soooooo I've been in the market for a sweet 4x4 ranger, mainly because I prefer 4 wheels moving compared to two. When talking to the sales men at the dealer he said " just remember you can't go over 55mph when using 4x4" I was shocked. Can anyone explain why a Ford Escape 4x4 or a f150 4x4 can max out the speed but a ranger has to be under 55mph???( this makes no sense ) why can other cars drive on pavement and as fast as you want using 4x4 but not my beloved rangers?

 

Why would you want to? Only reason why you'd wanna use 4x4 is in mud, snow, sand, etc... Can't go fast anyway.

 

Has to do with the transfer case, Rangers don't use a fluid coupling transfer case they are more direct drive, they do have a bit of a clutch that allows some slipping between front and rear axles when in 4WD.

And you can drive in 4high at any speed you want, but because it is "shift on the fly" you would just shift to 2WD when road conditions are dry and clear, then shift back to 4high when needed
55MPH limit is a suggestion nothing will blowup if you go 56MPH or 70MPH, lol.
It is just harder on the transfer case

And as above comment suggests if you are driving above 55MPH in the snow or ice then transfer case would be the least of your worries.

AWD or 4WD cars and SUVs use a fluid coupling, similar to a torque converter so front and rear axles are not directly connected, it is a good system, just not meant for off roading type 4WD

 

I believe the owners manual says, to not shift to 4x4 above 55 mph not anything about exceeding 55 MPH in 4wd.

but like others have said if your in conditions needing 4x4 and not racing theres not much cause for over 55.

 

Another thing to realize is some 4x4's are just offering power to the front and rear axles, the axles themselves may or may not have a locking, or limited slip, feature. Most 4x4's do not offer a locking or limited slip front axle at all. I had a '81 6 cyl full size Bronco that had a locking rear and limited slip front axle, from the factory.

 

I have owned 5 different 4x4's over the past 40 + years and driven many others. I have never heard of such warnings. Perhaps with some special purpose vehicles, maybe. Remember, sales personnel are not necessarily experts at operational features of the vehicles they sell. Many sales people are full of bull.

I currently have a 2011 Ranger Sport 4x4. At the top of Owner's Manual page 172 I find this passage:

Shifting between 2H (2WD High) and 4H (4WD High)

• Move the 4WD control between 2H and 4H at stop or any forward speed.

Note: Do not perform this operation if the rear wheels are slipping.
---

I have operated this vehicle at up to 70 mph on a snow covered highway in 4WD without any problems.

I don't recommend anyone who is not very experienced at driving in snow do this! And don't do it if there is other traffic on the road! When the snow hits the pavement many people do really, really stupid things.

And remember this about 4WD in slippery conditions:
4WD will make you go easily at just about any speed you want. But 4WD will do NOTHING for you if you need to stop or turn suddenly. Slippery is slippery, driving on snow covered roads requires a sensitive touch and lots of finesse. If you loose just the least bit of control really bad things happen really fast.

Makanak

 

Yes, it is called FOUR WHEEL DRIVE

Not Four wheel STOP, thats ABS stuff

A 4WD vehicle is exactly the same as any 4 wheeled vehicle when slowing or stopping