I have a friend who has a 96 ford ranger and it is making a sound similar to a u joint but much louder and it does it while your driving down the road but not all the time. the sound is coming from around the transmission. what do you think? besides the fact that it is a ford
4x4 5 speed

Have you checked the condition of transmission and transfer case fluid? Does it make the same noise when in 4 wheel mode?