4L And 4H while towing

[OGRanger]

Hey everyone,

I recently joined the forum and have a couple of questions about towing and using 4WD in my 2023 Ford Ranger XLT.

Last week, I took my Ranger on a camping trip and was towing a rented teardrop trailer weighing approximately 2,500 lbs. At one point, we needed to travel up a particularly steep gravel road that also had a ditch we needed to navigate.

I initially tried using 4-High, but the engine seemed to be revving higher than I was comfortable with, so I switched into 4-Low.

While navigating this section of road, there were a few occasions when I needed to stop to assess the terrain and figure out how to get the truck and trailer through safely. During these stops, I would shift between Park and Drive while remaining in 4-Low.

What I noticed was that whenever I shifted from Park into Drive in 4-Low, the truck would jolt quite heavily. This was something I hadn't experienced before. Interestingly, I didn't notice any similar jolting during the rest of the trip or under normal driving conditions. It seemed to happen specifically when shifting into Drive while in 4-Low.

My questions are:

1. Is this type of jolting normal when shifting from Park into Drive in 4-Low? Could it simply be related to the gearing, drivetrain engagement, or additional load from towing, or is this something I should be concerned about?
2. Is it generally okay to tow a trailer in 4-High or 4-Low? Assuming the trailer weight is within the truck's rated towing capacity, are there any concerns with towing in either of these modes, particularly when navigating steep or uneven off-road terrain?

I want to continue using my Ranger for camping, towing, and occasional off-road adventures, but I also want to make sure I'm operating it correctly and not putting unnecessary strain on the transmission or drivetrain.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone with experience towing and off-roading with their fifth-generation Ranger.

Sponsored

 

[Frenchy]

#1 yes it is normal because it likes to go to 2nd right away in 4 LO.

#2 as long as you are not on pavement you will be ok towing in 4WD. Just be mindful of what you may be dealing with.

Also the 2.3 EcoBoost is able to rev up to 6,000 RPM and hold it just fine. Unless you are bouncing off the rev limiter, you will be ok.

 

[got3fords]

I initially tried using 4-High, but the engine seemed to be revving higher than I was comfortable with, so I switched into 4-Low.

Wouldn't 4-low cause higher RPM's? Not sure I understand this. And yes, the clunk into drive while in 4-low is normal. It's going from idle speed into a very low gear.

 

[RangerBill]

Hey everyone,

I recently joined the forum and have a couple of questions about towing and using 4WD in my 2023 Ford Ranger XLT.

Last week, I took my Ranger on a camping trip and was towing a rented teardrop trailer weighing approximately 2,500 lbs. At one point, we needed to travel up a particularly steep gravel road that also had a ditch we needed to navigate.

I initially tried using 4-High, but the engine seemed to be revving higher than I was comfortable with, so I switched into 4-Low.

While navigating this section of road, there were a few occasions when I needed to stop to assess the terrain and figure out how to get the truck and trailer through safely. During these stops, I would shift between Park and Drive while remaining in 4-Low.

What I noticed was that whenever I shifted from Park into Drive in 4-Low, the truck would jolt quite heavily. This was something I hadn't experienced before. Interestingly, I didn't notice any similar jolting during the rest of the trip or under normal driving conditions. It seemed to happen specifically when shifting into Drive while in 4-Low.

My questions are:

1. Is this type of jolting normal when shifting from Park into Drive in 4-Low? Could it simply be related to the gearing, drivetrain engagement, or additional load from towing, or is this something I should be concerned about?
2. Is it generally okay to tow a trailer in 4-High or 4-Low? Assuming the trailer weight is within the truck's rated towing capacity, are there any concerns with towing in either of these modes, particularly when navigating steep or uneven off-road terrain?

I want to continue using my Ranger for camping, towing, and occasional off-road adventures, but I also want to make sure I'm operating it correctly and not putting unnecessary strain on the transmission or drivetrain.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone with experience towing and off-roading with their fifth-generation Ranger.

I would suggest that you read the Four-wheel Drive section (especially the Using Four-Wheel Drive) section of your owner's manual for a better understanding of when and how to use 4-wheel drive high and low.

 

[seanellaz]

I got my Fx4 specifically for overlanding with an Alum Line Trailer with a Roof Top Tent, fully loaded - 3500 lb. I also noticed the jolt when going P to D in 4 Lo, and also from N (where it is sposed to be when engaging 4L) to D or S[port mode]. The truck is an animal and seems to like towing over insane terrain in 4L. The trailer has an articualting hitch (https://locknroll.com/shop-now/vehicle-side/pn-501-heavy-duty-trailer-hitch) which handles lots of strange angles with aplomb.

 

[Dereku]

Honestly 4L has very few necessary uses for the average joe. If you need 4L to get over terrain, you better have a buddy in a more capable vehicle or a winch and recover kit you know how to use. I have used it once in my life, it was to pull a fully loaded semi out of a snow bank with my old diesel.

