driving in 4 low with hubs disengaged

[91 blue ranger]

Can I drive my 1991 ford ranger with a manual transmission and manual locking hubs in four wheel drive low and the hubs in the free position. I am wondering because if I can I could back up heavy loads a little easier. And if i can't do this why not. Thanks for any input..

 

[Dirtman]

Kinda... The low range on the t-case was in no way ment to tow anything so if you keep that in mind and dont try to drive it in 5th gear it will work.

 

[Snoranger]

Yes you can. Don’t go driving down the highway, or trying to hit 50mph. It’s fine for slow moving or loading onto a trailer.

 

[Curious Hound]

I do it often.

 

[RonD]

+1 ^^^

Won't hurt a thing

 

[91 blue ranger]

Ok thanks for the quick responses. I just wanted to make sure I would not damage anything.

 

[91 blue ranger]

Oh just wondering how fast you can drive like this? 30 mph?

 

[Curious Hound]

30 should be ok.

 

[racsan]

I did that all the time with my ‘93, wish my 2wd had a transfer case just so I could have the lower ratio for backing a trailer or coming up out of the water on a boat ramp. One time I pulled my box trailer loaded with firewood through town in 4L. felt like a semi shifting through 1-4 so quickly. Was loaded so heavy that coming to a stop I only had rear brakes as the front of truck would just lock up & slide.

 

[91 blue ranger]

Ok thanks everyone.

 

[adsm08]

Oh just wondering how fast you can drive like this? 30 mph?

I did this one time in high school. Not really on purpose, just didn't realize I was in low range. In 5th gear at 35 she was a-screaming.

 

[91 blue ranger]

Kinda... The low range on the t-case was in no way ment to tow anything so if you keep that in mind and dont try to drive it in 5th gear it will work.

What do you mean it is not ment to tow anything?

 

[Dirtman]

Don't use it to drive around towing stuff that your engine/truck is otherwise not capable of doing...

 

[91 blue ranger]

Don't use it to drive around towing stuff that your engine/truck is otherwise not capable of doing...

Ok thanks. So just for slow moving like backing up and little stuff like that.

 

[franklin2]

I do it all the time also. I did see in a factory GM manual I had they recommended not doing it without the hubs locked in because it puts a lot of strain on the rear axle. All the torque is sent to the rear axle and not split and sent to the front also.

But like the others, I do it all the time and is really handy to back trailers up without burning the clutch up. Never had any problems.

I think if you were in low range popping the clutch with the hubs unlocked, trying to get a stump pulled out of the ground or something like that, you could probably break something.