Do NOT Use 4-Low Offroad || Watch First!
2024 ж. 14 Мам.
756 841 Рет қаралды
Get your rig ready for 4-low situations: www.trailbuiltoffroad.com/
Do you know the proper times when you should use 4-low while offroading? Today we break down what 4-low is, and what are some best practices and situations where you should AND shouldn't use 4-low. As always, if you have any advice to add or have any questions about 4-low or 4-high, let u know in the comments!
0:00 - Intro
0:14 - 4-High & 2-High
1:26 - When to use 4-low
2:10 - Shifting
3:10 - More Power
4:45 - Mud
5:48 - The Downsides
7:02 - Get Experience
7:45 - Summary
#offroad #trailbuilt #4low
I use my 4 low while going over speed bumps at my local mall parking lot in my Jeep 392. Gotta stay safe!
lol, can’t be too careful… especially with all those horses powers!! 😂
You can stop for flex pictures at those too!
Priceless 🤣🤣😅🤣
That is way too savage 🥶🤣
Complete waste of time if you're not dc/ing dat swaybar, too.
Definitely rely on 4LO with a manual. Keeps you from needing to slip the clutch to go slow.
Agree 💯
You should look into using both break and gas with 4lo. It's a lifesaver for manuals and how you should be offroading. Keep the brake pressure applied while keeping rpms above stalling and go any speed you want. takes a lot of getting used to and sitting a little strange but it's night and day once you get good at it. I went through 2 heavily smoked clutches on my Explorer before learning this trick.
@@TrashmanShazam I've had to do that with a Jeep before in Low, but with my Tacoma I don't think it's necessary. 4LO 1st gear will crawl insanely slow. I actually may time it one of these days, and see how long it takes it to fully rotate a tire.
@@Clanc54R I had a 97 Ford Explorer and it did not crawl slow at all in 4 low but I didn’t have low gears. Those Australian 4wd guys that do crazy stuff recommend the technique though
@@TrashmanShazam absolutely. Gearing makes all the difference in whether you can easily off road a manual, or tow for that matter. That Jeep is my mom's. It's a JKU manual with the 3.21 axles. Even in 4LO that thing would crawl between 1 and 2 mph, which depending on how tight the trail is that's actually a bit fast. I don't think it matters to her though. She only has, and probably only will take it out that one time. My Taco on the other hand has 4.30 axles with a super low 1st gear. Fun for off road, but 2nd is still a bit tall to take off from a stop. So the truck can be very annoying to drive in general. And I don't hate Jeeps, just ones like hers lol. The Rubicon would smoke check mine in a crawl ratio contest.
If you've ever had a transmission temp gauge in a vehicle, you will see much lower transmission temps when using low range in anything slow. Especially mud, sand, etc.
Prior to the age of electric radiator fans, you often used 4 low in slow crawling situations just to keep the engine RPMs up high enough so that the water pump mounted fan would spin fast enough to draw sufficient air through the radiator to keep the engine from overheating.
Omg
Good ole days
Just learned this in my XJ lol.
@@f87115 Or the good nowadays for some of us still
What about them engine starter cranks? Were they any help in a pinch?
Four low is a lifesaver especially with manual, whether it’s backing trailers, or off-roading, it makes a 4.6 triton feel like a Cummins
@@bugworld89 how does using 4 low make someone inexperienced? Lol you never been on a real trail
@@ruttlicker1139 git em!!!
@@David-rj1ru the comments from people who haven’t spent moderate time on a trail spewing bullshit are hilarious lol but some of them are downright scary how ignorant others can be lol
@@ruttlicker1139 Wyatt fails to realize that it's actually the experience that will dictate when to use 4low and not the other way around, meaning he doesn't have trail experience 😅 Inexperienced would just state something he says, while experienced knows 4low is there for a reason and knows when to use it 👍
Yep, I use 4lo for backing trailers. So much easier.
Half the people on the JL forums can’t even get their Jeeps into 4Lo
Everyone is different… different styles, different geographical locations, different skill levels… and exactly why we made this video! 😊🤘💯
@@TrailBuilt very true! Your videos are very well done
LOL
Kinda a dick comment. I've been 4 wheeling for 40 years. And just got one. I bet I've used 4 low more than you've been off road.
