Honest review - 2WD w/ Locker Off-Road

Anthony

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Yup, rear lockers on 2WD is just about equal to 4X4 w/out any lockers in many obstacles. Glad you had fun!
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StezenW

StezenW

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Will definitely be going here. Didn't know it existed. Heard about the one in around Social Circle, but not this one.

Only $15 per vehicle. Pretty sure they're only open on the weekends tho. Get there early when they open and you'll basically have the place to yourself for at least an hour or two!
 

P. A. Schilke

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I always liked them too, but wonder why Ford called it "Flareside" and Chevy called it a "Stepside"? Any backstory you can share Phil?
Hi Ronbo,

Not sure of the nomenclature. When I hired in to Ford Light Truck Engineering in 1973, it was already a term used for what many engineers called the Farm Truck...a box with straight sidewalls which made it great for haulling grain, sand etc.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired
 

dmeyer302

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I always liked them too, but wonder why Ford called it "Flareside" and Chevy called it a "Stepside"?
It's an easy way to tell apart those who know what they're talking about and the smoke blowers. See also: "posi"
 

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I always liked them too, but wonder why Ford called it "Flareside" and Chevy called it a "Stepside"?
Probably the same reason each company has different names for regular cab, extended cab, and crew cab. Gotta have that branding and show that what you have is different from the competition even though it's not.
 


r1ch999999

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Hi Ronbo,

Not sure of the nomenclature. When I hired in to Ford Light Truck Engineering in 1973, it was already a term used for what many engineers called the Farm Truck...a box with straight sidewalls which made it great for haulling grain, sand etc.

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired
I liked my flare side, it was an 03 extended cab. Only ever out that truck in 4wd once. My new one would be a 2wd if I could have found one.
 

MannyS

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Only $15 per vehicle. Pretty sure they're only open on the weekends tho. Get there early when they open and you'll basically have the place to yourself for at least an hour or two!
Much appreciated. Good sir.
 

Bproctor

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When I bought my Ranger - I like others had to decide between the FX4 XLT or the 2WD Lariat as both were around the same cost. Since this truck is my DD, and I live in the South where we rarely get winter weather that necessitates 4WD, I went with the 2WD Lariat with the rear locker. I later added the FX4 front skid plate.

Yesterday I finally got it out to a proper off-road park at 5313 Off-Road in Calhoun GA to see what she can do. In a word, WOW.

Set up: Stock Dueler Tires, 2.5 Level, TSC Off, Rear Locker On
  • First up was a quick dip through the mud trough. The Ranger dove in a chugged away, easily pulling itself through and up the opposite bank.
  • I turned and gently gunned it for a washboard-like dirt trail, where the stock suspension was definitely tested but didn't rattle my teeth out like I feared it may.
  • Then I got into some thick, wet Georgia clay. Anyone who is familiar with this sort of soil knows it's basically the consistency of creamy peanut butter. This is where I thought for sure not having 4WD would be an issue. But I picked my line through the ~50ft mud pit and went for it. Once again, the truck kept plucking along and made it just fine, getting bogged down once but some more input from my right foot got me on my way.
  • Getting a little more confidence at this point, I went for a 45 degree muddy hill with deep ruts along one of the trails. She almost got stuck at the top, comping to a dead stop with the rear tires spinning furiously to find grip. I almost called it and was going to just roll back down hill when the right tire found a bit of grip and with a little more throttle from the mighty EcoBoost pulled the truck out of its own ruts and up over the other side.
  • The rest of the day I spent just doing donuts in the mud and splashing through the ponds. Had the truck in water up to the door sills and it just swam right on. My engine bay needs some detailing tho, as it got a good splashing.

Final thoughts: The 2WD Ranger w/ a locking rear diff proved more than capable for what I threw at it, hills, mud, deep water, everything. With some better tires it would have been anouther notch closer to a 4WD.

Caveat: Obviously successful off-roading without 4WD means you need to be realistic about your limitations, so I didn't tackle any of the real technical trails bc I care about my paint and don't have a winch. A 4WD rig is always going to be able to go a little further, get stuck less and of course comes with more confidence in what you can take on.

But for those wondering how capable your 2WD Ranger is and if you can go off-roading, I am here to say GO FOR IT!


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This was right after almost getting stuck on the hill, as you can see those stock tires aren't helping too much
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Thank you! I have the same truck and was wondering about this myself. I have been told several times I should have went with the 4wd. I have never needed one and the closest time a came to needing one I was driving a pinto. ?
 

