I was out wheeling around today having some fun. I decided to go up this really steep hill/trail. It has hugh ruts all over it but I kept away from them and made it up no problem in 4low. Then I go back down and try to go up it in 4x4high. I make it halfway then I stop so my buddy can watch me from the outside. Don't ask why, I don't know, he just said I wanna see it climb. I then slowly let my foot off the brake as I start to press the gas (so I don't go back down). I keep giving it more and more gas until I'm flooring it. My RPMs are only at about 2,500 (I'm in drive). My tires aren't slipping or spinning. It's like my truck didn't have enough power? I don't know if this is normal or not? I've never had any problms before. It just seems really odd to me. Maybe there is somethign I don't know about my 4x4 system but I've never heard of this happening before. My 4x4 always works great and this is the only time I've ever had it do something weird like this. It worked fine after I backed it down and hit some other hills and trails, but none even came close to comparing to what I went up before. Thanks

 

sounds like you auto transmission was in 2nd or 3rd if that is possible?

 

sounds normal to me if it was a steep grade. stoppin killed all your momentum, and the grade plus the gearing made for more than the truck wanted do in 4hi.

what did you do about it? click into 4low and crawl up?

 

i can't relate, i have a standard, rule of thumb -standard-do not stop momentum-

 

I just backed down the hill. I figured I already conqured it in in4;ow so my damage was done. I think it was just too much for 4x4high. thanks for the ereplies

 

you should supercharge it! i know just the guy who can hook you up!!!

 

It's got plenty of power. I'm still learning the limits of my truck. I now know when it's necessary to have my truck in 4low.

 

mine did it in the sand when i was climbing hills. I think it has something to do with the stall in the tranny.

 

My 06 has a 2500 stall in it. Seems to me you simply reached the stall speed of the convertor and there was'nt enough power to spin the tires. This could espeically be true if you had it in 2nd. (nearly all fords go into 2nd when you put the selector in 2nd)

Rich

 

thanks for the information, it's appreciated. I'm always leaning somethign new from this place

 

True of many Fords but not late model Rangers. The 5 speed Ranger automatics command 3rd gear only when the selector is in "2".

 

Next time when your in that situation w/ 4hi, Put the gear selector in 1st gear instead of drive. It might make that climb a bit easier.

By the way. How do you like your Gibson exhaust?

 

i have a hard time starting back up a hill in 4HI also. My stock clutch would slip like crazy when i did that. i now have a centerforce but i have more experience with a 5 speed 4X4 now. i

 

tell you the truth, if the hill is more than 30 degrees, i put it in 4 low....don't wanna risk burning my clutch again....reminds me of a experiance i had...was 4x4ing around the outskirts of town, seen a hill in a consruction zone, decided to climb it. when i got to the base, my front end sunk. I tried to reverse (while i was in 4 hi) i sunk a bit more. Tried again, this time throtling up...noticed my rpms going up, but not my tach, opened door and looked...my clutch was slipping hardcore.....call a tow truck through my warranty, nice guy....he drove out to pull me out, risking his own truck. Ripped off my front valance b/c of that too.

 

I climbed a really steep hill this past Thursday coming out of a river bed. I forgot my dang camera but it was pretty steep. What made it even more challenging was that it was covered in large softball size rocks. It was about 100yards long and just to add to the fun it was rutted out from the rainy season. When it rained the rain cut it's own little rut zig zagging back and fourth. The it had some really nice boulders in about 3 spots. I will probably be back there in a month or two scouting for my javelina hunt so I'll get some pics then. I had the truck in 4x4low and in 1st gear. I couldn't go fast at all because that trail was ready to own my truck at any moment with one false move I was gone. I was really worried about my gas tank and transfer case because they aren't protected. I felt like I was going .5mph which is probably pretty close to my actual speed. Anyways I'm really starting to love my 4x4low and 1st gear when climbing steep/rocky terrain.

Weaver79: I really like the Gibson exhaust. It's got that low rumble if you want your truck sounding better than stock but it isn't loud so if you want loud this isn't it.