@@rediron44 you’re probably right
An excellent teaching video for both newbs and experienced offroaders alike. We all need sound advice as reminders to avoid a costly repair.
4 Low with a stick shift lets you start the engine with the clutch engaged, so you don't accidentally roll backwards and off the mountain you just stalled on. It also saves your brakes going down steep inclines. It's also really useful in snowy conditions. It lets you drive slowly while keeping your brakes from locking up the wheels that lose traction on ice.
It's also possible to bump the vehicle forward with just the starter motor in 4lo.
And with an auto you can just shift it into 1st and it stays in 1st just like with a stick. It's honestly mind-blowing I know.
@@chadwalton54 man you cant be realistic on youtube, that is just insane.
Ooooof. Using the transmission to slow down in snow? Depends on how bad that snow is man, It’s possible the engine brake can brake traction, I’d rather use the the ABS system personally. Most cases this is not needed at all mine you.
@@baddecisionsoff-roading3243 abs sucks and is for people that can't drive. That shitty system has given me more trouble then it has ever wished to help.
I’m fairly new to the off-road world and these videos are super informative!! Thanks guys! Keep up the great work!
We appreciate the support Brandon! Thanks for watching!
Also, being in 4 low will save your transmission from excessive wear and heat while out on the trail.
Tru. I toasted 2 Transmission's under warranty on a Jeep and Sold it
@@Zzus321 What capacity was your auxiliary cooler and where was it located?
@@Zzus321 so you ran them n high both times and blamed the Jeep? Lol
@@ruttlicker1139 Payaso I was rock climbing but don't worry yours will be safe at the Mall
I have 2 transmission coolers . Cheap insurance .
Having a manual transmission, I use 4 Low anytime I need to go slow over off-road terrain. It’s much easier then working the clutch to control my speed.
You should look into using both break and gas with 4lo. It's a lifesaver for manuals and how you should be offroading. Keep the brake pressure applied while keeping rpms above stalling and go any speed you want. takes a lot of getting used to and sitting a little strange but it's night and day once you get good at it. I went through 2 heavily smoked clutches on my Explorer before learning this trick.
@@TrashmanShazam applying your breaks isn’t saving the clutch at all dude it’s the exact opposite lol If you can’t smoothly navigate a trail you either need to gear the axles or you need dual cases…Applying the brakes at the same time as the gas doesn’t save the clutch what so ever it’s fucking science dude lol
@@ruttlicker1139 you can keep the revs higher by applying the brake which does save your clutch. I learned the hard way by not using it and getting the advice from multiple off-road pros many years later.
@@TrashmanShazam I've offroaded with a manual transmission ('67 CJ5) since the 1980's and I've never heard of this. It might work with an automatic, but it doesn't make sense with a manual transmission -- engine and wheel RPM are directly linked, you're just making your engine work harder by adding resistance with the brakes. You could achieve the same thing by just using the gas pedal properly, and wouldn't wear out your brakes in the process.
@@theobstacle the whole point is to keep the engine reving higher so you can go slower where needed without stalling. It has nothing to do with proper gas’s pedal control. It helps at points where you are in 4-lo and the lowest gear but should still drive slower. Never needed to do this in an automatic as they have the creep features to overcome this though you see it in professional racing for both types of transmissions even at high speed. I got the tip from these guys while driving manuals and I’m pretty sure they know what they are doing as they tackle some of the toughest terrain around In Australia. kzhead.info
I'm building a truck right now and just took the 1.8:1 lo range gears out and put in 4.24:1. I also installed a set of twin sticks that separate the 2 wheel drive-4 wheel drive and the hi-low into 2 separate levers. For those that don't know it give you the option of 2 low and true neutral at the tcase
Great video and great information. I have a newer vehicle, and I just recently figured out that going into 4 low will automatically disable traction control and anti-skid. This makes the truck perform way better. I have since read the manual and learned how to disable those in 2 wheel and 4 high, but going into 4 low is what clued me into it.
Glad it was helpful! We definitely appreciate the support!
