Hey all,

Well myself and a friend went for a quick run through just a provincial park. He was in a F150 just in 2wd and myself in my Mazda with 4hi. I literally drove 3 feet into some snow that is about 1 foot deep with hard snow and then 3-4 inches of soft snow and I got stuck. They were all laughing at me but I was pissed. My front wheels were not spinning at all, just my rear tires. What is the point of 4hi or 4low if the front wheels are not going to spin? Basically, I need to find a solution to my problem because I seem to be getting stuck everywhere.

First, I know I need new tires but what else can I do? They suggested lockers and a winch but for a winch, I don't want a custom bumper so they then suggested I put a receiver in the front and mount a winch on a plate and then I can just put it into the receiver in the front or rear.

What do you guys think? Should I get new tires then a locker and then a winch or do I just need to calm down? Like I guess I am assuming the truck is suppose to do stuff that I guess it just can't. Like 4 inches of snow, my old Mazda 3 would get through it but with a truck, I get stuck.

Any suggestions would be great!

 

tires do make a difference, but if your front tires arent doing anything in 4wd i would have it checked out

 

I would say you have a bad case of an open rear end. I know I do, and it sucks. I say get the 4WD checked out (If you have an open diff. up front only one tire will spin). Also keep off-road with the big guys so they can pull you out.

 

sounds like your tcase is not working. if your front wheels arent spinning your not in 4wd basically so get that checked out

 

How do you know that your front tires aren't spinning? Are you friends telling you this? Find out for yourself. Put the truck on jack stands or on a rak at a tire place and throw it in 4wd and see if they spin. If not then take it to the dealer.

 

Hey all,

The front wheels do spin but they weren't in that scenario. Like once I got out, I tested it and for sure they were working but I dunno why they weren't working when I needed them most. Like I have 3000 km on the truck so I don't think that would be the issue. Man, I am pissed

 

When I was truck, I asked them to tell me which tires were spinning and they said only the back ones, then I got out and tested it again and all 4 wheels were spinning.

I am not sure if it matters but my rear end dug a nice hole and the back end was a foot lower then the front, I am not sure it that would cause it.

 

If your front tires weren't spinning (why, I do not know), and the rear wheels dug themselves into a hole then you will not get out very easily with only the rear wheels spinning.

 

new tires...
i kno for a FACT that it really makes a difference.
i can climb hills in 2wd that my buddys with 2wd trucks cant climb bcuz i have way better tires.
and a locker ALWAYS helps...

 

What kind of tires do you have. And also, do you have any weight in the back?

 

Ok, so for a locker, what kind and it would only be for the front axle right? Anybody have any idea about how much is costs to install a locker and if it would void any warranty?

Thanks

 

i would start with getting better tires

as for the locker, a limited slip would be better if its your DD. but its not easy to find parts for the D35. atleast i havent found much or heard of much for them

 

I will start with the tires but I am curious about a locker because a 4wd system that only 2 wheels spin, is not fun.

I have a limited slip in the rear already, do they make the same for the front? The D35 is the front axle I assume? If so, is it just too new and no parts are out yet or no interest in this axle? Man, I should have bought a jeep

 

yes the D35 is the front axle,my guess would be lack of interest in it

if you have a limited slip in the rear the you actually have 3 tires spinning when in 4wd

once you get a good tire you will notice a HUGE difference, since i got my new tires i dont have to use 4wd as often and when i do use it i dont have any problems

 

Its a Dana 35 in the front but Dana 35 parts wont fit. Its a special Dana 35 and anything you buy for it has to be Ranger specific.

Aussie and Powertrax make lockers for the front diff. Auburn and ? make a limited slip for it.

 

I still don't get it, cause even if your stuck, one of your front tires (the one with less weight on it usually) should still spin. I don't think it engaged while you were stuck.

but yes tires and lockers

 

I suspect your friends were mistaken. Either that or you were not locked in 4Hi for whatever reason. (Maybe we can point to a defective t-case shift motor?!)

If you have open diffs in both front and rear axles, then you should have at least one front and one rear tire spinning in 4Hi. W/ limited slip diffs it gets more complicated, but you would still have at least one rear and one front tire spinning.

Tires are huge too. I've been very happy w/ my factory BFG ATs in the snow. I think they are comparable to true snow-tires.

So was your Mz3 a hatch or sedan? I tried to trade my truck for an '05 3 hatch in GT trim a couple years back. Ended up w/ my toy-car as a second/commuter instead.

 

isnt the front axle on our trucks a live axle?

if so wouldnt a locker cause problems when turning?

 

I think a locker like an aussie only engages when there is power distributed to the front tires. So yes the front ds is always spinning but the locker won't engage.

I think

 

Maybe I just need to calm down and go buy a tire and go from there. I just get so mad thought. I see all these pictures of you guys going through hell and when I try to do baby stuff, I get stuck.

Now about how much does it cost to install a locker at a shop?

 

even then wouldnt it be hard to steer off-road, i know where i off-road i need to turn as sharp as possible

 

Last I heard nobody made a regular clutch type (or similar) l/s for our front axles.. only 'no-slip' or 'automatic locker' types. And from the reviews I have read, I would not put one of those products in a daily driven Ranger that sees action on public roads in the snow. For serious off-road abuse maybe.. but not snow/ice.

Look up 'RangerRick' on ORR and tell him you'd like to tell his company (Torsen) that you'd like them to finish developing and distributing their T-2 diff for the SLA D35.

 

yea your turning radius sucks after you put a locker in the front.
Matt (99ranger4x4) would have to back up like three times to make sharp turns that I could make in just turning or having to back up once. haha

 

are you sure that you are using enough throttle? when i go snow wheelin i use a alot of throttle. If you start hitting 4000RPM and ur still not moving at all then ur stuck. I'll throw up some videos of me in the snow. also if you are riding stock height than you will get hung up on the body VERY fast. even i get hung up of it when i get in 3ft of snow. speed is your friend you want to hit the drift fast enough to float over them. once you sink like you were saying then it is time to drag out the tow straps. be careful as you can smash ur valance and fogs if you hit ice.

here is a link Oh one other thing, don't go for a front locker if it is ur daily driver. they cause steering bind and CV breakage. there is good and bad times to use throttle. No one can't tell you when. you have to listen to what ur truck is telling you, then respond. if you move forward at all then give it alot(not excessive) of throttle. but the instant you sink STOP! I prefer to wheel in four low in slow moving conditions. it tends to make the throttle more responsive and allow you to get higher RPMs faster. Oh yeah about the video excuse the guy who is trying to tell me to back out of the snow i guess he was afraid i would get hopeless stuck. i'll admit i did get stuck eventually about a 50ft further (i got a sequel that i can put up if you want) and he tried to come pull me out he truck did not even come close to me even on the trail i had just made(he's got a Chevy 2500) all i need was a shoveling to get the snow from under the body.

 

camo.. what do you have for tires now? I suspect you are getting somewhere.. Forget the locker, at least for now, focus on tires!

They are probably cheaper too!