Off-roading order of operations

[Frenchy]

So I don’t have the different drive modes in my truck but I saw this table when reading the manual and I took it as you only have a 5 mph range when in 4H for the differential to be engaged? Looks like with 4L it will engage the whole time. So seems like it’s only really beneficial in 4L. It would be hard to stay between 20-25 mph in 4H, especially if the terrain calls for a different speed. Or am I looking at this table wrong?

You are looking at the table correctly. You will also find out that the Ranger will do quite a bit in 4HI. There are going to be times you go to 4LO of course, just not as much as you think.

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[D Fresh]

So I don’t have the different drive modes in my truck but I saw this table when reading the manual and I took it as you only have a 5 mph range when in 4H for the differential to be engaged? Looks like with 4L it will engage the whole time. So seems like it’s only really beneficial in 4L. It would be hard to stay between 20-25 mph in 4H, especially if the terrain calls for a different speed. Or am I looking at this table wrong?

Table is wrong/confusing

Locker will engage at any speed below 25. 2H, 4H, 4L, doesn't matter.

To add to this if you want proof pull into a parking lot, stop, leave the truck in 2wd, engage the locker, pull away slowly (no more than 5mph), and turn 90°.

You will hear and feel that the locker is engaged.

The Ranger manual has some glaring omissions/faults. You have to take everything it says with a grain of salt.

Some folks know about ARB products and 30 year old shitboxes. But they're wrong here.

 

[Highlander]

So I don’t have the different drive modes in my truck but I saw this table when reading the manual and I took it as you only have a 5 mph range when in 4H for the differential to be engaged? Looks like with 4L it will engage the whole time. So seems like it’s only really beneficial in 4L. It would be hard to stay between 20-25 mph in 4H, especially if the terrain calls for a different speed. Or am I looking at this table wrong?

If you're able to drive over 20-25 mph, you really don't need the locker, which why it would disengage.

At that speed you're not in a slip situation.

Others will be sure to correct me if options differ.

Frank

 

[Frenchy]

If you're able to drive over 20-25 mph, you really don't need the locker, which why it would disengage.

At that speed you're not in a slip situation.

Others will be sure to correct me if options differ.

Frank

I'm with you on this. In reality you only need to worry about a locker at low speed high slippery type Terrain

 

[Colo_Ranger]

I have only read the first page because I am at work and should be... you know... working... Check out Trails Offroad for trail information. I find that their rating system is accurate, plus they have a section where people who have run the trail recently can give their opinions.

Wes has provided some good info about when to use 4wd and how, but your best bet is to find someone in your area who will go out on the trail with you for the day and answer your questions. Most off roaders are good people (with a few douches thrown in for good measure), and would love to spend a day on the trails.

 

[D Fresh]

I have only read the first page because I am at work and should be... you know... working... Check out Trails Offroad for trail information. I find that their rating system is accurate, plus they have a section where people who have run the trail recently can give their opinions.

Wes has provided some good info about when to use 4wd and how, but your best bet is to find someone in your area who will go out on the trail with you for the day and answer your questions. Most off roaders are good people (with a few douches thrown in for good measure), and would love to spend a day on the trails.

Looks like there's a cost for that one?

As I alluded to earlier OP, check your state out as well.

I've had good luck with CoTrex, the state of Colorado's trail app. It's free of charge.

 

[Dereku]

If you're able to drive over 20-25 mph, you really don't need the locker, which why it would disengage.

At that speed you're not in a slip situation.

Others will be sure to correct me if options differ.

Frank

Lockers at speed are fun as hell, or end in disaster.

 

[D Fresh]

If you're able to drive over 20-25 mph, you really don't need the locker, which why it would disengage.

At that speed you're not in a slip situation.

Others will be sure to correct me if options differ.

Frank

Depends on the situation.

Technical offroading? Sure.


Exercising some demons? Can be very useful.

 

[Highlander]

Lockers at speed are fun as hell, or end in disaster.

Depends on the situation.

Technical offroading? Sure.


Exercising some demons? Can be very useful.

I'm not much in hooning.. got that out of my system in the green machines. But can appreciate the sentiment.

Frank

 

[Shoran12]

Looks like there's a cost for that one?

As I alluded to earlier OP, check your state out as well.

I've had good luck with CoTrex, the state of Colorado's trail app. It's free of charge.

Will do. I’ll take a look at Tennessee’s trail app. Thanks.

 

[egilbe]

I leave it in 2wd until I get to a place when I'm slipping, then its easy enough to put it into 4wd. Just go play with it. You'll get the hang of it, or you'll learn how to use those $350 traction boards and your shovel. 4 lo is normally for more technical or steeper terrain. Not used it that often, to be honest.

