I had a 95 Ranger in highschool with manual hubs and was told only to use 4x4 when you are stuck or driving in really bad conditions. That has always stuck with me. Recently, I bought a 2006 Ranger 4x4 with automatic hubs and a switch to turn on 4x4. I was wondering how often I should actually use 4x4. Last week I needed four wheel drive to get out of the driveway but as soon as I was on the main road I turned it off because I didn't need it. Should I run it in four wheel drive for a few miles every now and again or just use it when I need it?

 

Use 4wd when you need to, you're not hurting anything to use it. Use 4low for low speed-hi load applications and 4high when you just needed more traction and have a higher chance of spinning the tires.
Avoid turning the steering wheel to the max when in 4wd.
Change front diff fluid when you change the rear, you're good to go.

 

2006 Ranger with 4WD has a live front axle\differential, meaning no old fashioned hubs that need getting out of vehicle & switching hubs manually on\off.
If you engage 4WHi\4WLo, when turning you should feel front wheels binding on dry pavement; avoid fast\sharp turns in 4WD as this can mess up front end.
On a wet\gravel\snowy\icy road with 4WHi\4WLo engaged, there is enough slip that front wheel binding is less noticable.
It's a good idea to excercise 4WD system (DashSwitch + ControlModule + ShiftMotor + TransferCase) once a months or so,
to confirm it still works or realize it does not, before you really need 4WD in bad weather.
The 4WD ShiftMotor & ControlModule & associated InstrumentClusterBulbs are known\common failure items.

 

+1 on the "just use 4WD (either Hi or Low) when you need it" camp.
A wise man here mentioned that monthly cycling of the dash switch can be done while idling as cleaning the contact wheel is all that's necessary.
I like to travel 100 yards or so when doing this as I believe the TC fluid sloshes around more when the chain is moving.
If it's dry out I just go straight ahead when doing this.

What I'd like to know from others is; how long it takes your Ranger to indicate 4WLow after you turn the switch? Mine takes 20 seconds.....same to go out.
It seems long but every 4WD I've ever been in has a delay going into and out of 4WLow
There are never any flashing dash lights.

Even though the manual says I can switch to 4WHi at speeds up to 45 mph I still do any of that switching in N. That's me just being old.

Also, I don't think "automatic hubs" on the OP's 2006 is the right word. The entire axle assembly is spinning when the vehicle moves. Any 4WD engagement is done in the transfer case.
The front hubs just hold the bearings just like any vehicle. Ergo, specifying them as "automatic" is superfluous (pretty sure).

 

About 5secs from 2WHi into 4WHi, another 5secs from 4WHi into 4WLo. About the same going the other way. Can usually feel a slight bump as TC goes into gear.

 

The chain is always turning even in 2wd. As long as the truck is moving. If you have so called live front axle.

 

I've known people to use 4x4 if the roads have snow on them no matter what. So they drive for a solid month in 4wheel drive. I just didn't know if it was a use it or loose it type of thing. I even knew a guy who wouldn't drive his car in overdrive because overdrive was for "towing trailers". People do some dumb stuff. I just try not to be one of them.

 

Live several miles up a narrow county\mountain road, that can be very snowy\icy\patchy 3~4months a year.
Usually keep it in 4WHi until I get to main highway which is usually well plowed & dry, then "shift on the fly" from 4WHi to 2WHi.
If I get caught in heavy snow falling, I may stop & shift in neutral to 4WLo, then keep speed below 30~35mph.
As you drive the truck more, you'll learn what works best for your driving habits & weather.
Hope this helps.

 

I have a 04 and it takes about 3-5sec after i switch from 2w to 4w.