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Safe speed in 4WD high?


I was trying to decide whether to take the back roads or jump on the interstate when I go back to work tomorrow. The roads vary so much around here in the snow. It has been snowing since 9.30am and it's 11.35pm now. Think I.ll take the back roads just to be safe and not wind it up on the int. in 4wd. I have some concrete blocks in the bed. I just never have owned a truck this light. :icon_thumby:

oh yea i know what you mean. i was in that same storm today i was in chattnooga on my way home from brsitol. and it was snowing so bad that i could see past my bosses truck and he was a truck length in front of me i have never driven in that kinda weather and we both were in 4wd on the interstate cause the sleet and snow were freezing and people were just flying past us and sliding around it was kinda nerve racking.
 
We just got 3inches of snow and supposed to get 4 more. What's the max speed in 4WD high I can run and not F--- anything up on my 3litre? Six inches is basicly a blizzard in Nashville. Can I run 50-55 mph on the interstate in 4WD high and be safe?

For my particular ranger you can ENGAGE 4x4 hi UP TO 55 MPH , with that being said simple logic states you can drive (at least) 55 mph while in 4x4 hi.

This statement does not mean you should or should not, I am simply telling you what my 1996 manual says.

Use common sense and remember a little car like a PRIUS can stop MUCH quicker then your truck regardless if you are in 4 wheel drive, why you ask can a little 2 wheel drive car stop quicker then our rangers, well it takes more energy to stop a HEAVIER object, simple physics!!!
 
a prius probably weighs about as much as a ranger with all the batteries in the bottom of those things...
 
For my particular ranger you can ENGAGE 4x4 hi UP TO 55 MPH , with that being said simple logic states you can drive (at least) 55 mph while in 4x4 hi.

This statement does not mean you should or should not, I am simply telling you what my 1996 manual says.

Curiously, they've removed that line from the manual of my '09. I remember seeing it in the manual of an older Ranger, but I read the '09 manual cover to cover, and it doesn't mention any maximum speeds for 4H, either to engage or to drive. :dunno:
 
For my particular ranger you can ENGAGE 4x4 hi UP TO 55 MPH , with that being said simple logic states you can drive (at least) 55 mph while in 4x4 hi.

This statement does not mean you should or should not, I am simply telling you what my 1996 manual says.

Use common sense and remember a little car like a PRIUS can stop MUCH quicker then your truck regardless if you are in 4 wheel drive, why you ask can a little 2 wheel drive car stop quicker then our rangers, well it takes more energy to stop a HEAVIER object, simple physics!!!

depends on the brake system but thats kind of useless in the snow. but if you have a manual truck you can downshift and slow do faster in 4x4 than you can actually brake.
 
Curiously, they've removed that line from the manual of my '09. I remember seeing it in the manual of an older Ranger, but I read the '09 manual cover to cover, and it doesn't mention any maximum speeds for 4H, either to engage or to drive. :dunno:

probably bc they are do different types of front ends.
 
There is no maximum speed in 4wd. There is a maximum you can engage it, mainly the 1983-2001 systems. Anything newer than 2001 can be engaged at any speed.

I've used 4WD at highway speeds while towing trailers with the companies 2005 2500HD. The only difference in 2WD and 4WD High is you have extra traction.

-----

About the braking... I agree. The front brakes on my B2 tend to lock-up when it's slippery. So when you have 4WD engaged it locks the front wheels to the back and therefore the drivetrain slows the rear tires as it slows the front.
 
As has been stated, there is no real maximum to run in 4x4 high. There can be a maximum speed to engage it, but that's about it.

I would not run down the highway in 4x4 doing 60 mph unless it was an emergency. I used to laugh when I ran my Ranger around in the winter, it was all I had for a couple years and it was always kinda funny to see 4x4 trucks and SUVs in the ditch on the highway.