I learned 4 wheeling in Northern Nevada in the 1970's in my dad's stock "65" FJ40. We never went anywhere fast and when we got off the smooth roads it almost always went into 4L, it was so much easier on the rig. And like I said, we never went anywhere in a hurry, but we always got there.
Funny, I live in northern nevada (tahoe, but we wheel at johnson lane a lot) and almost NEVER use 4lo unless there is crawling to be done. We're often doing 40-60mph untill we hit the side trails, even then 4lo only gets used with there is rock crawling to be done.
@@bigslacker666 That's cool. Each to his own style.
@@bigsamdog1 Definitely, I love seeing hardcore crawlers tackle tough obstacles even though it's not my thing.
It's a skill to just relax and idle along in 2nd low. Might as well enjoy the scenery and not beat yourself or your rig. Dad's rule was if you need 3rd low you should just go to high range.
@@ephjay6t87 I like that.
With a manual transmission 4x4, which are common in Europe, 4L can be really useful when you want to maintain a slow speed, especially when dealing with hills. In 4H its easy to end up riding the clutch to keep your speed down which eventually puts a lot of wear on it and a high risk of burning out your clutch. In 4L you can maintain a much slower speed with more control with your foot completely off the clutch. When dealing with hills its also much harder to stall a manual 4x4 when in low range gears at low speeds. I've even used 4L to navigate out of multi story car parks where the space is tight and the ramp is steep to avoid burning my clutch and being able to crawl up at a controlled speed - it's not only for offroad :)
@@johnnywhite7717 has nothing to do with that. some cars have a really long gearing for its power or the tires running. My patrol has like 70/80hp on 32''s. I never struggled to use clutch in the right way and I dont ride clutch on hill starts. But to avoid clutch wear just using 4lo is perfect. Why wear something just to be stubborn. Matter of fact my 4Lo can actually be used as a 2Lo as I have manual hub locks, wich is perfect for those pesky hills (my city has lots of serious uphill areas)
you never , ever enable 4wheel low on concrete, tarmac, asphalt or anything paved . This is deplorable misinformation, respectfully. If you got lucky & were actually able to chirp & jerk your poor jeep around a parking deck in a metropolitan area with it engaged , try it a few more times & come back & tell us how much ring & pinions cost presently since you'll know from having to replace the chipped ring gear teeth you experience. This reply is what drove me away from the Jeep community,fr please don't just spout information on the Internet that is incorrect or that you only know minimal details about. You can affect negative impact on others ,Mr. Burning Clutch
I am a field Geologist (for 30 years) and since I usually work alone, do not use my 4WDs as a rock crawler. My rule of thumb has always been to drive in in 4Hi, keeping 4Lo in case I get stuck. If I drive in in 4Lo, there is nothing to "fall back" on. Sure, there are a lot of trails I can't traverse in 4Hi, but then I walk (or turn around). BTW, in 30 years, I have never been so stuck that I couldn't get myself out.
Sounds like you practice common sense
4lo is mainly for control but does give torque multiplication for severe grades. It doesn’t give more traction. You are more likely to have a failure in high range and put more stress on your transmission. Unless you have an AWD transfer case that only locks into part time in low range like my old Jeep Quadra Drive system did.
I call that detained ^^
I go off road I start in 2wd then if I get stuck I go to 4wd high then I get stuck I hit the ARB air lockers then if I get stuck I go to 4wd low and if that does not work I go to the winch If that does not work I turn around and go home lol...
@@paulabes4220 lmao, brilliant
When doing Hells Revenge trail in Moab I found myself switching from 4H to 4L. The obstacles are spread out a bit so that causes you to want to go faster in between the obstacles. My Rubicon is an automatic so it helped a little bit but I still found myself switching it from time to time.
It would be so nice to be able to move that quick on trails down there. Every time I have run trails in Moab I have been in groups too big to move at 4hi speeds.
@@deadskimountaineer Good point
@@deadskimountaineer Go on off weekends or later in the season. Late October to November is a great time to wheel in Moab.
@@hexnut72 the 21 hour drive to get there makes it a tad harder to pick times.
Same thing I did last week.
