I have a 2002 Ranger edge 4x4. I know Ford warns against using 4x4 on hard surfaces, I assume because of the lack of a front differential. Last night coming home from a meeting in Louisville I had to engage the 4x4 high on I75 for about 15 to 20 miles due to snow and ice on the highway. I did not make any hard turns while in 4x4 and speed never exceeded 50 mph. Does doing this on occasion do real harm to my truck? If so, I might as well not own it. Thanks.

 

Ford's 4x4 is designed for use on forgiveing surfaces like snow, ice, gravel, pretty much anything other than dry pavement or concrete.

In other words the 4x4 is designed for some slipage. Running on dry pavement does not allow for slipage, especially in corners. Running 4x4 on dry pave ment will cause the transfer case to wear out at a extremely accelerated rate.

BTW, your ranger does have a differential in the front, in some way shape or form.


using the 4x4 like you did was exactly like you should have, and in most cases is actually good for it IMO, it allows the gears to get good and lubed up.

 

Doesn't hurt anything to use the 4x4 under those conditions. However, (steps on soapbox) just remember that extra traction from 4x4 only helps in moving the truck. You still stop the same, and you can still go into skids. A common complaint about 4x4 drivers in the snow is that they forget that and cause accidents by going to fast for the conditions. (steps off soapbox)

 

You will feel through the steering wheel when your 4wd system is binding and you need to relieve that pressure. The front and rear wheels spin at different speeds...but in 4wd, the front and rear are locked together, there is nothing that will compensate for that difference in speed. The only thing that will, is being on a slippery surface and allowing the buildup in tention to spin the tire. I don't see a need to drive with the 4wd on going 50 on the highway. You can shift in and out of 4wd on the fly easily if the hubs are locked so I dont see a need to have it on because if your going 50, taking the benefit of the doubt that you're a smart person, wouldn't be driving 50 if it's so slippery that you couldn't keep going in 2wd. Only be in 4wd when 2wd will not enough, or your in 2wd ready to shift into 4wd on an up and coming obstical. When it's slippery out, I drive with the hubs locked and on the fly will shift in and out of 4wd when needed to accelerate. Thats all that 4wd does, is give you accerleration traction. It will actually make it tougher to stop at times while 4wd is engaged, and will not allow you to turn any better. Lots of inexperienced drivers don't realise this, and actually go faster in 4wd than they would with a 2wd, and cause more accidents.

 

Like others have said in their reply's, your t-case is not made for extended 4wd at speed on a hard surface. Only the soccer mom AWD systems are made for that. That is why the Exploder went to an AWD type system, too many people just ran them like Subaru's, wearing stuff out.

I personally see no point in using 4wd on any paved street. If it is covered in 4 " of unplowed snow fine, but otherwise no. It only helps you get going, and maybe pulls you out of a slide in a turn thay you took too fast to begin with.

I lived in the heart of the rockies at 8150 (anyone recognize the town?) ft. for three years. I used 4wd at the most 3 times on pavement. If you learn to drive your rig you won't need it, and you will feel better that you can actually drive instead of relying on 4wd. Plus I would have felt silly since there were always CARS going down the same road as I, doing fine in 2wd.

My favorite moment was on a long drive through the plains and into the mtns., blizzard the entire way. My t-case motor was broken at the time so 4wd wasn't even an option. I drove as the conditions dictated and made it fine. The whole way I passed probably 60+ vehicles in the ditches off the freeways, and most were SUV's

I'll get off the soapbox now.

 

I think the "dry pavement" is a poor choice of words, IMO. It should be pavement period. Even wet pavement ,with today's tires, will not allow the slippage to occur to relieve the torsion wrapup.

If you're going to drop the SOF systems into 4HI, make sure you are driving on ice, snow, mud, sand, gravel, or big bumps that'll let you catch air. If you have a manual hub set up, then locking the hubs and driving in 2HI is fine. That Ranger Edge is probably SOF auto-hubbed.

-Kerry

PS: Don't recognize the elevation, CO4x4SD, but I did live above that for 6 years. Outside of Conifer. Evergreen High Class of '89 Original Colorado "Semi"-Native for 21 years.