Adult me would never do that for fear of destroying something in the drivetrain.

 

[harringtondav]

I learned the hard way about towing in 4L on pavement with an old Durango.
We towed a boat down and up a 3/4 mile 6% grade. Even with a running start the Durango topped the hill at 10 mph with the tranny in 2WD and foot feed on the floor.
I tried pulling off the road and shifting to 4L to get more torque. It worked fine...I thought.
The X-fer case started ratcheting and slipping when I was in 4L for legitimate pulling. The silent chain in the New Process X-fer case had stretched and was jumping the drive gears, rounding off the teeth.
I bought a new silent chain and gear set and fixed it myself. Experience can be measured by the number of scars on your butt......or your wallet.

 

[hookem57]

Hey everyone,

I recently joined the forum and have a couple of questions about towing and using 4WD in my 2023 Ford Ranger XLT.

Last week, I took my Ranger on a camping trip and was towing a rented teardrop trailer weighing approximately 2,500 lbs. At one point, we needed to travel up a particularly steep gravel road that also had a ditch we needed to navigate.

I initially tried using 4-High, but the engine seemed to be revving higher than I was comfortable with, so I switched into 4-Low.

While navigating this section of road, there were a few occasions when I needed to stop to assess the terrain and figure out how to get the truck and trailer through safely. During these stops, I would shift between Park and Drive while remaining in 4-Low.

What I noticed was that whenever I shifted from Park into Drive in 4-Low, the truck would jolt quite heavily. This was something I hadn't experienced before. Interestingly, I didn't notice any similar jolting during the rest of the trip or under normal driving conditions. It seemed to happen specifically when shifting into Drive while in 4-Low.

My questions are:

1. Is this type of jolting normal when shifting from Park into Drive in 4-Low? Could it simply be related to the gearing, drivetrain engagement, or additional load from towing, or is this something I should be concerned about?
2. Is it generally okay to tow a trailer in 4-High or 4-Low? Assuming the trailer weight is within the truck's rated towing capacity, are there any concerns with towing in either of these modes, particularly when navigating steep or uneven off-road terrain?

I want to continue using my Ranger for camping, towing, and occasional off-road adventures, but I also want to make sure I'm operating it correctly and not putting unnecessary strain on the transmission or drivetrain.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone with experience towing and off-roading with their fifth-generation Ranger.

I have a 21 Tremor. When I shift from into drive in 4L, mine does the same. Reverse also.

 

[got3fords]

Honestly 4L has very few necessary uses for the average joe. If you need 4L to get over terrain, you better have a buddy in a more capable vehicle or a winch and recover kit you know how to use. I have used it once in my life, it was to pull a fully loaded semi out of a snow bank with my old diesel.

I have used 4L plenty of times when plowing snow. I once used it on a jobsite that had gotten really muddy and there were a couple other contractors who had gotten hung up. I put the company F150 in 4L, took it slow and easy, did my work and left. People were standing around staring at me drive away.

 

[Grandaccess]

Hey everyone,

I recently joined the forum and have a couple of questions about towing and using 4WD in my 2023 Ford Ranger XLT.

Last week, I took my Ranger on a camping trip and was towing a rented teardrop trailer weighing approximately 2,500 lbs. At one point, we needed to travel up a particularly steep gravel road that also had a ditch we needed to navigate.

I initially tried using 4-High, but the engine seemed to be revving higher than I was comfortable with, so I switched into 4-Low.

While navigating this section of road, there were a few occasions when I needed to stop to assess the terrain and figure out how to get the truck and trailer through safely. During these stops, I would shift between Park and Drive while remaining in 4-Low.

What I noticed was that whenever I shifted from Park into Drive in 4-Low, the truck would jolt quite heavily. This was something I hadn't experienced before. Interestingly, I didn't notice any similar jolting during the rest of the trip or under normal driving conditions. It seemed to happen specifically when shifting into Drive while in 4-Low.

My questions are:

1. Is this type of jolting normal when shifting from Park into Drive in 4-Low? Could it simply be related to the gearing, drivetrain engagement, or additional load from towing, or is this something I should be concerned about?
2. Is it generally okay to tow a trailer in 4-High or 4-Low? Assuming the trailer weight is within the truck's rated towing capacity, are there any concerns with towing in either of these modes, particularly when navigating steep or uneven off-road terrain?

I want to continue using my Ranger for camping, towing, and occasional off-road adventures, but I also want to make sure I'm operating it correctly and not putting unnecessary strain on the transmission or drivetrain.

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone with experience towing and off-roading with their fifth-generation Ranger.

gravel, dirt or snow you are ok, maybe pavement for a very short stretch, by accident once I went 10 miles on the interstate in 4Low, when I looked back and seen Blue-ish smoke, I knew thata was about as far as I would push it, not sure what the blue-ish smoke was but havent had any other issues in 3 years

Sponsored