so like when u all go wheeling do u use low when u are driving through the trails?

 

My work truck is an 05 Sierra 4x4 and when I've taken it on trails I am in 4High. I hope this is what your referring too. They say doing more than I think 7mph in 4 low is really bad for it. I've used 4 low maybe twice when pulling the boat out of steep wet boat ramps.

 

Use low range when you need the extra torque. Unless you're trying to climb over or out of something, you don't need to use your low range. It puts unnecessary stress on the driveline... especially when your tires are not slipping. I only even use 4wd when absolutely necessary.

 

Yup. There are times when I get stuck and just throwing it in 4low gets me out of it without even giving it any gas at all. And im almost positive the guy said anymore than 7mph is horrible for it in Low. Have fun off roading!

 

I only use 4lo after I get stuck and 4hi is not enough. Some of the hills in centralia I put it in low so I don't need a running start. 4 low + stick shift in 1st is wicked cool.

 

ya i was just curiouse, thanks for the input!

 

he probably said that to keep you in 1st gear. you dont want to be moving fast when you're effectively putting 2500 lb-ft. of torque to the wheels.

 

The only times I ever have used 4Low in any of my rangers or explorer, is either when I am pulling my boat out of the water. This helps you not have to rely on the clutch as much and stops it from rolling at all. I am paranoid about rolling back into the lake! And the other times are when I plow with My explorer. It really works good for that.

~HJ

 

I use 4lo when my 3.0 doesn't have enough power in 4hi to pull the truck any further. Or on steep decents so I can use engine braking instead of my brakes 100% of the time.

 

Use low for extremely steep hills w/ low speed. Or pullin trees. If you are getting stucker in 4h, switch it into 4low and go ***** out....Igot my self un stuck up a muddy trail hill w/ trees everywhere and stumps in 4low and 4th gear rappin out the engine. It was KILLER.

 

I've really only used 4Low when I kept stalling trying to pull a fullsize dodge out of the mud.

 

i wish i had 4lo

 

What's the recommended top speed for 4hi?

 

i think i have used 4 low maybe 4 times when off roading

 

every time ive been wheelin in anything that is equppied with 4wd... ive used 4 high. i haven had too much of a problem with it.

 

In my sierra ive done full speed in 4High. around 65 but I don't know whats recommneded.

 

The old rule used to be 55, but on the CV shaft Rangers would it hurt to drive it at freeway speeds? Would it be any different than the AWD explorers from the late 90's? When I was younger and I use to race I found I had a great advantage by driving in 4High

 

4wheels gripping for traction on any surface > 2 wheels gripping any service. I wish my Ranger was 4x4 but if it was 4x4 with that 2.5L I'd be hurtin even more than I do now. I really wish I could take it off roading but no go. Me driving my work truck at free way speed speeds in 4High has given me no problems at all.

 

Its in the oweners manual I thought it was like 35 or 45 MPH or something like that. Really if you can go any faster then that you don't need to be in 4 wheel. 4lo I think the max speed is 20 MPH and again if you can get any faster then that you don't need to be in 4lo.

 

He's right, its listed in the owners manual. But I think its more like 55mph as well.

 

I can't imagine why. I've hit nearly 15-20 MPH on some long, flat sections of trail every now and again in higher gears in 4Lo. No problems.. yet..

4Lo rocks for one specific reason in my opinion: engine braking..

You can also just let the thing idle in 1st, 4Lo and 'crawl' right over things w/o risking wheelspin. In 1st + 4Hi you're going to stall the truck or spin your wheels in those situations. Modulating power is much harder.

 

blah there is no top speed for 4wd. that is BS in my book

so i gots a question if you think there is a top speed. say your going 70mph on the interstate and you can see the patch of snow

1 are you gonna slam on the brakes to slow down?
2 risk it?
3 slam it in 4x4 and dont worry about it?

well i just flip it to 4x4, they make its a Electronic transfercase for a reason(4x4 on the fly)

the rear of rangers is so light its not even funny. if there is a slight buit of snow on the road and its slick i put it in 4wd.

heck ive been 100+ and clicked it into 4x4 on dry pavement just to see if it will do it. and it does.

i havnt replaced anything drivetrain wise on my truck im at 60K.

you guys can say you dont like to use 4x4 unless needed but id rather use the 4x4 and be hard on the drivetrain than my truck wrecked.

hmm lets see.

totaled < worn drivetrain > wrecked

and to answer the question ive only used 4x4 low once and that was to see if i could do a burnout. hehe didnt work, launch like crazy tho.

 

I'm not aware of any mention of a 'top speed' in either 4Hi or 4Lo. I just scanned through the 'Driving' section of my owners' manual.. and I don't see mention. In fact there's a table on page 122 that shows recommended shift points (speeds) for 2Hi, 4Hi, and 4Lo for 'best fuel economy'. The 2Hi/4Hi table goes to 41 MPH (where it recommends the 4-5 shift) and the 4Lo table goes to 17 MPH.

I've always thought that you were supposed to use common sense w/ max speeds for 4WD. While I've heard of people blasting down the road at 65 MPH in 4Hi, I can't imagine how that would be a good idea. Not because of driveline damage.. but because if you're in 4Hi you should be on a low traction surface. And driving at 65 MPH on a low-traction surface is just dumb. Remember, you may have 4 wheel drive, but you've also only got 4 wheel brakes, just like everyone else out there..

 

..The other side of that coin is that the ABS system in the Ranger is in my opinion not all that great. It's a 3-channel system, 2-channels for the front and one for the rear. The problem comes when you're in 4WD. Our trucks (unlike the mid 90's AWD X's someone poointed out earlier, those are entirely different animals!) are part-time 4x4 systems. When in 4WD the front and rear axles are linked together by the transfer case. When this happens the front and rear axles MUST turn at an equal rate. In my opinion (and I've yet to see evidence telling me otherwise) this can confuse the 3-channel ABS system we have. Sometimes it works fine, but other times it doesn't. So if you're going fast in 4WD and jump on the brakes or even just lock them up because your in snow or ice, then it may confuse the ABS system causing it to repeatedly lock and then unlock the brakes.. basically giving you zero traction!

I personally never use 4WD on the highway above say 40 or 50 MPH. But then I also refrain from driving over 40 or 50 MPH when there's a lot of snow or ice on the road anyway.

 

Just as a reminder that I don't always follow my own advice: