I just bought my ranger about 2 weeks ago and it's a 2011 super cab xlt 4x4 v6 and in the morning when I go to leave I back out of the driveway no noises but soon as I start going forward I get what I call a groaning noise coming from the front end it only last a couple of seconds and it doesn't happen again until the truck has been sitting all day in the cold or overnight other than that it doesn't make any sounds at all so my question is, is this something I should worry about because It doesn't happen all the time and everything seems to be working like it should

 

How many miles on your truck? Your xlt has a 4.0l and automatic, yes?
Is a "couple of seconds" 2 or more like 15?
If you can, pop the trans in N when you hear the noise and give the engine a rev to see if it's engine related or not.

COMPLETELY BLIND GUESS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD: Check the level and condition of your power steering fluid.

 

I don't think it's engine related and my truck has 119000 miles it really is only a few seconds maybe 30 or 40 feet then it stops and if I hit the breaks and stop it goes away and it's not a constant sound when it happens it's sounds like it in sync with the tire rotating if that makes sense

 

I forgot to add that yes it's the 4.0 and it is automatic

 

2nd GUESS: Have your brakes inspected and relubed.

 

I'm only asking because I'm not good with this type of stuff but would it be the brakes with it only happening on the initial take off and not all the time and when its cold, just making sure I understand 🙂

 

In disc brake systems there are no springs to retract the pads when you take your foot off the the pedal.
The piston relaxes and the rotor is free to turn. I don't know the term (technical or colloquial) for what the pads do...they're brushed aside by the rotor.
Sticky, unlubed glide pins can cause crooked, uneven pad wear which can easily lead to a hung-up pad.
It's common and there's nothing wasteful in inspecting the brakes in a newly acquired vehicle.
You got discs on all 4 corners.

 

Haven't posted in awhile but still been getting the sound on occasion and I did have my brakes checked and I have new brakes and rotors all around but my question now is, I've recently started getting some rear end vibration around 40 or 45 and lasts til about 60 or so and sometimes I don't notice it, I have no vibration in the steering wheel just in the seats that's how I know it's in the rear but my question is could the noise and the vibration be a u joint going bad?

 

My 2011 4x4 also does this, I was told it's just the ABS running a self test to verify all is good.

Sounds like u joint to me, Set your parking brake and put truck in neutral, crawl under and see if you can get any movement out of the u joints.

 

Trying to upload a video of my u joint but not having any luck but I did put truck in neutral and messed with the drive shaft didn't notice much play in it but when rotating it, is it supposed to make any noise when I didnt have it in neutral I messed with it and the only noise I noticed was when it got to either side when turning it if that makes sense but didn't really notice any play in the joint itself