I'm a big fan of 4-Lo in second gear (manual trans). In the trucks I've had that seems to be a good final ratio for getting torque to the ground but still having decent wheel speed for a lot of situations
just bought a 2019 4runner SR5. I have never owned a 4x4 vehicle so its great watching all these videos to get familiar with what its capable off. I also think ill never really be into the rock crawling side of off roading, but more of the overlanding. its still nice to know what to do in any situations. Thanks for the videos, solid subscriber here!
Welcome to the team!!!
On a Jeep, the manufacturer recommends using 4 low anytime you’re off road because it keeps your transmission cooler. Running in 4 high can put high heat stress on the transmission which could lead to early failure (Watch for an alert on the Dash “hot oil!”) Here in Utah we don’t have a lot of mud so when we go down to Moab or up in the mountains around our home we air down the tires and engage 4-low every time. The only time we switch back to 4 high is if we hit a stretch that requires a bit more speed.
My Jeep says not to exceed 25mph in 4 low, which I ignore, and it doesn't mention anything about cooling with 4 low. I believe I have seen 4 high heating the transmission, and low never has, but I haven't had Jeep mention it.
Thats a great comment thank you!! Most people don't read their manuals and then they don't know whats been "proven safe" by the engineers... and even if they say 25kph its probably safe to do a little over but id say why not keep it a little under!!! Same with switching into 4hi while driving the JT you can do so when driving but make sure your under 73kph and id say max 70 or less if you have bigger tires your speedometer could be off too so you have to consider that, the only reason id switch into 4 hi going 70kph is if I lose traction say in the snow and am worried about crashing or something can just give peace of mind on the fly
Land Rover recommends the same thing (though in my Discovery 2 the top speed is 35mph)
I learned to drive in my mom's 1957 Pink CJ in the early 60s and taught my son to drive in a 1992 YJ in low range. Few engine stalls and learn smooth quick shifting. A granddaughter now wants a stick Wrangler as her first car.
I have a 95 YJ now and will not give up the very simple NP238 two speed transfer case. This, combined with the 5 speed manual means that at most, going from 2hi to 4hi to 4lo is simply a matter of using a little clutch and it slips right in. Far more reliable than all the complicated computer controlled t-case/transmissions on most modern trucks.
Use 4 Hi most of the time unless you are rock crawling or going down steep hills. 4 low also takes away stress from the transmission and sends it to the driveline but if you can't get out with 4 lo then you are screwed lol. Having good tires is the key
Thanks guys, this video is what I needed and very informative. I have a 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 with 6 speed manual tyranny and i have been practicing with the 4x4. I was living in California but this year moved to Virginia and have definitely used my 4x4 here. Very comforting and easy to manage road conditions better. Again thank you. 😊
Glad it helped! Let us know if you have any other questions!
@@TrailBuilt yes I will let you know I am old but still learning how to drive in snow, dirt and different terrains. Thank you
Thumb up for the straight forward advice, especially making sure it's in 4 low first.
You put a lot of thought and experience into this video. I have been many places in 2wd that have surprised a few in the Rockies. My grandfather was a good driver/teacher. I now have a heavy duty 4x4 for both towing and off road. My family is always concerned that I will push something to hard. I have been lucky enough I guess since the worst that I have had to deal with were flat tires.
Thanks so much Eric! The best lessons are the ones you learn from your Dad or Grandad!
Swapping in an Atlas 4 speed transfer case is one of the best mods I have done. Yeah, it took me 6 weekends on my garage floor to get it all in place and working but the options it provides made it all worth it. Mine is a 2.0/2.72/5.44. I pretty much just put in into 2 to 1 as soon as I hit the dirt. I have never been a fan of 'waiting till I get stuck' to put it into lo. This ratio works well for most situations but still allows a bit of speed. I usually just have it in 2wd but when I come up to something I will engage the front wheels. For longer down hills I will put it in 2.72 for the engine brake and I use this gear on more difficult obstacles. When it gets a bit more hairy then you can't beat the control of a lower ratio like 5.44 which keeps me from having to get too much on the gas and avoids breaking stuff.
