Great! Stupid Question?

[knucksfirst]

This maybe a stupid question but this is the first 4x4 I have ever owned. And well to lock the hubs I have to go out side and turn both wheel hubs to lock the 4x4 and go back in side and turn the switch. Now the question is, what's the simpliest way of getting the newer style where I can lock them from inside? If I convert the switch to manual would it also lock the hubs? Thanks you for any answers to my noob question. Im willing to do the work. Give me something to do.

 

[84stealthranger]

well if u do any kinda wheeling or got a heavy foot in the snow u have the best hubs for that right now. but if ur just using it for snowy roads u can try and find some auto hubs at a junk yard or in the classifieds on here. i wouldnt recommend the auto hubs cuz when u need them the most they fail.

 

[knucksfirst]

Thanks for your reply! I was wondering which ones where more dependable, maybe ill stick with mine! But if i where to convert to auto hubs, would i have to pass a switch through or would they just engage when i turned the switch over to 4x4?

 

[Ozwynn]

the auto hubs use run-on clutches, completely mechanical...... No wiring needed. I would stick with the manual hubs though......... The only system more reliable would be drive plates.

 

[pcollins]

just stick with the manuals. i drive all winter with mine locked in.

 

[knucksfirst]

you must be loaded lol i wouldnt be able to afford the gas!

 

[scotts90ranger]

you should only loose maybe 1mpg leaving them locked in...

 

[Daven]

Do you understand how the different hubs work? Im asking because i did not before i asked the same question, then realised that these are much more practical. Heres a basic explaination....

Ok, so manual hubs you engage by turning the hubs on the outside to "lock". Then once they are locked, you can take the truck in and out of 4x4 any time you wanted. You can drive it in 2wd even with the hubs locked, without having to worry about wrecking anything. With the hubs locked, the front end is spinning with the tires, but not being pulled by the transfercase as its not engaged. So it still is slightly more work to turn... But it is not much difference as to unlocked at all. You already know the difference in mileage between being in 4x4 and not tho lol. So basically, you can (and i do) keep the hubs "locked" all winter and just switch it to 4x4 when you feel the need.

With auto hubs however, you must drive a certain distance before they actually engaged. So if you are driving along in 2wd and happen to get stuck, you cannot put it in 4x4 to get out as you cannot lock the hubs yourself.

So you and your buddy are driving around. You, with your manual locking hubs, and him with his auto locking hubs. Lets say he has this huge, beefy, lifted F250, and you have your current "little" ranger. But OH NO!... You guys end up getting stuck, both in 2wd because you didnt know you were going to need it. He is just spinning away and cannot get going, as his hubs arent locked in yet. You just simply walk out and lock in your hubs (providing you didnt lock them in the first place), and get in and put it in 4x4. You gett unstuck and pull out the truck twice your size that got stuck in the same place.

Moral of the story... Manual hubs are sooo much better and practical. Instead of having to drive 20 or so feet (or whatever it is... i never could remember lol). And if you just keep the hubs locked all winter, or even just when you think the roads might be bad out, you can go in and out of 4x4 whenever you want. It wont wreck anything.

Hope this helps you understand a bit about how it works. I dont know the real specifics on it, but im sure if theres anything i missed someone else will clearify it. People pay good money to switch to your current setup

 

[pcollins]

you must be loaded lol i wouldnt be able to afford the gas!

???? No, actually. I'm not loaded at all. You lose around 1mpg IF. with the hubs locked all the time. Just like said above. ALSO, with manual hubs, you gain a 2wd Low gear, by having the hubs UNlocked and putting it in 4LO. I use it around the farm on lanes if its dry and i'm hauling something heavy.

 

[hondaxr650]

Do you understand how the different hubs work? Im asking because i did not before i asked the same question, then realised that these are much more practical. Heres a basic explaination....

Ok, so manual hubs you engage by turning the hubs on the outside to "lock". Then once they are locked, you can take the truck in and out of 4x4 any time you wanted. You can drive it in 2wd even with the hubs locked, without having to worry about wrecking anything. With the hubs locked, the front end is spinning with the tires, but not being pulled by the transfercase as its not engaged. So it still is slightly more work to turn... But it is not much difference as to unlocked at all. You already know the difference in mileage between being in 4x4 and not tho lol. So basically, you can (and i do) keep the hubs "locked" all winter and just switch it to 4x4 when you feel the need.

With auto hubs however, you must drive a certain distance before they actually engaged. So if you are driving along in 2wd and happen to get stuck, you cannot put it in 4x4 to get out as you cannot lock the hubs yourself.

So you and your buddy are driving around. You, with your manual locking hubs, and him with his auto locking hubs. Lets say he has this huge, beefy, lifted F250, and you have your current "little" ranger. But OH NO!... You guys end up getting stuck, both in 2wd because you didnt know you were going to need it. He is just spinning away and cannot get going, as his hubs arent locked in yet. You just simply walk out and lock in your hubs (providing you didnt lock them in the first place), and get in and put it in 4x4. You gett unstuck and pull out the truck twice your size that got stuck in the same place.