4x4 will help you get going, but if you don't understand how it works, you can end up in the ditch too, IMHO. I ran the '89 BII Eddie Bauer I had (and sold...stupid) for two winters up in the land of lake effect snow near Erie, PA. I usually left the front hubs locked in and ran around in 2wd until I needed 4x4, then I'd just flip the magic lever and away I went. Once I was headed towards a light and it changed, so I tried the brakes (wasn't going more than about 20 mph), and no matter how lightly you'd touch the brakes, you'd slide. I tried kicking it in 4x4, but that didn't help matters, it was just too slick out. So rather than skate though the intersection I cranked the wheel over and tapped the gas, front tires caught enough to swing around and drive me into the snowbank, which stopped me. Backed out and creeped up to the light. 4x4 go does not always mean 4x4 stop.

HOWEVER (and I hate to say this but it got brought up), 4x4 can help give you more control for braking in certain conditions. I would not trust it for helping to stop you any faster on a highway or whatever. But I have found that when you're moving down a slope SLOWLY, it can improve your ability to brake and steer. It doesn't seem to help all that much going forwards, it's most noticeable going backwards and I believe that the reason is that drum brakes do not grab as good in reverse as they do forwards, so by linking the front and rear axles, your front brakes can now help out more with stopping. I've tested this on our driveway (which I typically back down and it does get rather slick despite clearing the snow as much as possible - it's a limestone driveway).

I have also had experiences on the road where 4x4 low was the way to go.... driving through a nighttime blizzard with gusty winds and rapidly drifting snow. Never went above 25 mph, most of the time was 10 mph. I would not recommend it.
 
oh yea i know what you mean. i was in that same storm today i was in chattnooga on my way home from brsitol. and it was snowing so bad that i could see past my bosses truck and he was a truck length in front of me i have never driven in that kinda weather and we both were in 4wd on the interstate cause the sleet and snow were freezing and people were just flying past us and sliding around it was kinda nerve racking.[/QU


Bristol to Chatt. better you than me. Glad you made it. That must have been a B----!! I didn't have to go in 2nite. I go in tomorrow at 7pm ct instead and the roads now r just solid ice. Even the salt trucks are sliding off in ditches. I work security, so there is NO calling out. :dunno:
 
There is no maximum speed in 4wd. There is a maximum you can engage it, mainly the 1983-2001 systems. Anything newer than 2001 can be engaged at any speed.
.



Most everyone I talk to agrees 50-55 is the MAX, and 40-45 is better. My mannual says come to a dead stop, put it in park and the engage the 4wd. I wish I could shift into 4wd while moving. That would be SWEEEET! :D
 
There is no maximum speed in 4wd. There is a maximum you can engage it, mainly the 1983-2001 systems. Anything newer than 2001 can be engaged at any speed.


Most everyone I talk to agrees 50-55 is the max and 40-45 is preferable. The only way to engage mine acording to the manul is come to a dead stop and engage the 4wd while in park. Same with coming out of 4wd. I wish I could through it up in 4wd while moving. That would be SWEEEET!! :D
 
I have to disagree. Your Tires are No better in 4x4 then in 2x4. and its the TIRES that are in contact with the road. Not the discs. not the drive train.

BS, Unless you have a new truck with 4 wheel ABS or brakes that will apply front and rear EXACTLY EQUAL Then 4wd braking will be exceptionaly better than 2wd braking were the front are ALWAYS garanted to do way more braking than the rear.
 
BS, Unless you have a new truck with 4 wheel ABS or brakes that will apply front and rear EXACTLY EQUAL Then 4wd braking will be exceptionaly better than 2wd braking were the front are ALWAYS garanted to do way more braking than the rear.

The purpose of that statement that I originally made......... (just because your truck will go in 4wd doesn't mean your brakes have 4wd) has been taken out of context.

Your skidding on ice....... and even if your like me and have disk brakes, or have it in 4wd. I don't give a damn if all tires brake evenly at once
4wd doesn't majestically give you super traction........ your skidding, your going too fast...... your thinking, but I have a 4wd why am I not stopping.

Then you wreck, just like the idiot in the lumina beside you that went too fast on ice.

Frank
 

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