I extremely want to do a atlas in my xj. Though about doing the np231 doubler kit but atlas’s seems to be the way to go
My 06 Durango is unusual. The front differential is a d44 variant pumpkin with cv axles. It came with a single speed transfer case. It's full-time AWD and then you can put it in '4-lock' which essentially is 4hi. So my thought process for off-road is keeping tires between 31"-33", installing a supplemental transmission cooler, transmission temp gauge and shifting into 1st gear on ascents and descents. I'm in Colorado so this is really a challenge with steep trails.
Another recommended use for 4-Low is in the SW Desert summers when it's very hot. 4-High will sometimes cause the transmission to overheat and the Jeep will shut down. 4-Low circulates the fluid thru the cooler faster and keeps the transmission cooler. Our Jeep club recommends 4-Low on hot days anytime we're moving slowly to prevent transmission overheating.
Great advice
I live near Las Cruces in the SW Desert area. You are right about your comment. I have an automatic tranny but I still need to use 4-low to ensure I get enough cooling. I learned my lesson the hard way (see above). One thing I learned is keep the roof on when you live in the Desert areas since it will keep you cooler and keep some of the dust out. I wear a mask to keep it out of my lungs.
If you have to be in club to be told that you are a princess
@@jimthefencer5212 Ah, Jim the Troll, how are you? I love being a princess! I bet you want to kiss me in hopes that you will turn into a handsome prince from a hideous troll. Okay, let's give it a try; give me a big kiss and see what happens! We'll get you out from under that bridge! LOL
@@jimthefencer5212 how close together are your eyes?
4lo also really helps with my F250 on trails at really high elevations since it's a pain to get a bigger aftermarket turbo spooled up.
As you said, it’s very situational. I stay in 4hi until I come to a steep hill, or need precise control. Imho this limits the strain on the drivetrain vs staying in 4lo all the time, heating up the transmission unnecessarily.
Best, clearest and most comprehensive review of when to, & not to, use 4L. Thanks for sharing. Hot tip for all dually owners: if you’re in mud and 4H doesn’t help, 4L might now either. Heavy truck, soft mud / clay = stuck up to your axles. My next spotter won’t make this mistake.
With living here in Pittsburgh I have to deal with a lot of hills which is fine during the better months but winter is another story. This winter we've had about 3-4 significant snow storms and I'm out driving in them up and down some rather steep hills. 4L helps a great deal when I am descending a street on a hill. Before reaching the street I put my Jeep in 4L and put it in 1st gear (I have the 6 speed manual) and basically let it "crawl" down the hill not braking or giving too much gas. It gives me better control and I'm not touching the brakes constantly which in my mind braking going down an incline in snowy conditions will cause me to start sliding. This is my 1st time having a 4X4 and I'm loving it! Makes driving in bad conditions easier and yes, enjoyable! I look forward to a bad winter storm now!
4Lo and S1 when going downhill to let your natural engine brake control your speed was one of the best tips I ever got when I was learning. Now I’ll run a trail with a group and the people in front of me are riding their brakes while I’m just cruising.
I was at a trail event a couple weeks ago (Las Cruces Chile Challenge) and forgot to put my Jeep into 4lo which meant my brakes were used a lot on some of the trails. Once I remembered, I put the tranny in 4lo and first and everything was peachy. I did overheat my power steering but that was on an uphill climb. I should have switched to 4lo to increase the revs. The slope was about 15% over large rock and sliding sand. The transmission stayed right where it was supposed to be but the "hot oil" sign came on.
4LO + manual feels best to me. I feel the most in control that way
I love 4 Low when on the rocks or pulling other vehicles out of bad spots . 4 High or Full Time 4 wheel Drive for most mud and snow . These videos are awesome great job keep on Wheeling !!
Nice work! Thanks. This is helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Another use for 4 lo is for all of us that have jumped up several tire sizes and can't afford re-gearing. I like to call it the overdrive delete mod.
As a "newb" myself, I found this video helpful. Thanks for posting!