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Thanks for the great review. Did you notice what mph the locker worked until? Was it still on with full throttle? The owners manual says it doesn't work at "high vehicle speed or high accelerator pedal application". My old 2016 F150 rwd e-locker would only work till 20mph. It would work with full throttle too. You could turn it on at any mph up to 20 and it would shut off at 20 mph if you were accelerating above that. I had four 5 gallon buckets of sand in the back of the bed and ran snow tires. Never came close to getting stuck in the snow. Didn't off road with it though. Driving on the street during snow storms very rarely did I need to turn on the e-locker. Still debating on rwd or 4wd for a Ranger purchase. There are not any rwd 19 crews left in my area. Watching rebates and how they adjust for August and Sept.
 

Abjectwoe

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Thanks for the great review. Did you notice what mph the locker worked until? Was it still on with full throttle? The owners manual says it doesn't work at "high vehicle speed or high accelerator pedal application". My old 2016 F150 rwd e-locker would only work till 20mph. It would work with full throttle too. You could turn it on at any mph up to 20 and it would shut off at 20 mph if you were accelerating above that. I had four 5 gallon buckets of sand in the back of the bed and ran snow tires. Never came close to getting stuck in the snow. Didn't off road with it though. Driving on the street during snow storms very rarely did I need to turn on the e-locker. Still debating on rwd or 4wd for a Ranger purchase. There are not any rwd 19 crews left in my area. Watching rebates and how they adjust for August and Sept.
I went off-roading yesterday will my 2WD Ranger. The e-locker works the exact same way as you've described.
 

egilbe

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The first time I drove my Hyundai Elantra down Sandwich Notch road in NH, I went so slow, kept bottoming out and scraping bottom, but I didn't get stuck. I would never take that car down that road again. I take my truck down it a few times a month now, whenever we go hiking in that area. I keep it in 4Hi and don't worry about it, can do about 35 on it in places. Night and day difference in driving that "road" with a truck in 4 wheel drive and a passenger sedan.

Obviously one doesnt need 4 wheel drive, but it helps and a rear locker on that road would probably be the same experience.
 

thewhiteranger

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I also went with the 2wd - I rarely used the 4wd in my f150- just a few times in th 5 years I had it. I did have a question for anyone who knows: I live in he Dallas area and we rarely get 'winter' but a ice or snow storm happens periodically ( probably a certainty since I now have 2WD instead of the 4WD).........With my old Silverado a few bags of sand - like 300lbs worth in the back made a lot of difference in that same type of ice/snow winter driving we see now and then. . Has anyone used the new rangers (2wd) in that kind of snow / icy driving? how much weight do you find you need in the bed to make driving better? I did get the FX2 mostly for the locking rear end as a compromise since I did not get the 4wd this time. what do people put in the back of these trucks for winter traction? -- I know its rare, we haven't had a real winter here in about 5 years BUT this year my 4wd F150 has a new home and I have a 2WD ranger so I am expecting a blizzard :LOL: .
 

Ranger720

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Hi all, I am new to this Forum, and new to Ford Ranger. I purchased a 2020 ford ranger XLT 4x2...unfortuntely I was in a rush to get a new truck(my old dodge dakota decided to retire it self), and I could not afford a 4x4, only thing available was either 4x4(could not afford), Lariat 4x2(could not afford) and the XLT 4x2(i could afford). Been reading around the forum and finding mix posts regarding non 4x2s.....though I do not really need 4x4 because most of the boat ramps I go to here in Florida do not required 4x4, there are some places though it can get a bit hairy. Was trying to find a final verdict on getting a locking rear diff. Any other options for 4x2 ranger for doing mild off roading). Thanks. I have the White XLT 2020
 

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Hi all, I am new to this Forum, and new to Ford Ranger. I purchased a 2020 ford ranger XLT 4x2...unfortuntely I was in a rush to get a new truck(my old dodge dakota decided to retire it self), and I could not afford a 4x4, only thing available was either 4x4(could not afford), Lariat 4x2(could not afford) and the XLT 4x2(i could afford). Been reading around the forum and finding mix posts regarding non 4x2s.....though I do not really need 4x4 because most of the boat ramps I go to here in Florida do not required 4x4, there are some places though it can get a bit hairy. Was trying to find a final verdict on getting a locking rear diff. Any other options for 4x2 ranger for doing mild off roading). Thanks. I have the White XLT 2020
You can add an aftermarket air locker. It’s a process as you need an air compressor to run it. Try it stock and see if you really need it. I got a 4X4 with no lock. So 4H or 4L or 2W. Honestly haven’t needed to have a locker just running 2W yet. I’m surprised for sure.
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