A little curious as to how it would do in the snow, I tried it out on a snow covered smoothly paved hill with about 8 inches of untracked snow. I locked in 4 high and started up the hill to make it about 25 feet before I got excessive wheel hop in the front end that cause me to have to shut it down before anything was damaged! The same result again and again, even going as slow as I could in 4 low. Could not go up the hill, UNTIL, I put it in 2wd and hammered the gas shifted into 2nd gear, and flew right up over....Backed down and tried the same in 4 high.....Wheel hop and shut down early again. I guess I liked my past Rangers because most of them were 2 wheel drives......I don't mind if it spins to a stop in 4wd, but to have so much wheel hop that you have to shut down? Why have 4wd at all?

 

never had that problem before...

 

no never had that problem..........

 

I think you have some kind of problem or else haven't yet learned to drive 4WD. I've wheeled with a lot of 4WD Rangers and frankly their hill climbing ability is WAY in excess of my locked 4x2 Ranger -- and my truck is on 35's with the electric locker.

Either your truck has a problem, or you're missing something is my take on it. Maybe you've got some bad shocks.

How is the truck on flat road? Is 4WD smooth or "jumpy". Possibilities are a mismatched front/rear gearset (unlikely) or mismatched front/rear tire sizes and/or uneven wear -- even a bad front driveshaft or hubs.

 

sounds like operator error.

 

My Dad used to have similar issues with our 79' F-150. It sucks.

 

Never had that problem, If my truck wouldn't have had 4 wheel drive, then I probably wouldn't be here right now.

 

yeah i loved my 4wd, never had one issue with it.

 

I'm thinking driver issue/error or something mechanical. Seriously, I've never had issues as you describe. I've been able to tackle some pretty challenging stuff in 4-HI and 4-LOW.

 

Do many of you 4 wheel in deep snow? My truck has now other issues as it only has 26,000 easy miles on it. 4wd works fine on snowy roads, and 4 wheeling in my Cherokee never had this issue either.....I have been 4 wheeling for many moons BTW.
Wheel hop usually only rears it's head in deep snow.

 

After driving my ranger through all sorts of nasty stuff I never once had a problem like that...

 

I live in the Erie snow belt and I use 4wd ALOT. I have never had the problem you described. You have a mechanical issue. I would be looking at the CV axles. My truck has been run in the type of conditions you described or worse for the past 3 years and I always come out on top. Rangers really do really well!!!!

 

Maybe a blown or leaking front shock? A shock with a slight leak may only rear its ugly side when in that situation. Just a guess because I have a 4X2. Other thing that doesn't have to do with your problem, but the tires that you have, they are worthless as all hell. I had them on my truck new, and I never knew a tire could suck so much until I had those. I bet some nice A/T's would hlep on that hill.....

 

I wonder how that could be? My truck mostly sees nothing but highway......And was bought new........BY ME! I'm ready to trade it in for a 2wd with a winch!

Sorry I'm not cutting on anyones trucks here, I just hate mine!

 

You may be onto something with the shock thing...I'll have a look.

 

Any mods to the drivetrain? The wheels are all the same size and calibrated?

 

Ive wheeled in deep snow several times. no wheel hop

 

Where in PA are you. If your close I'd be more than willing to take a look at it with you

 

 

Have you ever had the truck on a lift? Maybe something wasn't installed at the factory? It happens.
I would get her on a lift and start shaking things and see if anything seems loose and/or not right. Check wheel bearings, seals (leak could cause internal problems), 4x4 is properly engaging, a tough one to fine is bad tires (if one has a bubble on the inside it can cause some strange problems), missing wheel weights, check for leaky shocks, loose bolts at fastening points, check the front end, check the back end, check u-joints, lug nuts tightened properly. Just give her a real good once over.

 

100% stock except BFG tires..........Tires did great in 2wd!

BTW, I'm in s. Western Pa. shadyluke

 

As in how?........

 

I would not be surprized.....Some say their truck was built on Friday or Monday....This one was built after Happy Hour!

 

It really doesn't sound like operator error to me. sounds more mechanical. Do you have any warrenty left on it?

 

I drove down a street the other day using my bumper to part the way because the snow was so deep. Never had wheel hop.