If you've got to watch a video on KZhead to figure out what gear you need to be in you probably shouldn't be in the vehicle in the first place especially if you're taking advice from this dork
I got aff of my 11pm shift and decided to take a trail back home (on that connects from my work to town) and I figure I'll explore a bit since I knew the area pretty well. I come on an old fig site and see an elevated area since I'm trying to exit onto the main trail nearby. Turns out my 2dr jk car get high centered on the crest. I spend an hour and a half digging and stacking rocks which only helped a little. Finally I grabe a flat rock and my hi lift and jack up the rear while I'm in 1st gear lo with lockers and she finally got traction an walked off of her belly. Mean while I'm running to jump in the driver seat and stop her since she's finally free. Definitely an education experience. Always scout out a line! Dont wheel alone. Most importantly is to have a way to self recover. Especially if it your daily. Someday either you or some one you're helping will need it.
Great channel, great info .
I taught my daughter to drive a stick in my XJ in low range on a dirt road. No issue of stalling because she dumped the clutch. I had taught my son to drive a stick on a snowy parking lot in the middle of the night in our Volvo. I had learned to drive a stick in a 54 Chevy sedan, but I might have stalled it a few times. LOL
Now my 5 spd Tacoma goes into 4 Lo when I am towing a trailer loaded with wood up a gravel road with a 15% grade. I like that it makes a close ratio.
As a 4wd instructor, the simple rule is: High traction surface: 2h Low traction surface, estimated speed above 40kph: 4h Low traction surface, estimated speed below 40kph: 4L Works every day, most situations Aren’t there any 4wd trainings in the US? Btw, if you have a Unimog with 24 forward gears over 3 gear groups - it’s a little different….
No 4wd instructors in US, people learn the hard way.
Is 40km/h not a bit high for 4LO?
They’d say 25 miles per hour, but that sounds about right. It’d also depend on your gearing too, sometimes 25mph/40kph is an achievement that can near blow the motor up in 4L.
@@ShaolindaGama it’s a rule of thumb, like you know you will be for sure below 40kph. Below is the key word here, 4th or 5th gear in 4Lo will do 40 easy, but you don’t want that over long periods. (Talking average 4x4s, not reduction gear rock crawlers or Unimogs)
THANK YOU Andre, APPRECIATED.
The low gear in my old, 1990 Isuzu Trooper would creep along at a slow walking pace. Uphill, downhill, and on the level. While I don't recommend this, it can allow you to hop out and look at the rout ahead or steer through the window where the obstacles are small boulders. I usually would stop and switch to four low for rough, tricky patches or really steep slopes when going down. You mentioned doing that before your brakes over heat.
I don’t have anything newer then a 1953 Jeep(built on my channel), stock brakes are fair at best. Up/down steep hills low is a must but I also use it sometimes just slow cruising some two tracks low/2nd gear is a great speed. When you said northern Michigan I subscribed
It took a while to convince my Dad to put his farm trucks in Low to ease around the farm, even with the hubs unlocked. I put my Tacoma in low at a drive through if there is a line... But it's old, has manual hubs and tcase, and the tcase shifts super easy.
Also consider contortion, that prevented me from putting my transfer case in Lo. (Spun out on snowy road during a blizzard showing off like a DA) Got stuck halfway on the road and the rear in a steep ditch at an angle. Had to reverse into the ditch to get the rig mostly level to allow the case to shift. But at that point, I needed help getting out.
4:1 with w manual and lockers are my secret sauce for wheeling technical obstacles.
When on the trails here in CA we usually keep it in 4low with our manual JL, especially coming off rocks or descending. If we need to roll faster between obstacles, just shift up a gear or two.
One often overlooked detail when using 4 low with an Auto to provide engine braking, is that you really need to also shift the transmission down through the lower gears too or it will just freewheel and still burn up your brakes. Also if I'm going up a steep grade for an extended time, I will also use 4 low to keep the tranny from getting hot and let it shift up into high gear where you can still do 25 mph and save your trans...it will run WAY cooler doing that.
So with all these gizmos trying to nanny the human, the human ends up nannying the nannies in order to get the job done. Whew thank goodness my ute is old school.
