4H

[TVRangerSTX]

What, you miss finding a place to pull over, get out in the snow and lock the hubs? Heresy, I say.

Yup, my old 79 Bronco, and a couple Bronco II's had lock outs! PITA...

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[Wes Siler]

So 4wd locks the speeds of the front and rear axles together. The wheel with the least traction on either axle is only free to spin as fast as the wheel with the least traction on the opposite axle.

Because your axles need to spin at different speeds while taking corners, 4wd forces wheels to break traction while cornering. That's why you shouldn't use 4wd on bare pavement.

4 low shifts the transmission into low range. This lower ratio multiplies the force the engine has over the wheels, both while accelerating and decelerating. You use this to enhance control of the vehicle on steep terrain, to power through deep mud and similar, or to pull a stick vehicle out of an obstacle. It is normal to experience a lurch as 4 low engages.

The locking rear diff matches wheel speeds across that axle. In 2wd, this maximizes traction on that axle. In 4wd, with the rear diff locked, the wheel on the front axle with the least traction is only free to spin as fast as the entire rear axle, which is a major boost to traction.

When equipped with FX4, our rangers also include electronic traction aids that use the ABS system to selectively apply the brakes on individual wheels to match speeds. This replicates the function of axle lockers without the hassle of engaging lockers. To use this, just enable any of the terrain modes.

4 auto is unnecessary, complicated, and suboptimal if your goal is driving safely in slippery conditions. Because it relies on slip to occur on the rear axle before engaging the front, it leaves open the possibility for a major slide or similar to occur before adequate traction can be applied. And because it's an "on road" feature, it can't enable the gee whiz terrain management wheel speed matching.

If you're worried about driving in mixed conditions, simply employ your eyeballs to identify upcoming challenges. If you're about to enter a section of bare pavement, enable 2wd. If you're about to turn into an icy side street, take the incredibly elaborate step of pushing the TM button twice to enable snow mode /4h. Jumping through those incredibly challenging hoops will net you far superior results than relying on a computer to detect slip before temporarily engaging 4h without any aids.

 

[TVRangerSTX]

So 4wd locks the speeds of the front and rear axles together. The wheel with the least traction on either axle is only free to spin as fast as the wheel with the least traction on the opposite axle.

Because your axles need to spin at different speeds while taking corners, 4wd forces wheels to break traction while cornering. That's why you shouldn't use 4wd on bare pavement.

4 low shifts the transmission into low range. These lower ratio multiplies the force the engine has over the wheels, both while accelerating and decelerating. You use this to enhance control of the vehicle on steep terrain, to power through deep mud and similar, or to pull a stick vehicle out of an obstacle. It is normal to experience a lurch as 4 low engages.

The locking rear diff matches wheel speeds across that axle. In 2wd, this maximizes traction on that axle. In 4wd, with the rear diff locked, the wheel on the front axle with the least traction is only free to spin as fast as the entire rear axle, which is a major boost to traction.

When equipped with FX4, our rangers also include electronic traction aids that use the ABS system to selectively apply the brakes on individual wheels to match speeds. This replicates the function of axle lockers without the hassle of engaging lockers. To use this, just enable any of the terrain modes.

4 auto is unnecessary, complicated, and suboptimal if your goal is driving safely in slippery conditions. Because it relies on slip to occur on the rear axle before engaging the front, it leaves open the possibility for a major slide or similar to occur before adequate traction can be applied. And because it's an "on road" feature, it can't enable the gee whiz terrain management wheel speed matching.

If you're worried about driving in mixed conditions, simply employ your eyeballs to identify upcoming challenges. If you're about to enter a section of bare pavement, enable 2wd. If you're about to turn into an icy side street, take the incredibly elaborate step of pushing the TM button twice to enable snow mode /4h. Jumping through those incredibly challenging hoops will net you far superior results than relying on a computer to detect slip before temporarily engaging 4h without any aids.

Impressive website!

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Yup, my old 79 Bronco, and a couple Bronco II's had lock outs! PITA...

I miss my old tacoma where I just drove around all the time with the front hubs locked and only pulled the 4wd lever when needed...

That thing was manual everything, I drove the crap out of it and abused it like a redheaded stepchild and it never once failed me.... Well, until the frame began to rust through and toyota bought it back from me for ~60% of what I paid for it after owning it 8 years... I'd say it was a good deal...

 

[kendive]

Hey Jerome,

It sounds like you might be using 4WD on a hard surface. It’s only meant to be used on loose surfaces like sand, dirt, gravel, mud, snow, or ice. The surface under the tires has to be loose enough to give way or your front starts to bind or lock up.

You were right to move it back to 2H. ?

2H should be fine in most situations where the roads are clear, or mostly clear of any snow.

He is correct.

You want to use your truck in 4x4 anywhere get an F150 with the 4A option.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

He is correct.

You want to use your truck in 4x4 anywhere get an F150 with the 4A option.

Or, get a subaru.

 

[Grandaccess]

Tell me you are an old ass 4x4er without telling me you are old ass 4x4er ....

 

[mtbikernate]

Boy do I miss getting out of the truck to lock the hubs?

for sure. Definitely miss driving over a mountain in july and needing 4wd because a freak snowstorm dumped several inches in a short amount of time. but...because it's over 90 down in the valleys on either side of the mountain, I'm wearing flip flops. so I have to walk through several inches of snow in flip flops to get to the hubs to lock them before I use 4wd. I definitely miss that.

 

[Friday yet?]

Or, get a subaru.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I miss my old tacoma where I just drove around all the time with the front hubs locked and only pulled the 4wd lever when needed...

That thing was manual everything, I drove the crap out of it and abused it like a redheaded stepchild and it never once failed me.... Well, until the frame began to rust through and toyota bought it back from me for ~60% of what I paid for it after owning it 8 years... I'd say it was a good deal...

I had a little Dodge Power Ram 50/Mitsu that was manual everything - transfer case shifter on the console - crank windows - would do 0-60 with a tail wind.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

How many ranger owners really need 4A and how many of those owners actually use the truck for truck things? ?

A subaru would probably fit them better.

?

 

[Friday yet?]

How many ranger owners really need 4A and how many of those owners actually use the truck for truck things? ?

A subaru would probably fit them better.

?

 

[Jhbryaniv]

You know I'm right. ?

 

[Newps]

How many ranger owners really need 4A and how many of those owners actually use the truck for truck things? ?

A subaru would probably fit them better.

?

I have a 2016 F150 Lariat and love the 4A, really miss it in the 2020 Ranger. Lots of times going down the highway here in western Montana when you get into slippery conditions at highway speeds. Don't worry about it in the F150. Same for going down the logging roads in the winter. Put it in 4A and don't worry about it.

 

[Wes Siler]

How many ranger owners really need 4A and how many of those owners actually use the truck for truck things? ?

A subaru would probably fit them better.

?

I would argue that pretty much everyone who drives a Subaru actually needs a Ranger:

(Trigger warning in case Doug is still lurking: link to my own work, gross ethical violations, extreme hubris)

https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/opinion/the-case-against-crossovers/

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