4 LOW

[rcpbob]

I have a 2020 Ranger XL Super Cab STX w/locking diff. I just been playing with the four wheel drive, and some things I don't understand. In 4 High, with shifter in D, the car shifts and drives like in 2 High. But when in 4 Low, shifter in D, the transmission shift points change to about 3,000 rpm, and if left in Drive, will only go up to 5th gear. No matter what rpm you run up to, top gear stays at 5th. If you put the shifter in S, you can manually shift up to 10th gear with the toggle switch on the left side of shifter handle. Is this how it's suppose to act ? I've had older Ranger's (5 spd. auto) and other 4 wheel drive trucks, and in 4 Low they all would shift up to the highest gear while in Drive. Thanks for your comments. Ride On !

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Sounds plausible to me.

With my 5speed I don't think I have ever needed to go beyond third in low range.

 

[Curious Hound]

I agree. Low range is for slow speed only. If you get going too fast in low range, some of the gears and bearings start seeing really high rpm and thats when things catastrophically disassemble themselves.

 

[RonD]

+1 ^^^^

4low is all about torque and PREVENTING wheel spin, which is hard to do, wheel spin happens when torque exceeds traction
4low sucks in slippery conditions, instant wheel spin, its for slow climbing and desending in fairly good traction situations, so you can keep engine RPMs in its best torque band at slower speeds

Can't even image what anyone would need OverDrive for in 4low
OD is no torque, lol, less that 1:1 ratio

I would also be surprised if it used 1st(4.7:1) when in 4low, but that would be "crawling" at its slowest, lol
So it may be shifting up to 6th 1.2:1 ratio
But 5th would also be OK, 1.5:1 ratio as max ratio
You would be well into the low speed of 4high at that point, so shouldn't be in 4low

"Snow/ice" mode usually prevents starting off in 1st in most automatics, because its high ratio causes wheel spin, more torque than traction
I do the same in my manual trans, start off in 2nd when its slippery

 

[sgtsandman]

Another reason is to prevent someone from going to fast. Trails get rough real fast on the occupants and the vehicle.

 

[wildbill23c]

Its low range, its supposed to be going slow, so I'm surprised it would let you even get into 5th gear. Yes shift points will be higher because you are at least doubling your torque output in low range, so the engine is going to rev a lot higher between shifts than 2WD or 4Hi (both of which are a 1:1 ratio in the transfer case).

Here's a great example of going too fast in low range: A $50k+ mistake: https://www.motor1.com/news/494805/jeep-wrangler-flat-tow-engine-destroyed/

In low range in my Bronco 2 if I recall its around 25-30mph and its in overdrive already, and that's a stock vehicle with I think a 2.6:1 gear reduction in low range. That's plenty fast enough for low range....anything faster and you should be in 4HI or 2WD in the first place.

 

[adsm08]

4low is all about torque

In my Ranger, 4.0 manual, 31" tires, 4-wheel discs, in 4-low 1st the brakes are not powerful enough to stall the engine once the vehicle is moving.

I rarely use low range in anything but 2nd gear.

 

[Curious Hound]

I actually find that sometimes, 1st gear in low range is faster than I want to go.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I actually find that sometimes, 1st gear in low range is faster than I want to go.

Same, especially when following a truck with an automatic.

 

[2drxploder]

sounds like yall need 5.13s?

 

[RonD]

Or a lower idle

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Neither my first gear or low range is spectacular, automatics cheat too.

My speed in first and reverse in low would be awesome for high range, I often pop it in low just to sneak it in the garage.

 

[RonD]

In my Ranger, 4.0 manual, 31" tires, 4-wheel discs, in 4-low 1st the brakes are not powerful enough to stall the engine once the vehicle is moving.

I rarely use low range in anything but 2nd gear.

Yes, that's a big problem with disc brakes, they can't hold against torque

Put a big cam 427 in a chevelle, I had also converted it to 4-wheel disc brakes, automatic......................
Could barely hold it at stop lights, had to always shift to neutral, lol
Live and learn

 

[adsm08]

Yes, that's a big problem with disc brakes, they can't hold against torque

Put a big cam 427 in a chevelle, I had also converted it to 4-wheel disc brakes, automatic......................
Could barely hold it at stop lights, had to always shift to neutral, lol
Live and learn

Years ago I worked with a guy who had a Fire Turkey with that problem. He drove the car fairly regularly, and was always on about "I need to put a tranny brake in that thing, I get so sick of it banging into gear at stop lights, but I can't hold it still at stop lights".

 

[rcpbob]

Thanks all for the replies. I think there was only 1 person that had a '19-20 Ranger that replied, and he didn't answer that was what his Ranger did in 4 LOW. I see ya' points, but my questions were for the '19-20 Rangers. Anyone have a '19-20 Ranger that acts this way in 4 LOW ???