@@zainabe9503 This applies to any auto trans, I use it on my 98 first gen Tacoma and 97 F250. No special gizmos on either truck, unless an auto trans is considered a "gizmo"
@@motafinga6652 naw, an auto trans is considered a BLASPHEMEY 🤭🤭
@@zainabe9503 ok Boomer
@@zainabe9503 a car is blasphemy, technology is awful, we should all just walk around Barefoot
I use 4-low for plowing snow and use 2nd gear more than 1st gear. One of the cool things about a manual transmissions is you can choose to use 1st, 2nd or 3rd gear from a dead stop and know it will stay in that gear until you choose to change it.
A lot of automatics have that selection.
Awesome explanation!! I also use 4 low to pull out my trailer with the water tanks. It sits for months. But I fill it every other day with water for the cattle. When I move the cattle to the other pasture, I move the trailer and troughs. I use 4 low to get the trailer out because it has settled.
Good stuff! Thanks for watching Daniel!
So simple put it give you maniacal advantage also if you're in soft sand I always look at my transmission temperatures if it gets to high or over about 220 or so put it in 4 low this will put you in a higher gears and lower your temperatures just by driving hopefully this helps you out as well
This opinion is definitely subjective. On Yota’s, the Crawl Control feature is only active in 4L.
Don't exceed the recommended speeds in 4 low. 25 to 30 mph is asking for trouble. Use 4 low, get thru obstacle, move back to 4 hi. Keep t case in 4wd hi or low at all times, esp if you are open front and rear, lsd/ open, or lsd / lunchbox. Use 4 hi in the rain in town. In deeper snow the engines leverage over the tire's traction can cause tires to spin and loss of gription. If you in deep snow and running the engine hard, just move down to 4 low.
Really helpful for an offroad noob and his new (used) 2018 4Runner having a great time out on the trails so far :)
Happy we could help! We appreciate the support. Have fun on the trails!🤘
Thanks for the tips. I have a Tacoma Pro and still learning to use the four low and locking differentials.
Happy you found it useful! Let us know if you ever have any more questions, we would love to help!
I sometimes use 4Low with the hubs unlocked when backing up into a tight parking spot on an incline. Love that extra control and only having to move it with the clutch. 4Low 2nd gear is great when descending hills in snow and ice.
Does this apply to auto transmissions? I have a nasty hill that ends with a traffic light. Would switching into 4LO and putting it into second gear accomplish better traction on the decline?
@@zach23ize yes that should help. Let the engine do the braking, don’t touch the brakes until you get to the bottom.
I use four low every once and a while when there’s really steep inclines or drops it’s just better on your brakes and will help not to strain the engine as much going up if you got it might as well use it
🎯🍻
I did until I got a vehicle with hill decent control...that shit awesome!
@@Chris-D9 I'm still trying to figure out the hill decent control for my 11 JKU Rubicon. It isn't really covered very well in the manual and most of the people I go out with have newer Jeeps or old TJ's or FJs.
Think of it this way- 4low gets better leverage from your engine's available power , to turn your wheels. The t case gives you improved leverage over the tire's height and it's resistance to rolling.
@@Harry-zz2oh harry for going off road down a hill, get in 4low, and in first gear. Let it idle as it goes on down .be careful in case it does not have engine braking feature
The key is to know your vehicle! I can use 4 low at any point as I have a full time 4wd with a centre differential. The simple point here is low box is always 4 low. high box is always 4 high, there is no 2wd. So, stability is better on all surfaces, there is less chance of drive train wind up, I can also swap hi to low at 5mph or less, so don't even have to stop! I also can engage diff lock at any speed! I use low box for anything off tarmac if manual and anything taxing if auto - so a lot less. Low in the auto is basically being nice to the gearbox. Generally I don't get stuck as knowing where to place wheels and when to back out and/or give up/winch is a good thing to know.
Demos on speed ranges through the gears in low, 2nd and 3rd especially. Thanks!
For me the hard one is being faced with a good size run through mud and water. Like more than 300 feet. Always seems it's better to keep moving quickly and stay on top whereas in lo there is more chance to sink. I have made it through often in hi that way but I have still buried it that way as well LOL
Lol this is exactly the question I come here looking for the answer on. I think I need to stay with 4hi and use momentum to get me out.
I once rolled 90 degrees onto my side and used 4Lo to get back upright so I could drive home.