My Maxtraxx are still zip-tied together. I haven't needed them, yet. But, better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.

My air compressor is an inexpensive Viair. It works, if its a bit slow. But, living in the desert on BLM land, I have all the time in the world. I have no place to go and all day to get there.

 

[NTXTremor]

There is a lot of good advice on here, so let me share a story and some not so good advice.

Back when I was an off-road noobie, I owned a 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer with very bald highway tires. It was spring break, and my college roommate and our girlfriends were looking for a remote camping spot near a lake about an hour from the nearest town when we happened upon some muddy ground. What looked like a small puddle ended up being a deep trench, and I got the Wagoneer stuck in mud up to the door openings and over both bumpers.

I had it in four wheel drive, but I was unable to get it out. I hiked up to a nearby campground and called a tow truck from the nearest town. About 2 hours later, a guy named "Hollywood Bob" showed up with two tow trucks, a traditional looking one and an off-road F350 outfitted with a make-shift rig.

Hollywood Bob parked his traditional tow truck up the hill on part of the more accessible trail while his assistant tried to back the F350 down a ravine, nearly flipping it in the process. Bob freaked out and told the guy to head back to the trail.

Bob came up to me and asked if the Jeep was in four wheel drive. I confirmed that it was. He said, "Okay, let me give this a try."

Bob hopped into the Jeep, started it and began rocking it back and forth like you do when you are stuck in a snow drift. He was absolutely flooring it, and the mud was flying high in the air plastering all of the trees until the mud hole was virtually empty of all watery mud. Slowly but surely we watched as the front tires climbed a virtually vertical 3 foot wall of mud no doubt due to the assistance of the rear tires digging into the flatter part of the mud hole.

It was no more than a minute before Hollywood Bob had the Jeep back on dry ground. He stepped out of the Jeep with a wide smile on his face. He said, "Son, you can't get one of these stuck. Just put one hand on the roof and your foot to the floor, and you can drive through anything." I asked what I owed him, and he said, "Just give me $20, and we will call it good." It was a great deal.

As soon as I got back from spring break, I replaced the bald highway tires with BF Goodrich Radial T/As, and I heeded Hollywood Bob's advice from that day forward. I never once got the Jeep stuck anywhere again, although I did get it high centered more than once and got more than a few trail scars on the Jeep from the abuse.

But I was also very lucky that I never broke anything using his advice. Over time I got better at driving off-road and wiser about when to deploy the "hand to the roof and foot to the floor" method, so the moral of the story is "Don't be a Hollywood Bob." Listen to the experts here and do it the right way.

 

[Colo_Ranger]

Looks like there's a cost for that one?

As I alluded to earlier OP, check your state out as well.

I've had good luck with CoTrex, the state of Colorado's trail app. It's free of charge.

It is well worth the cost, if you are interested in going more than once or twice. Also, a lot of the trails are free to review too. They do 'pay wall' some trails, but I used the free version for awhile before I upgraded to paying.

 

[YaBoiNewton]

Yeah I was always under the impression I’d start in 2WD. I’ve driven rwd trucks on trails in snow, throughly mud, etc. I was young and didn’t know better but rarely had issues. I was thinking ground clearance made a big difference and if that with this truck if I actually needed 4wd or felt like I would get stuck that’s when I would shift over. I’m new to 4wd but have been quite a few sketchy places with rwd and done fine. My plan was keeping 4wd in my pocket and using it when needed but then again this is my first 4wd truck.

That's the move. If you take your time and only drive over what you can see then you'll have almost zero issues. Major problems happen when you go in blind.

Walk through puddles first, get out and look if clearance seems tight, and definitely find a buddy with a tow rope. Off roading is usually a very slow process.

 

[ProtonDecay]

I'll throw in my $0.02 from a towing perspective (6K lbs BS HQ15): 2W on pavement unless we need to get out of a jamb or it is slippery. 4H on pretty much everything else as long as it's fairly level (<3 degrees on average). 4L on anything >3 degrees for any great distance - the reason being that things will overheat very quickly when towing off-road, especially if the AC is on; 4L seems to mitigate this well. The fan is a good signal here, as well. For us the locker is used as needed to get over or through things that stop us in 4L (in advance when we can), and the winch is used to get us out of trouble and act as an indicator that it's time to unhitch and/or turn around.

Not sure this video is going to work on this forum - I'll post a link to a facebook entry that works if not. This is on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada, about 9K elevation, slope is >10 degrees. Hmm, here's the fb link: 2019+ Ford Ranger Club USA | Ranger near it's limit here - but man what a fun ride | Facebook

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