Hi folks.

I have a couple questions pertaining to the 4x4 on my 08 xlt and also general handling of the rangers.

First I'd like to know your thoughts on using 4x4 when the roads may not be bad but you are unsure. The reason I ask is because I have had 2 accidents now due to road conditions that weren't obviously a safety issue so I was in 2 wheel drive. I'm thinking that unless it will cause damage I will be keeping my truck in 4x4. Until it is absolutely clear and dry.

My second question is related to my accidents. Is it normal for these trucks to be so loose in the rear end? The accident I had last night happened so quick that there was no chance for me to even attempt to recover which led to me hanging on in th edge of a ravine. I have had some close calles even during the summer at highway speeds where I hit a rough patch in the road and nearly lost control of the truck because of how bad the rear end hopped sideways. What do you think would cause this.

I always adjust my driving for the obvious conditions and believe it or not I am a very good driver but have had 2 accidents and a couple of close calls since I have had this truck. I am going to be 36 years old and until I purchased the ranger I have had exactly 1 accident and have been driving since I was 16. I have driven many different cars and trucks and have never experienced the issues I am experiencing with the uncontrollable nature of this truck. I know trucks are lighter in the back and do hop a bit here and there but this is nuts. I'm thinking of getting rid of it.
Also I do have a brand new set of dedicated winter tires on it. They are Cooper discover m+s.

Thanks

 

Without any weight in the back, a pickup truck has little traction.

Many throw a few hundred pounds of sand or salt in bags in the back by tailgate during winter months, cut a board to go across bed so they stay in the back, lol, in case of sudden stops.

4WD just helps you go, doesn't help you stop, only tire friction/traction and brakes do that, and in 2WD or 4WD the tires and brakes are exactly the same, so 4WD drive doesn't matter when stopping.
And rear brakes in a pickup with no weight in it are next to useless, there is no tire friction because there is no weight.

FWD vehicles do better on slippery roads than RWD vehicles simply because they have more weight on the Drive wheels so better friction/traction
Pickups are RWD and no weight so can slip and slide when trying to get moving, that's when 4WD helps, front wheels have the weight so when they become the drive wheels you can get going much much better.

AWD and 4WD can give people the illusion of better cornering or stopping power than they actually have.
Cornering and stopping rely on only one thing, wheel friction/traction.
Heck 18 wheelers and even Tanks can go slipping and sliding when trying to corner or stop, so nothing to do with "drive wheels", all about friction/traction.

And thats usually why you mostly see AWD or 4WD vehicles in the ditch on the side of the road, illusion of increased friction/traction

Yes, if it is unmanageable in poor road conditions sell it, it won't get any better

 

Thanks for the reply.
I get all of that. My thinking is that the front wheels pulling should help straighten the truck out of the back end starts to get sideways. I understand that it isnt a guarantee and also that 4x4 don't do anything for stopping and probably nothing for cornering etc etc but in both incidents I was not trying to stop or cornering, the back end just came around on me. The 1st accident I had last winter was mostly user error I'll admit as the truck fish tailed and I simply over corrected but the accident I had last night there was no fish tailing it just came around on me out of nowhere. It just seems extreme the way this truck handles and it makes me wonder if something may be wrong with it. It don't wear tires oddly or anything like that. As I said I have driven a good quantity of different cars and truck of varying conditions and this truck is actually the newest that I have ever owned.
I am going to go ahead and try some weight in the back.
Are the handling characteristics that I have described considered normal or does it sound as if something may be wrong with my truck?
As I described before, i have had issues before even in summer weather and as I just said not even trying to corner or stop but going dead straight down the highway.
I did put new rear shock on it about a year ago which did nothing for the issue.
I should also mention that according to carfax truck has been rolled before which is something I did not know when I bought the truck. I'm beginning to think that maybe this thing is cursed or something lol

 

Well if the rear frame is not straight then back end WILL go sideways in poor road conditions.
Have a "good" 4 wheel alignment check, if they didn't do that with the newer tires.

In poor road conditions the rear wheels will "plane" sooner than front wheels because of the weight or lack of it.
Planing is the loss of friction/traction so if you decide to turn the front wheels there is no reason the rear wheels will follow that lead, they just keep going in the same direction their going now, so back end tries to pass you.

 

I will see if I can get a 4 wheel alignment done. I normally do get an alignment done when ever I get new tires but I cheaped out this time because all the old tires were worn even and there was no pulling or anything like that.
Thank you for your advice.

 

Mention possible frame damage to the shop checking the alignment