2 low?

[JoshErnst1074]

This may be a dumb question, I have a 1989 2.3L 4x4 ranger, if both my hubs are "UNLOCKED" and I have the truck in 4Low, would that technically put it in 2Low? Would it be safe to drive it like that? And if not, what would putting it in 4 with the hubs unlocked do? Thanks guys.

 

[ab_slack]

It is possible to have hubs locked and it not in 4WD for extended periods and high speed. That spins all the front driveline regardless.

This is sort of is the reverse but instead of the wheel shafts spinning because they are coupled to the wheels resulting in the driveshaft also spinning, you have the drive shaft connected and the two wheel shafts unconnected.

The most significant departure I see between this and having hubs locked (with 2WD or without 4WD engaged) is that you don't have the wheels insuring that the axle shafts are rotating more or less equally. It would be possible for example for the drive shaft to spin and only one axle shaft spin at double the wheel speed and other not spin at all. Or one spin forward while the other reverse. That means the diff is operating in an unusual fashion and I don't know what effect that would have.

I can't imagine why you want to do this except perhaps you are on dry pavement or other condition that doesn't allow slip and need low range to pull something heavy.

If you aren't doing this extended periods (and heck can't be very high speeds in low range) I don't see much issue but this is just a guess.

 

[4x4junkie]

I assume this would be for backing up a trailer or something similar?

Should be no problem, however just be careful you don't put too much load on the rear axle (especially if you have a heavy load in the bed), as the torque isn't shared with the front axle at all.

 

[adsm08]

My dad used to do that all the time for moving big stuff around the yard. Even in low range the 2.3 doesn't have the power to break anything, just don't try to drive anywhere.

 

[JoshErnst1074]

Thanks for all the great answers guys! Yeah I'm thinking like hauling something heavy for very short periods of time under 35 mph. Or getting up an extremely steep hill. It would be nice to be able to get into low range 2WD without having to exit the vehicle and lock the hubs on the fly.

 

[JoshErnst1074]

I had another question. What is the neutral function on the tcase? When I put the tcase in neutral and the transmission in 1st, I don't go anywhere lol. Is it supposed to do that?

 

[ab_slack]

I don't know that the neutral in the T case has any purpose other than to be the in-between space between the high and low range.

And yes it is supposed to do that.

 

[4x4junkie]

Neutral is normally used for flat-towing it (as in behind a motorhome). This keeps the transmission's shaft from spinning so it doesn't sustain excess wear and/or damage (particularly if you have an automatic).

 

[wildbill23c]

1. Driving or operating with the front hubs disengaged and the transfer case in the low range position does in fact give you 2WD low range. This is useful for things such as backing up trailers where sometimes the vehicle just wants to go way too fast even at idle speed, it also works great as in low range you can in fact put the transmission in 1st gear and get out and walk beside the vehicle. Done this many times with an old farm truck bucking hay onto the flatbed.

2. The neutral position on the transfer case is used for towing the vehicle for extended periods of time where all 4 wheels are on the ground. It completely disconnects the engine/transmission from the axles so the axles are in free-wheel mode. So yes, when you put the transfer case into neutral the vehicle won't move, ok well if you are parked on a hill without the brakes applied it will just roll away. But yes, its normal for the truck not to go anywhere when the transfer case is in neutral.

3. Low Range, regardless of being in actual 4WD or 2WD, you shouldn't be going very fast, and at 35mph would be pushing it a bit far IMO. Low range is for extremely slow speeds, its not for long distance travelling. Even with a load. If you need low range to move a load around you definitely have way too much weight for the vehicle.

 

[ab_slack]

Hint: Don't put xfer case in neutral and then leave it parked with trans in first or park and expect it to stay.

 

[swynx]

I drive my truck in 2 low all the time. I swapped out the electric motor so now I gotta crawl under to put it in low gear. So once I hit the trail it goes in 4 low and doesn't come out. We have tight corners that the aussie doesn't like so when on the gravel road going between trails I unlock the hubs. I've never experienced any problems and even run it in 5th. Its been ran that way for countless miles.

 

[wildbill23c]

I drive my truck in 2 low all the time. I swapped out the electric motor so now I gotta crawl under to put it in low gear. So once I hit the trail it goes in 4 low and doesn't come out. We have tight corners that the aussie doesn't like so when on the gravel road going between trails I unlock the hubs. I've never experienced any problems and even run it in 5th. Its been ran that way for countless miles.

I've done it a couple times in my B2, wouldn't think it would hurt anything by doing so, everything spins, but no power to the wheels until the hubs are locked.

What's the maximum speed in low range before the drive train explodes? Seems like 25mph is pushing it a bit.

 

[4x4junkie]

What's the maximum speed in low range before the drive train explodes? Seems like 25mph is pushing it a bit.

It's limited by your engine's RPM. I would say 25-35 MPH is a comfortable maximum, depending what ratio is in your axles, though if you really wind it out, you could do maybe 45-50 MPH. If you find yourself in 5th gear for any good length of time though, might as well just switch it back to Hi range (save yourself a little wear on your low-range gearing).

 

[bigmark303]

I spend a great deal of time in 2 wheel low. Has not had any adverse affects on the drivetrain at all. With an electric transfercase motor once im in the woods for the day low range is engaged and I use the hubs to engage/disengage the 4wd until im back on blacktop at the end of the day.

Haul all sorts of wood around all day back and forth mostly in 2wd low range with the driver hub unlocked. Never go over 15mph though but keep it in 2nd with the auto transmission all day.

 

[scotts90ranger]

At one point when I had a short commute to work I ran in 2 low for like a week with the 2.3L turbo engine driving like a turbo engine should and didn't have any problems with the old 7.5" axle

I did break a spider gear in the 7.5" though, it did involve first gear low range pulling over a garage when the rope broke...