When to use 4WD?
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 283
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From: Bethel Park, PA
When to use 4WD?
Just got another Ranger a couple of weeks ago and this one is 4WD. I have never driven a 4WD vehicle before, so I'd like some tips on when to use it. It has 3 settings. 2WD, 4WD high and 4WD Low. I read the manual and what to use for what particular conditions, but I'm curious how you 4WD guys use it, since the instructions were kind of in general terms. Can I use it on a wet road, for example? Sometimes, if I keep it in rear wheel drive, and the roads are wet, I can skid a little from a stop. I know it said not to use it on dry pavement. Anyway, any tips from you guys that use it would be appreciated. Thanks.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 983
Likes: 3
From: Detroit 'burbs
When on dry pavement or wet pavement from rain, keep it in 2WD. If youre having traction problems in 2WD on wet pavement from rain, its the fault of the tire, not the 4X4 drivetrain. Keeping a few sandbags or some other weighted object in the bed could help this. Or get a tire with an agressive tread.
4X4 HIGH should be used in snow, ice, mud, deep gravel or dirt roads, sand, etc..but NOT on dry pavement. It wont hurt it to drive for short distances on dry pavement but try to keep the wheels facing forward. If you try to turn on dry pavement in 4WD it puts a strain on the system and can cause damage.
4X4 LOW is for climbing steep grades, IE: up a steep dirt road, trail or hill, or while towing a boat up a wet boat ramp. What 4X4 LOW does is really sink the front wheels into the ground for best traction. Although Ive never tried it myself, when I asked someone about 4X4 LOW when I was playing out on the sand dunes I was told not to use it and stick in 4X4 HIGH because all 4X4 LOW would do is dig me deeper into a pit.
Hope this helps!
4X4 HIGH should be used in snow, ice, mud, deep gravel or dirt roads, sand, etc..but NOT on dry pavement. It wont hurt it to drive for short distances on dry pavement but try to keep the wheels facing forward. If you try to turn on dry pavement in 4WD it puts a strain on the system and can cause damage.
4X4 LOW is for climbing steep grades, IE: up a steep dirt road, trail or hill, or while towing a boat up a wet boat ramp. What 4X4 LOW does is really sink the front wheels into the ground for best traction. Although Ive never tried it myself, when I asked someone about 4X4 LOW when I was playing out on the sand dunes I was told not to use it and stick in 4X4 HIGH because all 4X4 LOW would do is dig me deeper into a pit.
Hope this helps!
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
From: Bethel Park, PA
When on dry pavement or wet pavement from rain, keep it in 2WD. If youre having traction problems in 2WD on wet pavement from rain, its the fault of the tire, not the 4X4 drivetrain. Keeping a few sandbags or some other weighted object in the bed could help this. Or get a tire with an agressive tread.
4X4 HIGH should be used in snow, ice, mud, deep gravel or dirt roads, sand, etc..but NOT on dry pavement. It wont hurt it to drive for short distances on dry pavement but try to keep the wheels facing forward. If you try to turn on dry pavement in 4WD it puts a strain on the system and can cause damage.
4X4 LOW is for climbing steep grades, IE: up a steep dirt road, trail or hill, or while towing a boat up a wet boat ramp. What 4X4 LOW does is really sink the front wheels into the ground for best traction. Although Ive never tried it myself, when I asked someone about 4X4 LOW when I was playing out on the sand dunes I was told not to use it and stick in 4X4 HIGH because all 4X4 LOW would do is dig me deeper into a pit.
Hope this helps!
4X4 HIGH should be used in snow, ice, mud, deep gravel or dirt roads, sand, etc..but NOT on dry pavement. It wont hurt it to drive for short distances on dry pavement but try to keep the wheels facing forward. If you try to turn on dry pavement in 4WD it puts a strain on the system and can cause damage.
4X4 LOW is for climbing steep grades, IE: up a steep dirt road, trail or hill, or while towing a boat up a wet boat ramp. What 4X4 LOW does is really sink the front wheels into the ground for best traction. Although Ive never tried it myself, when I asked someone about 4X4 LOW when I was playing out on the sand dunes I was told not to use it and stick in 4X4 HIGH because all 4X4 LOW would do is dig me deeper into a pit.
Hope this helps!
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 620
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From: Ishpeming Mi.
4x4 low is really for rock crawling. In almost all other conditions it will just put you into a place[s] that you really don't want to be. I do my off road as a lone wolf. If I don't like the looks of the terrain, mud usually, then I don't go there. No big deal, and I've never been stuck. And I've never had to walk out
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