4WD Advice please!

[Torrsall]

First Ranger, first 4WD and I'm really happy but it has occurred to me that I really have no idea what the capabilities are.
One of the selling points for 4wd is added safety during adverse weather conditions. I figured four on the floor would help especially in rain but now I see that Ford doesn't recommend 4X on pavement. Huh?
So I'd appreciate your feedback readers. Can I use 4X Hi without problems on paved surfaces? Am I looking at potential tranny problems now or in the future?
I grew up a mile down a dirt/ mud road and that's more off roading than most people I know. I suppose what I'm asking is that if I'm not an off roader, did I kinda waste $ on 4x?

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[JesseS]

4X4 is for off road only unless there is ice or snow on the road. This is not AWD, which would be on road all of the time. Rain stability and traction has more to do with tires, and any traction control if equipped. My truck seems to handle wet roads very well, just don't be that guy that hydroplanes thru 6" of water

 

[docarter]

First Ranger, first 4WD and I'm really happy but it has occurred to me that I really have no idea what the capabilities are.
One of the selling points for 4wd is added safety during adverse weather conditions. I figured four on the floor would help especially in rain but now I see that Ford doesn't recommend 4X on pavement. Huh?
So I'd appreciate your feedback readers. Can I use 4X Hi without problems on paved surfaces? Am I looking at potential tranny problems now or in the future?
I grew up a mile down a dirt/ mud road and that's more off roading than most people I know. I suppose what I'm asking is that if I'm not an off roader, did I kinda waste $ on 4x?

Most part-time 4wd systems like is in the Ranger are not intended to be used on high-friction surfaces. So, snowy or icy roads, and off-road are the only appropriate uses for 4wd.

This is because when you turn the vehicle, the back tires and front tires travel different distances and because the transfer case will force them to turn at the same speed you will have binding in the drivetrain. This binding wears the tires and drive components faster.

 

[IdahoRanger]

I see you are in Socal. Take it up to Mt Baldy or the San Bernardino Mountains and play in the snow.
Several others on this site have gone offroading in Cleghorn so you can use it there too.

Shouldn't need it in the rain.

 

[VAMike]

Four wheel drive isn't something needed for safety in rain. I don't know whose marketing has gotten so much traction that we keep seeing this idea pop up; subaru maybe?

I've never heard of "four on the floor" used to reference 4wd. It's a transmission choice, the polar opposite of "three on the tree".

 

[JeffWoodall]

First Ranger, first 4WD and I'm really happy but it has occurred to me that I really have no idea what the capabilities are.
One of the selling points for 4wd is added safety during adverse weather conditions. I figured four on the floor would help especially in rain but now I see that Ford doesn't recommend 4X on pavement. Huh?
So I'd appreciate your feedback readers. Can I use 4X Hi without problems on paved surfaces? Am I looking at potential tranny problems now or in the future?
I grew up a mile down a dirt/ mud road and that's more off roading than most people I know. I suppose what I'm asking is that if I'm not an off roader, did I kinda waste $ on 4x?

 

[Trigganometry]

I’m in the North East and we get snow. I have yet to use 4X during any of the storms that pass through. It’s better suited for off-road use though if snow gets high enough might use it. Rain is not necessary and if you did you would probably find it doesn’t work as you would intend it to. Might even find traction to be worse on hard surfaces.

 

[Vitis805]

we get our first big rainfall...

On behalf of all California, sorry my dudes.

 

[Frenchy]

First Ranger, first 4WD and I'm really happy but it has occurred to me that I really have no idea what the capabilities are.
One of the selling points for 4wd is added safety during adverse weather conditions. I figured four on the floor would help especially in rain but now I see that Ford doesn't recommend 4X on pavement. Huh?
So I'd appreciate your feedback readers. Can I use 4X Hi without problems on paved surfaces? Am I looking at potential tranny problems now or in the future?
I grew up a mile down a dirt/ mud road and that's more off roading than most people I know. I suppose what I'm asking is that if I'm not an off roader, did I kinda waste $ on 4x?

You are definitely correct on that sir. Four-wheel drive vehicles are not recommended to be in 4-wheel drive on pavement. Especially in rain it's not exactly a good idea because four-wheel drive don't have a differential in the transfer case on like a all wheel drive vehicle. Four-wheel drives definitely have their benefits in the off-road like dirt mud sand gravel and snow. Did you waste your money on a four-wheel drive? That really depends on what you end up doing in the future. You might decide you want to gradually get into the off-road a little bit but not do anything stupid crazy like the rock crawlers do. If you decide to stay on straight pavement and in Southern California where there's no such thing as snow then yeah you might want to consider the fact that you could have but that's all up to you.

 

[got3fords]

The only time I use 4WD on dry paved roads is if it's been a while since I needed 4WD just to cycle whatever is activated, and just for a short straight distance. I had an Explorer that I went a long time without using 4WD, then when I needed it, the front hubs started making clunking noise. Dealer said they were not lubricated properly because of lack of use.

 

[Langwilliams]

I use the 4x4 once in a while to do a hard launch an get a 0-60 time. Straight line only though. The stupid app doesn't seem to work though. It felt a lot better than a 6.6

 

[Utope]

Also keep in mind that when you use 4x4 in snow, that it helps you go. It does not aid in stopping. Don't get over confident and slam into something.

 

[mrtimo]

Most part-time 4wd systems like is in the Ranger are not intended to be used on high-friction surfaces. So, snowy or icy roads, and off-road are the only appropriate uses for 4wd.

This is because when you turn the vehicle, the back tires and front tires travel different distances and because the transfer case will force them to turn at the same speed you will have binding in the drivetrain. This binding wears the tires and drive components faster.

This is a good explanation - one that I have been looking for - thanks. So for an AWD (e.g. Subaru), all the wheels have power, but there’s a diff or 2 to allow the axles to turn at different speeds?

 

[jsphlynch]

First Ranger, first 4WD and I'm really happy but it has occurred to me that I really have no idea what the capabilities are.
One of the selling points for 4wd is added safety during adverse weather conditions. I figured four on the floor would help especially in rain but now I see that Ford doesn't recommend 4X on pavement. Huh?
So I'd appreciate your feedback readers. Can I use 4X Hi without problems on paved surfaces? Am I looking at potential tranny problems now or in the future?
I grew up a mile down a dirt/ mud road and that's more off roading than most people I know. I suppose what I'm asking is that if I'm not an off roader, did I kinda waste $ on 4x?

As far as 4WD when traction isn't substantially compromised (especially dry pavement): as others have said, don't do it. Every time you turn you'll be forcing wheels to spin at the same speed when they're trying to cover different amounts of ground.

As far as wasting money, I'll give you my experience:
I'm not an off-roader at all. When I was shopping, I was looking for RWD with the standalone locking differential. Absolutely couldn't find it and didn't want to go with straight RWD, so I ended up getting 4x4 instead. I got a really good price on the truck, but still was feeling a little bit like I had wasted money on a feature I was going to severely under utilize. In hindsight, I am really glad I have 4x4. I don't use it often, and could probably get by pretty well without it, but it is really nice to just rotate the dial when things get too slick and not have to finesse my starts to compensate for compromised traction.

 

[CB750F]

We only get 4X4 up here in Canada. I would have much prefered a 2X4 with a rear locker.
I bought it to pull a travel trailer, this is way too much truck for my use.
Being in Quebec we get snow, only used the 4X4 once to show my wife how it works.
We had 3 feet of snow at the end of the driveway, did'nt even need the 4X4 for that.
We love the truck.

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