Last of the REAL 4x4 Rangers?

[AllanD]

Most of the things the average 4x4 owner does CAN be done in 2wd.

when offroad I have my hubs locked, but I run in 2wd UNTIL the truck won't move before I pull on that lever....

if you run in 4x4 all the time you sometimes don't know
what the traction conditions are until it's too late.

Then again this time last month I was running at 50mph on
an interstate highway with my hubs locked and 4x4 engaged
for right on 85miles.

I was on running from Gurnesey, Wyoming to Casper, Wyoming,
"northbound" (though more west than north) on I-25 in
during the christmas eve snowstorm.

Though that storm wasn't nearly as bad as the storm the previous
day across Iowa, Either I missed the worst part of that storm
(because there were 100-odd vehicles literally BLOWN off the road
between Walcott and DesMoines) OR I was loaded heavily enough
that the crosswind couldn't really "get a grip" on my truck.

On my way back 10 days later they were still getting vehicles
out of the ditches on either side of I-80 in the eastern half of Iowa.



AD

 

[Hahnsb2]

LOL last time I went with 2wd untill I needed 4wd I stuck myself so bad it took 2 hours of digging to get my ass out, damn locker. I usually run with the hubs unlocked in 4lo because with that locker it will go pretty far in 2lo and I then get out and lock the hubs when 2wd wont cut it.

 

[exbass94]

I think some of you are missiing the point of his question. He didn't say anything about Rangers being "true 4x4s" as far as suspensions go, just the stuff about manual 4x4 systems. To answer the OP's question, the last year of manual-shift t-cases was 2003. Manual hubs were offered up until 1997, then from 1998-2001 had vacuum-actuated hubs, but there's a kit to install manual hubs, and there's a trick to fully engage the vacuum hubs which has proven to be a reliable solution as well. 2002-up trucks do not have vacuum hubs, they have a live axle set-up where the front axle and driveshaft are always turning, even in 2wd. This also a very reliable set-up. So basically, 2003 is the last of the "real 4x4s" only because they stopped offering the manual t-case.

 

[racsan]

i still say '97. the ttb front end was a good and strong design, u-joints are stronger than c.v. joints, and the '98 &up have a expensive unit-bearing design thats replace-only. you can change out auto hubs real easy and change a electric-shift case for a manual-shift case. my e-shift still works fine after 15 years of service.
________
vapor genie

 

[metalmacguyver]

thats debatable

well i suppose that ranger F100s from the 70s had the D44 front.....

 

[racsan]

for that matter, the ranger pkge F250's from the 70's have the dana 60 rear. and the 460, with a C6 or creeper 1st 4 spd!
________
no2 vaporizer

 

[Hardwareman]

Every 4x4 Super Duty built from 1999 to the current model has manual hub override with the auto hubs. If the owner were to read the owner's manual they'd see that instead of "getting stuck because the front hubs would not engage".

Give me a break.

Well it's what he told me. He just said there is a button on the dash not working and it needs to be repaired before he can go into 4 wheel drive.

Now......if it were all manual? No problems. That's all I'm saying. Late.




Allen

 

[MAKG]

why did you have your 4wd engaged on an unpaved road?

'Cause it was raining cats and dogs and there was mud on the road.

Yeah, maybe I could have done without it, but I'd rather not get stuck instead of trying to get unstuck with 4WD that won't engage for 10 feet or so.