AWD?

[bruker]

Are any of the newer Rangers available with AWD? I'm driving a '20 Edge right now and the AWD is great on snow and ice. Thinking about getting into a Ranger next but don't want to deal with manually switching from 2wd to 4wd.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Are any of the newer Rangers available with AWD? I'm driving a '20 Edge right now and the AWD is great on snow and ice. Thinking about getting into a Ranger next but don't want to deal with manually switching from 2wd to 4wd.

The closest you may find is automatic 4wd.

Our Bronco has it and it is nice, the Ranger is very related but I don't know if that crossed over to the Ranger or not. I've never heard anyone say anything about a Ranger having it though...

My wife's 07 AWD Edge was very similar to auto 4wd and not really full time AWD. The front wheels would slip so much and it would engage the rears. Now the Bronco lets the rears so much and it engages the fronts.

 

[Jim Oaks]

You can get an AWD Ford Maverick.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You can get an AWD Ford Maverick.

Now I am curious, do you know if the Ranger ever got automatic 4wd or is that just a F-150/Bronco thing?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Now I am curious, do you know if the Ranger ever got automatic 4wd or is that just a F-150/Bronco thing?

Explorers got it too. Mom’s 02 has it with the 4.0 SOHC. Not sure if it was an option before that other than the all-time AWD for the V-8 Explorers. Never seen a Ranger with it as an option

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Explorers got it too. Mom’s 02 has it with the 4.0 SOHC. Not sure if it was an option before that other than the all-time AWD for the V-8 Explorers. Never seen a Ranger with it as an option

I know they didn't up thru 2011.

The newer ones are an unknown to me, especially since vehicles with the parts to make it happen share the assembly line and "auto everything" has become more popular.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I know they didn't up thru 2011.

The newer ones are an unknown to me, especially since vehicles with the parts to make it happen share the assembly line and "auto everything" has become more popular.

I’m curious now if the gen 2 Explorer had it at all. If it did, it would theoretically be possible to convert a 98+ Ranger to have it…

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

For what little it is worth... fulltime 4wd is available on the Ranger Raptor.

I don't see any mention of it on a Lariat.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Automatic 4WD (4A) is only available on the Ranger Raptor. No idea why they don't offer it on the regular Ranger.

 

[JoshT]

I’m curious now if the gen 2 Explorer had it at all. If it did, it would theoretically be possible to convert a 98+ Ranger to have it…

2nd gen V8 Explorers had 2WD or AWD. 2nd gen V6 Explorers were available as 2WD, A4WD, and maybe straight 4WD. To install the 2nd gen A4WD system on a similar Ranger would require the entire transfer case because it has a clutch that the normal 4wd does not have, It would also require the entire control because there was coding and/or sensors that did not exist in the Ranger. Even with all of that, you would be in uncharted territory.

For what little it is worth... fulltime 4wd is available on the Ranger Raptor.

I don't see any mention of it on a Lariat.

If it was on the Ranger Raptor, there is a chance it is available on other Rangers of those same years and just software disabled. If it is someone with Forscan and the will to experiment could probably figure out how to turn it on.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

2nd gen V8 Explorers had 2WD or AWD. 2nd gen V6 Explorers were available as 2WD, A4WD, and maybe straight 4WD. To install the 2nd gen A4WD system on a similar Ranger would require the entire transfer case because it has a clutch that the normal 4wd does not have, It would also require the entire control because there was coding and/or sensors that did not exist in the Ranger. Even with all of that, you would be in uncharted territory.


If it was on the Ranger Raptor, there is a chance it is available on other Rangers of those same years and just software disabled. If it is someone with Forscan and the will to experiment could probably figure out how to turn it on.

Full time would have to have a center diff in the tcase. Mere moral part time tcase is chain drive.

 

[JoshT]

Wasn't arguing anything about a fulltime AWD case, just stating the drive modes offered. The BW4406 found in the V8 Explorer (as well as both my and lil_Blue_Ford's Rangers) use a viscous coupling in the transfer case to allow for speed for slipage between front and rear end. The BW4405 found in the A4WD system uses a clutch instead of the viscous coupling.

"In the 4X2 mode, torque from the transmission is transferred to the input shaft which, in turn, drives the rear output shaft that drives the rear axle assembly. The 2WD through 4WD auto shift is accomplished through an electromechanical ball ramp clutch assembly.

The electromechanical ball ramp clutch assembly drives the drive sprocket after the Generic Electronic Module (GEM) activates the clutch coil. The drive sprocket turns the chain which rotates the front output shaft and front driveshaft."

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Wasn't arguing anything about a fulltime AWD case, just stating the drive modes offered. The BW4406 found in the V8 Explorer (as well as both my and lil_Blue_Ford's Rangers) use a viscous coupling in the transfer case to allow for speed for slipage between front and rear end. The BW4405 found in the A4WD system uses a clutch instead of the viscous coupling.

"In the 4X2 mode, torque from the transmission is transferred to the input shaft which, in turn, drives the rear output shaft that drives the rear axle assembly. The 2WD through 4WD auto shift is accomplished through an electromechanical ball ramp clutch assembly.

The electromechanical ball ramp clutch assembly drives the drive sprocket after the Generic Electronic Module (GEM) activates the clutch coil. The drive sprocket turns the chain which rotates the front output shaft and front driveshaft."


View attachment 137297

About what I figured. Uncharted territory and a bunch of work, but potentially possible. I’m not worried about it for my green Ranger because it’s staying a lowered AWD and I don’t see a need for low range on a street toy. But may be an option for someone wanting to keep low range and still be able to get maximum traction.

 

[JohnnyO]

Now I am curious, do you know if the Ranger ever got automatic 4wd or is that just a F-150/Bronco thing?

No. It's either in 4wd or it's not.
My old Gen 2 Sport Trac had a 4-Auto setting which was 2wd unless the computer detected the rear wheels spinning and then it would kick in the front axle. I found it to be irritating and unpredictable so in snow I would just lock it in 4-Hi, turn off the traction control, and go.
But Rangers never had that system except for the new Raptor as Jim says, if you want to spend $80k to get it.