside aerodynamics, although add weight so it can be a wash, but if you are commuting at speeds above say 50mph I think it would increase MPG

You could leave the tailgate and spare tire at home, that should drop about 80lbs
Don't fill up the gas tank, full tank(19gal) weighs about 130lbs, so it you don't need it don't carry it, let someone else transport it for you, i.e. a gas truck, lol

 

[Blmpkn]

I'm not sure how the truck market is where your at.. BUT.. where I am an older 2wd ranger pretty much costs half of what the identical 4x4 ranger would.

I'd look into selling/trading into a 2wd 2.3 truck. You'd be a lot closer to 30mpg and could end up with a couple thousand in your pocket.

 

[hlenhart]

THX guys !! Found the post... but what I Meant was adding locking hubs so I can choose between 2 & 4wd whenever I want... in the Whole past year I only "Needed" 4wd about 4 days in snow... there's no reason to be in 4wd ALL the time! Here is the conversion I was looking for - https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/convert-ford-ranger-live-axles-to-manual-hubs/

 

[RonD]

The transfer case decides 2WD or 4WD, not the front axle being locked or unlocked

 

[hlenhart]

RonD, Thx ... Yes but my whole point is that even with the transfer case in 2WD, the "locked axle" tires are still spinning All the 300 pounds of 4WD parts unneccesarily, right ?

 

[RonD]

Yes, its keeping the front drive axles, seals, CVs, differential, u-joints and chain drive LUBED and ready to be used when needed

The 300lbs in 4WD parts are there regardless of axles being locked or not, you are always paying to haul that stuff around, lol, that is just the cost of having a 4WD vehicle
Same as having a 150lb canopy on the bed all the time, or filling up the gas tank and carrying an extra 100lbs of fuel around town when its not needed

 

[don4331]

RonD, Thx ... Yes but my whole point is that even with the transfer case in 2WD, the "locked axle" tires are still spinning All the 300 pounds of 4WD parts unneccesarily, right ?

You're only spinning the 50 pounds of the 2 axle shafts, the differential gears, the front propeller shaft and the transfer case gears & chain. The other 250 pounds are the housings and the oil in those housings. Which is why Ford only found a few fractions of a mpg, by going with lock out hubs. And there were far more warranty recalls from heavy use of the skinny pedal from automatic hubs than the additional fuel economy was worth. (Grenaded a set myself on my Explorer. My dad on the farm was in so often the dealership replaced lockout hubs to prevent truck from coming back).

Driving 80 mph creates over twice the drag that driving 55 mph does. If you want better gas economy slow the !@#$ down.

Note: Removing the tailgate doesn't improve fuel economy: What you really need is a 1/2 tonneau from rear wheel center line back for best aerodynamics.

 

[rubydist]

I think even at today's stupid prices for gasoline, it will take you years to repay the cost of changing over the cv shafts, hubs, etc. from the tiny difference in gas mileage with the front axles unlocked. I have a lot better things to do with my time and $$ than that rework. But that's just mho.

 

[Rimjam]

Trade for a 2wd truck. (Or an old VW diesel if mpg is your only goal).