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Ford Ranger High 4-Wheel Drive VS Low 4-Wheel Drive. And when to use which

Your Ford Ranger 4 wheel drive is an option with your Ranger. Knowing when to use the high and low range can not only save your Ford Ranger tires but reduce the strain on your Ranger transmission, transfer case, and engine.

Four-wheel high with your Ford Ranger is best used when traveling in relatively level conditions. Such as slippery highways, or dirt roads. You don't want to use your Ranger 4 wheel high on dry pavement, not only will this cause undo wear on your tires but again will cause strain on 4-wheel drive parts. Be sure to switch into 4-wheel high just before you need it, switching after you've discovered your in treacherous terrain can not only be dangerous but eventually will cause you to have an accident.

Other times for 4-wheel high with your Ford Ranger is in mud, or slippery sand, and ice and snow. This will allow you to use a higher rpm without damaging your 4-wheel drive mechanisms. When you're stuck, you'll often need to use higher rpms to get out of the mud or sand. So use 4-wheel high for situations where you're stuck.

4-wheel low is used for times when very slow speeds are needed with high torque to your axles. It may be when you have a big hill to climb or are trying to move a heavy load uphill. The torque to your Ranger axels is actually capable of applying enough torque to break things, so going over 25mph is not recommended. If you need 4-wheel low be sure to engage it before you're half way up that hill.

Another place you'll want to use Four wheel low with your Ford Ranger is when crossing water, you'll want to creep along with enough power to the wheels to get up and over rocks and out of sand with out causing large waves to enter your engine compartment. Be sure not to change gears during a water crossing, it may cause the motor to stall leaving you dry for the moment but sure to get wet getting your Ford Ranger out.

Your Ford Ranger came with the wonderful 4-wheel drive option, knowing when to use it, and what range you should be in, can save you repair bills down the road. Use the proper Ranger 4-wheel range for the terrain your in, or the job at hand. Be sure to have your Ford Ranger 4-wheel drive maintained to factory recommendations so it, like your Ford Ranger truck will last a long time.

Driving your 4x4 Ford Ranger in Ice and Snow

Your 4x4 Ford Ranger is a great little compact off road truck, but driving in winter weather conditions is a bit different than driving on dirt roads or in the farm pasture. The 4-wheel drive mechanism in your Ranger can help in bad weather, but realizing that your Ranger 4-wheel drive doesn't make you invincible is the safest way to handle winter driving.

With your Ranger being a compact pickup truck it doesn't have the weight of the big rigs, or diesel trucks, so adding weight to the rear of your Ranger will help keep traction on the back end. When you've engaged the 4-wheel drive mechanism, and don't have weight in the back end, you're likely to lose traction with the back axle on slippery surfaces. Take a few extra tires, sand bags, or other heavy items and center them over the back wheel axle. Be sure to tie down or anchor any items you may use, having them come loose while trying to recover from a slide will cause the weight to shift off the rear axle defeating the purpose.

Drive as if you didn't have four-wheel drive, when on ice or snow. Many 4-wheel drive drivers seem to feel that they're invincible, and when driving on extreme winter condition, look around, who's in the ditch? Your Ford Ranger 4x4 does not mean that all four wheels are moving at the same time. What it means is one wheel on each axle can be engaged. What this gives you is double the traction over a single axle drive vehicle. But double the traction in severe winter driving still can mean no traction. Having Ford Ranger four-wheel drive on ice still means ice, which of course gives no traction.

Most winter drivers know to extend their driving time, allowing extra travel time for you and your Ford Ranger, will give you an added safety factor. Allowing you to travel at a safe speed with out the stress of being late. You'll also notice those that wind up in the ditch or causing other accidents, to be those flying by you faster than current conditions allow. Don't let them buffalo you into thinking you need to drive your Ranger at a higher speed; chances are sooner or later they'll be filing an insurance claim.

Your Ford Ranger came with the option of four wheel drive to give extra stability and more power for back roads and farm use, not to be able to go faster in icy winter conditions. Remember no traction for your Ford Ranger 4x4 means no traction no matter how many tires you have turning.