How to use 4WD

[TedS]

Hi All,

Just bought a 2002 Ranger 4x4. It has no owners manual and I'm wondering if there is any certain sequence of events for engaging the 4WD. There is just a simple knob with 2WD, 4HI, and 4LO.

I assume I should be in neutral to engage/disengage. Can anybody offer some advice?

Thanks!

 

[triumphrider-1]

To put it in 4Hi you can be moving (mines up to 15mph, yours may be different). Same for taking out.

For 4Lo you need to be stopped with the trans in nuetral. Same for going out of.

 

[Chris.S.]

Yes, as mentioned you have "shift on the fly" 4x4, so you can pop it into or out of 4HI while moving, max speed is variable but stick with 15MPH and you'll be safe. And to shift into 4LO you must be at a complete stop with tranny in neutral or if it's a standard have the clutch in-be aware it takes a few seconds to drop into 4LO after you flip the switch.

And never ever ever use 4 wheel drive on pavement, if there is any difference in speed from your front tires to your back tires (ie: when you corner or curve) your truck cannot compensate for that. It can compensate for differences from right side to left side but not front to back.

 

[Toms01PSD]

I think you have to take your foot off the brake to pop it into 4Lo aswell, correct? I've never had to use 4Lo

 

[Jay FX4]

I'm pretty sure my manual says you can switch to 4hi at up to 45mph - for the electric case, that is. One other minor detail....since you're in neutral to switch to 4low, you'll probably have your foot on the brake anyway, but it's required for it to engage.

 

[Jay FX4]

I've never had to use 4Lo

Seriously? Foot ON brake.

 

[Toms01PSD]

Seriously? Foot ON brake.

I don't remember where the hell I read it but I remembered seeing something about putting the truck in neutral and foot off the brake to engage into 4Lo. It didn't make any sense but noone disputed it.

 

[partsguy84823]

Yes yes... foot ON the brake

 

[Jay FX4]

I don't want to think about what would happen if you engaged 4-low while rolling.

 

[darkspork]

Hi All,

Just bought a 2002 Ranger 4x4. It has no owners manual and I'm wondering if there is any certain sequence of events for engaging the 4WD. There is just a simple knob with 2WD, 4HI, and 4LO.

I assume I should be in neutral to engage/disengage. Can anybody offer some advice?

Thanks!

The owner's manual for my 2003 does not specify a maximum speed 4hi can be engaged at. Its shift on the fly as previously mentioned so you don't have to do anything besides turn the dial to shift into 4hi. The owner's manual does however warn against switching to 4hi from 2hi while the wheels are slipping; damage may occur.

It was mentioned in the thread that you should never use 4wd on pavement. Not true, the owner's manual warns against using 4wd on DRY pavement. Meaning unless there is snow on the pavement or sheets of ice you should just use 2hi.

I can't comment for the automatic, but the manual states to shift to 4lo with a manual transmission; come to a complete stop, press in the clutch all the way and apply pressure to the brake, switch the switch to 4lo, wait for 4lo to illuminate on the dash, then you should be able to proceed in 4lo. The only time I've ever needed 4lo is for backing up inclines covered in ice or hard packed snow that is at least a few inches thick.

 

[daniel3507]

i went to school with a kid who drove his 4runner on the HIGHWAY in 4LO. it was awesome cause the guy was a d bag and deserved it. so yeah, dont drive high speeds in 4lo

 

[Jay FX4]

i went to school with a kid who drove his 4runner on the HIGHWAY in 4LO. it was awesome cause the guy was a d bag and deserved it. so yeah, dont drive high speeds in 4lo

That makes me think of something I've been curious about.....
How fast can you go in 4-low? Is there a speed limit? I've never taken it past 10-15mph and don't intend to go any faster but I always wondered if there was a "top speed".

 

[Brandon12]

That makes me think of something I've been curious about.....
How fast can you go in 4-low? Is there a speed limit? I've never taken it past 10-15mph and don't intend to go any faster but I always wondered if there was a "top speed".

My truck topped out at about 25 in 5th gear in 4Low

 

[kunar]

That makes me think of something I've been curious about.....
How fast can you go in 4-low? Is there a speed limit? I've never taken it past 10-15mph and don't intend to go any faster but I always wondered if there was a "top speed".

lat time i've done that (and its been a long time) i think it was somewhere around 35 or 40 mph when i hit 4-5k rpm in 5th.

 

[darkspork]

That makes me think of something I've been curious about.....
How fast can you go in 4-low? Is there a speed limit? I've never taken it past 10-15mph and don't intend to go any faster but I always wondered if there was a "top speed".

I can look it up next time I'm in my truck if you want. You shouldn't need to go any faster than that in 4lo though.