Moral of the story... Manual hubs are sooo much better and practical. Instead of having to drive 20 or so feet (or whatever it is... i never could remember lol). And if you just keep the hubs locked all winter, or even just when you think the roads might be bad out, you can go in and out of 4x4 whenever you want. It wont wreck anything.

Hope this helps you understand a bit about how it works. I dont know the real specifics on it, but im sure if theres anything i missed someone else will clearify it. People pay good money to switch to your current setup

The scenarios you gave are exactly why we switch to manuals, cuz if you have to drive 20 feet to get auto hubs to engage, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEM! Of course, it seems like there's always something wrong with them. A properly working auto hub only takes maybe a 1/4 of a rotation of the front axles to engage them. They rarely work like they're supposed to though, especially with a lot of miles on them when the grease turns to something resembling J.B. weld. If you have manuals, KEEP THEM!

 

[Original_Ranger84]

???? No, actually. I'm not loaded at all. You lose around 1mpg IF. with the hubs locked all the time. Just like said above. ALSO, with manual hubs, you gain a 2wd Low gear, by having the hubs UNlocked and putting it in 4LO. I use it around the farm on lanes if its dry and i'm hauling something heavy.

I would expect a 2-3mpg drop just because you would be likely spinning out more often or in 4x4... or atleast thats what I see regularly in the winter time.

As for having 2wd low... why not just use it as 4wd lo? you would have 4 tires pulling putting the strain to all 4 wheels and not breaking your rear axle.

 

[7.5L_STX]

I would expect a 2-3mpg drop just because you would be likely spinning out more often or in 4x4... or atleast thats what I see regularly in the winter time.

As for having 2wd low... why not just use it as 4wd lo? you would have 4 tires pulling putting the strain to all 4 wheels and not breaking your rear axle.

Because 2 low does come in handy sometimes. we use it on my buddys yota when hauling brush all the time.

 

[Daven]

iiiinteresting...lol I did not know we could use 2-LO It wont do anything it shouldnt? Just like 4-LO only rear wheel drive?

Learnin new stuff everyday

 

[Boggin]

Do you understand how the different hubs work? Im asking because i did not before i asked the same question, then realised that these are much more practical. Heres a basic explaination....

Ok, so manual hubs you engage by turning the hubs on the outside to "lock". Then once they are locked, you can take the truck in and out of 4x4 any time you wanted. You can drive it in 2wd even with the hubs locked, without having to worry about wrecking anything. With the hubs locked, the front end is spinning with the tires, but not being pulled by the transfercase as its not engaged. So it still is slightly more work to turn... But it is not much difference as to unlocked at all. You already know the difference in mileage between being in 4x4 and not tho lol. So basically, you can (and i do) keep the hubs "locked" all winter and just switch it to 4x4 when you feel the need.

With auto hubs however, you must drive a certain distance before they actually engaged. So if you are driving along in 2wd and happen to get stuck, you cannot put it in 4x4 to get out as you cannot lock the hubs yourself.

So you and your buddy are driving around. You, with your manual locking hubs, and him with his auto locking hubs. Lets say he has this huge, beefy, lifted F250, and you have your current "little" ranger. But OH NO!... You guys end up getting stuck, both in 2wd because you didnt know you were going to need it. He is just spinning away and cannot get going, as his hubs arent locked in yet. You just simply walk out and lock in your hubs (providing you didnt lock them in the first place), and get in and put it in 4x4. You gett unstuck and pull out the truck twice your size that got stuck in the same place.

Moral of the story... Manual hubs are sooo much better and practical. Instead of having to drive 20 or so feet (or whatever it is... i never could remember lol). And if you just keep the hubs locked all winter, or even just when you think the roads might be bad out, you can go in and out of 4x4 whenever you want. It wont wreck anything.

Hope this helps you understand a bit about how it works. I dont know the real specifics on it, but im sure if theres anything i missed someone else will clearify it. People pay good money to switch to your current setup

no. i have several trucks with manuals and one truck with autos. when im in my 94 (with auto hubs) and i get stuck in 2wd, just hit hte 4wd button and as soon as she spins a tiny bit the hubs will lock.
and yes my b2 and my 79 have the manual hubs locked all the time except for on dry pavement

 

[pcollins]

I would expect a 2-3mpg drop just because you would be likely spinning out more often or in 4x4... or atleast thats what I see regularly in the winter time.

As for having 2wd low... why not just use it as 4wd lo? you would have 4 tires pulling putting the strain to all 4 wheels and not breaking your rear axle.

Because, do you use 4wd when your towing on the road? No. Dry packed dirt is pretty much the same. If its muddy, i'll use all 4.

iiiinteresting...lol I did not know we could use 2-LO It wont do anything it shouldnt? Just like 4-LO only rear wheel drive?

Learnin new stuff everyday

Nothing will break, the front axles and all will be turning, but won't power the front wheels without the hubs locked in.