How to use 4WD

[Nhaz]

My 92 manual says for the shift on the fly for 4 hi at the maximum speed to be 88 kilometers per hour.

For 4 lo it wants the tranny in neutral at a dead stop. ive never had to use 4 lo.

And never use the 4x4 on clean dry pavement. Keep it in 4x2 Its hard on tires and hard on the tranny.

while the truck has a front differential and a rear differential which compensates for speed differences between the wheel pairs. As in, when you go around a corner the outside wheel is going to spin faster then the inside wheel.

The vehicle doesn't have a differential between the front and rear drive shafts So it cannot compensate between different wheel speeds from front to rear. And yes they will turn at diff speeds depending on the turn rate of a corner.

Dirt and Snow and Mud will absorb the speed differences while pavement will not.

 

[darkspork]

I looked in the manual but could not find anything on maximum speed in 4lo. However it did have maximum suggested shift speeds for 4lo. The maximum suggested speed for the 4-5 shift is 17mph; with this in mind it can be assumed that you wouldn't want to drive any faster than 25mph in 4lo. 4hi shift speeds were shown to be the same as 2hi.

As a reminder for snow/winter driving: 4 wheel drive only helps you with traction on acceleration, it does little to nothing for you while trying to slow down, stop, or turn. Although the Ranger can go over 60 in 4hi, that doesn't mean you should. If conditions warrant use of 4wd on streets/highways conditions do not warrant the same speeds you would travel at if the road were dry; it is much more difficult to feel the wheels slipping on paved roads in 4wd than 2wd. This is the reason I see more SUVs and trucks in ditches, or rolled over in fields. I almost learned this the hard way first week I had my truck (my first 4wd vehicle). Play safe.

 

[kansas 4x4]

I don't want to think about what would happen if you engaged 4-low while rolling.

NOTHING will happen if you switch on the fly into ( 4-low ) it simply will do absolutely NOTHING!!

The only way to get your truck into ( 4-low ) is to be stopped then put truck in neutral then flip the switch to 4-low then put it in drive and then go.

 

[Jay FX4]

If you read any of my previous posts you'd see that I'm well aware of that. I made that comment after someone else said they didn't think you needed to have your foot on the brake. If you didn't have to be on the brake, you could potentially be rolling a bit - bad news for engaging 4 low. It engages while you're still in neutral, not after you put it back in gear. Unless I'm missing something, switching gear ratios while moving can't be a good thing, regardless of the transmission not being in gear.
If you're willing to test it on your truck, stop in the middle of a steep hill, put it in neutral and just barely touch the brake, but not enough to stop you from rolling. Engage 4 low while you're rolling and let us know what happens.

 

[Jspafford]

If you read any of my previous posts you'd see that I'm well aware of that. I made that comment after someone else said they didn't think you needed to have your foot on the brake. If you didn't have to be on the brake, you could potentially be rolling a bit - bad news for engaging 4 low. It engages while you're still in neutral, not after you put it back in gear. Unless I'm missing something, switching gear ratios while moving can't be a good thing, regardless of the transmission not being in gear.
If you're willing to test it on your truck, stop in the middle of a steep hill, put it in neutral and just barely touch the brake, but not enough to stop you from rolling. Engage 4 low while you're rolling and let us know what happens.

Your truck will shift into 4-lo while rolling less than 2mph. I've done it in the B2 with a manual case, it doesn't hurt it if going under 2mph, but you can feel it engage the lower gearing with a clunk and a speed reduction.

When I still had electric shift it would shift into low while rolling as mentioned above. No problem to speak of.

Best rule of thumb though, stop to shift into and out of low.

 

[Hahnsb2]

My truck topped out at about 25 in 5th gear in 4Low

I hit 45 on a snowy mountain road once in 4 low...

 

[91rangerxlt]

I don't want to think about what would happen if you engaged 4-low while rolling.

my 4 lo dont engage unless im in nuetrel. and my owners manual said shift on the fly 4 hi up to 55mph

 

[Brandon12]

I hit 45 on a snowy mountain road once in 4 low...

What the hell gears do you have? Cause i was a 4000 rmp with 3.73 gears and a 2.9

Edit: I see you have a 4.0 and 4.56's. hmm

 

[Ranger#1]

I hit 45 on a snowy mountain road once in 4 low...

lol if done that but with out 4wd in 2wd low lol

 

[JohnnyO]

I don't want to think about what would happen if you engaged 4-low while rolling.

With a late-model, nothing. The computer won't let it happen. Complete stop, tranny in Neutral, foot on the brake, is the only way it will let you shift to 4-Lo.

That makes me think of something I've been curious about.....
How fast can you go in 4-low? Is there a speed limit? I've never taken it past 10-15mph and don't intend to go any faster but I always wondered if there was a "top speed".

Whatever redline is. You'll hit it pretty quick even in 5th gear. I don't recall ever trying it but it's probably no more than 25 or 30 mph.

In my Rangers and my old Sport Trac I'd off-road in second gear and low range most of the time. Rarely needed to shift that way.

 

[feellnfroggy]

Our humvees can't use reverse in 4lo, I think my expe I have used reverse but I dont know if I was supposed to. You should double check with the rangers. Also keeping in mind that when going from 4hi to 2wd if there is any pressure on the driveline, IE on a hill, then you will have to release the pressure for the system to release it to 2wd. Give it a little gas and let off.

 

[Shran]

I have gone fairly fast in 4lo...probably 40-45mph. If it's real snowy out I will just leave it in 4lo and cruise around town.

Using 4 wheel drive does improve braking and handling in the snow. I do not care what anyone says, it does. I tested it on a hill by my house. I slid all the way down it with the brakes locked in 2wd and didn't slide at all in 4 wheel drive. 4 wheel drive also improves handling somewhat on dirt or gravel roads, especially ones that have excess loose gravel or dirt, or are washboarded out.

 

[Jspafford]

Our humvees can't use reverse in 4lo, I think my expe I have used reverse but I dont know if I was supposed to. You should double check with the rangers. Also keeping in mind that when going from 4hi to 2wd if there is any pressure on the driveline, IE on a hill, then you will have to release the pressure for the system to release it to 2wd. Give it a little gas and let off.

It works just the same in reverse.

 

[Ranger Business]

my f'ing ranger got stuck in 4 lo and i had to drive 15 miles at 15mph. that was gay.

 

[MountainMike]

Right outta my '98's owners manual

Shifting from 2WD (2WD high) to 4X4 HIGH (4WD High)
Move the 4WD control to the 4X4
HIGH.
At temperatures below 0°C (32°F),
shifts from 2WD to 4X4 HIGH
should not be performed above
72 km/h (45 mph).
² Do not shift into 4X4 HIGH with
the rear wheels slipping.
Shifting from 4X4 HIGH (4WD high) to 2WD (2WD high)
Move the 4WD control to 2WD at
any forward speed. You do not need
to put the gearshift in R (Reverse)
to disengage your front hubs.
Shifting between 4X4 HIGH (4WD high) and 4X4 LOW (4WD low)
1. Bring the vehicle to a stop.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift in N (Neutral) (automatic transmission) or depress
the clutch (manual transmission).
4. Move the 4WD control to the 4X4
HIGH or 4X4 LOW position.