 

I dont know mabe our winters arent as harsh or im a better driver than most but i have never seen the need for 4x4 on roads. When it was snowy here i still didnt use 4x4, i just think its a bit more fun whitth 2wd and also it keeps you honest(if your wheels start spinning then let off and thats about the speed youll be able to stop from). I have only rely needed 4x4 when snow or mud is au to or above my alxes off road. But if you only drove whith 4x4 locked in for 20min then it wont do anything, just avoid it in the future.

 

Thanks for all the replies, I do appreciate your input. Interestingly, my first truck was a '92 Ranger 2WD I bought new and drove for 6 years and 138,000 miles, including several severe Kentucky winters. I got to where I could do ok in the snow if I had some weight over the rear axle. I traded for a Ranger 4x4 in '98 and traded again for the edge last March, so I have some driving time with both 4x2 and 4x4. I honestly can tell a difference when I am in 4x4 at any speed. The truck never tries to bring the back end around (some of that is probably good habits I learned with the 4x2) and its been well worth the extra $$$. Thanks again.

 

I had an F-150 just like the one I have now, but 2wd. That truck had a limited slip rear end. That truck would go decently in the snow. However, this green 4wd truck i have has open diffs and would get stuck in 2wd over nothing. Very little traction. One time i was backing into my driveway, 1 tire was on ice and 1 tire was on dry pavement. I was in low range in 2wd and just that 1 tire on the ice was spinning. It was idling in gear, w/o me touching the gas..the truck just sat there and the tire spun. So having a LS vs open is a big deal, plus my 2wd was not enough for me. I couldn't tow a trailer when it was messy out. 4wd is worth it's weight in gold the first time you use it. I use mine all the time in the winter even when I don't really have to.

 

I've ran all of the pickups I've owned in 4wd while driving on snow/ice covered pavement and never had a problem in 15 yrs, even occasionally at interstate speeds up to about 45mph. Like someone else said-if it's bad enough to need 4wd you don't need to be doing 70 anyway.

As far as not needing any 4wd if you're a good driver on winter roads; I'm sorry to say but there are many hills around here that no 2wd pickup is going up if it's the least bit slippery unless you have chains-I don't care if you're a professional race car operator or how much skill the driver has. Mostly they're in town and you can't get a running start or keep any momentum. On the interstate it's usually ok in 2wd because there are no sharp turns and you can keep your momentum to make it up steeper hills.

I also like 4wd for goind down steep hills that have curves in them-it's much easier to keep your truck from sliding out. I just put in in 1st or 2nd and let the engine work to brake the truck using both axles.

Personally, I would not own a 2wd pickup. To me it's like buying a v8 sports car them opting for the v6.

 

I agree fully with all of the things said, I only have one more question, I have a 99 F250 that has the AUTO/LOCK hubs on it, I recently moved from an AUTO only Explorer where you had to back up 20 ft to dis engage, for my truck do I have to do this, and also for the other Kentuckyian does he have to in his Ranger?


Thanks


Also about transfercase wrap, it happens, and I have stripped out a slip clutch and sun gear on a NP208 transfer case on my lifted 150 and it's a simple fix, but a really hard to find parts, I am still looking for a cheaper slip clutch. (any ideas?)

 

<<<I have a 99 F250 that has the AUTO/LOCK hubs on it, I recently moved from an AUTO only Explorer where you had to back up 20 ft to dis engage, for my truck do I have to do this, and also for the other Kentuckyian does he have to in his Ranger? >>> In the '98 and newer Rangers, the auto hubs are a vacume design and you don't have to back up after dis-engaging 4WD. I don't know if F series are the same.

 

hey im a little confused here guys, Help me here I been plowing this winter my first winter in a 4x4 i have always driven in 4x4 wet,snow,or dry road if i got my plow on, But if i drop the plow i go out side free my hubs and turn 2wd. but by reading this i see that i dont have to unlock my hubs. I can just keep them locked and run 2wd and then when im driving i can put it into 4wd. can u guys explain this to me so i will know email me at Kostt@frontiernet.net thanks