TOWING RANGER 4 WD

As a final report on this it wasn't too bad. I just put a blue Ox base plate on and removed the rear drive shaft and went my merry way. All I needed to do was put the truck in 4 wheel high drive and drove it just like on the rear. I have driven it over 300 miles at over 50 MPH and no problems. Towed it over 1300 miles.

Again Many thanks for all the replies and help. This is a great forum and a great place for info.

CharWan

dickiebob wrote:
You didn't say if your transmission is automatic which I'm assuming it is. (the hubs are "auto" only when you use the dash switch). I have an 1999 Ranger automatic trans 4WD. The Neutral Tow switch will not work on this year. The 4WD changes via the three way dash knob which electrically works a small motor selector on the transmission and there is no neutral position to put the 4WD into actual neutral. Don't understand why Ford did not include a neutral position on that selector.

Remco (our local Camping World uses outsourcing to install these) based in Des Moines builds driveshaft disconnects or you can do the actual driveshaft manual disconnect and use FWD selector temporarily to drive short distances. I haven't towed mine since I have a 2001 Honda CRV I have towed 80,000 miles. Would like to tow the truck which has 36,000 miles, but is an added major expense.

Good luck in your endeavors.

I'm sorry I did not complete my info. This is correct. I have a 1999 model and in looking at the kit it was for 2000 up. What you have said is probably what I'll do. I agree driving it in 4 WD with the rear shaft should make no difference. I'll just be driving to dock and back. Never gave it any though but your right on the servo mtr.

Again many thanks to all this is a great place for help and good info. Charles

PS I let my 04 CRV go was a good car.

You didn't say if your transmission is automatic which I'm assuming it is. (the hubs are "auto" only when you use the dash switch). I have an 1999 Ranger automatic trans 4WD. The Neutral Tow switch will not work on this year. The 4WD changes via the three way dash knob which electrically works a small motor selector on the transmission and there is no neutral position to put the 4WD into actual neutral. Don't understand why Ford did not include a neutral position on that selector.

Remco (our local Camping World uses outsourcing to install these) based in Des Moines builds driveshaft disconnects or you can do the actual driveshaft manual disconnect and use FWD selector temporarily to drive short distances. I haven't towed mine since I have a 2001 Honda CRV I have towed 80,000 miles. Would like to tow the truck which has 36,000 miles, but is an added major expense.

Good luck in your endeavors.

Many thanks for the quick replies. I'm going to look into this. Does this kit just come from Ford?

I have a 2003 Ford Explorer V-6 Auto 4x4 with the Neutral tow kit installed. It works very well. Yes, the Ford Dealer does have to change the software in one of the computers, but not a big deal.

I have a 2011 Ranger/Auto/FWD. Set up for a toad. To do this, I had to get a "Transfer Case Neutral Kit"...a Ford only item. Installed; $400.
For my truck the Ford Part # is 3L2Z7H332-AA.
One of the computers gets re-programmed and you get a nifty little yellow light to tell you the thing is engaged. It works...and well.

(Then a base plate from Blu-Ox and a Roadmaster tow-bar)

g'luck!

Don't think frt. drive will turn with auto hubs because it runs like this all the time. However I ordered the plate and will just drop the rear shaft. Its a plate and won't have to worry about the ujoint. The NTK kit is above this endeavor. Many thanks to all CharWan

charwan wrote:
I have a 1999 Ford Ranger and need to tow it to Mt. Home Ar. to go fishing. It is 4 wd with auto hubs in frt. Can I remove the drive shaft from rear and tow this vehicle 4 wheels down.

charwan,
Much discussion has taken place about the use of a Ford Ranger 4x4 as a toad. Ford offered, was discontinued, but, I think has been re-vitalized, a kit called an NTK for towing. "NTK" means, Neutral Tow Kit. It is a kit that when installed, allows for the engine/trans ECM to command the transfer case to go into a position, that's not normally there. And that position is NEUTRAL.

But, it's done electronically. There really isn't much to the kit. It's an LED light with a small plastic bracket/icon that I think says "N" or, "Neutral" with the LED illuminating when the position is achieved. The second part of the "kit" is, after the LED and bracket are installed, you must take it to a Ford dealer who, will then re-program the transfer case shift electronics to achieve this new "neutral" position.

That kit, hovers around $400.00 if I recall. But, here's the deal, not all years of Ford Ranger 4x4 will accept the NTK. A phone call to your Ford dealer should reveal whether or not your year is included in the ability to convert that transfer case shifting or not. Hope this helps some. Good luck.
Scott

You could damage the front drive if you can't put the transfer case in neutral. If you must take the truck, you could rent a tow dolly and then remove the driveshaft. Rather than actually remove it, disconnect at the rear end (marking the position) wrap the u-joints with tape and then securely strap it up out of the way. If you don't you'll have trans fluid run out the tail of the trans when you remove the shaft.

My Ranger is a Auto. FWD and does not have the neutral transfer case.
I read the article and It doesn't really say but I take it as a 4 WD manual.