I wheel an 84 K10 with an NP208 and SM465 4spd manual on 33s, open diffs. Since 1st gear is 6.55:1, I don't often use 4LO. Putting it into context, my effective crawl ratio in 4HI is equivalent to a 98 Silverado 2500 in 4LO with 4.11 gears. When I need 4LO on an obstacle, lockers or not, nothing stops it.
Cool information 😎 Are there any offroad stuff for infiniti qx80? Keep up the great work 👍
Great vid...remember in automatics you can usually shift to "Lo" or "1" to get better control and keep it in that gear. Another thing that can happen that's sometimes not so good is that when switching to 4-Low is that it locks the center diff and you will get binding if you are trying to turn. On the 80 series Land Cruiser (best vehicle ever) there's a mod where you can selectively engage and disengage the center diff even when switching to 4-Low.
If you drive a 500 dollar Cherokee with auto trans and cant get into and stay in 1st gear, pull the fuse out of the holder under the glovebox . It will stay in first till you replace it. You can also rig that with a switch and place it near your shifter. Open the circuit to bring to 1st. Close for normal driving.
@@bradcampbell7253 cool mod 👍
@@NigelNaughton huge problem as I see it is with the auto, you can't use hi or low in first gear. It quickly shifts to 2nd gear when you just need it to stay in 1st and clear your obstacle.
@@bradcampbell7253 I have a 1997 Land Cruiser and I'm able to shift to low or 2nd gear in either high range or low range and it stays in the gear chosen until I manually change it. It even has a button where I can start out in 2nd gear so I'm not spinning the tires if stuck.
@@NigelNaughton lucky skunk lol
I used 4 low when pulling my daughters car out of a ditch with two flat tires. Used 4 high on the beach all the time.
4Lo is pretty useful when establishing dominance among the betas in a Montana parking lot. Those winter snow berms are perfect parking spots!!
Used my Jeep's 4-low two weeks ago to pull a semi tractor out of a grass lot that was on a slight incline covered with about two inches of snow.
I think some talk about driving in snow could be much used. On and off trail. Ski season officially started in Colorado this weekend.
It's probably a good idea to use whichever gear you need to in order to keep your engine spinning in the flat part of the torque curve.
I have a teraflex 2 low set up in my JK transfer case. Gives front wheel control on rough trails. I always engage 4 H on gravel roads.
Had a 73 Chevy 4.56 gears 3 speed granny low. Was great for bucking hay in fields. Didn’t even have to be in the truck, Just threw hay into the truck and turned the wheel with the curve of the field when needed. . The sprinkler ruts didn’t even stop it. It would climb a wall and could not pass a gas station I miss that ol truck!
On steep slopes. Downhill off road the 4 low acts as a good engine brake to get that controlled braking on point
Welcome to the family Bobo, what kinda of rig are you running?
Good vid. Covers the basics pretty well. He's right that new people will sometimes ovoid low range for various reasons. Usually because they just don't think of it because they've never used it, or, in extreme cases, may not know it's even there. Also, those that have not used it before might be caught off guard by the power which can intimidate some people. To share some old timer wisdom which may not be relevant in modern times: "The only difference between 2wd and 4wd is the length of the walk home" And, from my dad, who _is not_ an "off roader", "you don't buy a 4x4 for the four wheel drive, you buy it for the low range."
Great video guys! Super good info
Glad you enjoyed it!
I drive a 93 yj with an Atlas 4 speed, 2.72 low, 4.3 low, and 11.7 low. 2.72 is for trail running between major obstacles. 4.3 is for technical uphill/downhill and rocks. And 11.7 is for crawling over some Prius that cuts me off in parking lots.
As I have been “off-roading” for many years now it really just depends on the terrain. But the longer I did it the less I have used 4x4 and especially 4LO. I definitely use it to come off steep inclines. Or to climb a steep hill. The last thing you want is to come off backwards. However, when it comes to mud ( especially a hole you’ve not been in before and don’t know what to expect) I often start out in just 2wd. Or 4HI. That way you don’t dump into a deep hole and you’re done. Once you get hung in 4LO there’s no getting out without a winch. If you ease into it and get a feel first then you can back out and engage 4LO, etc!! Just some food for thought. This also pertains to the slippery rocks and sloppy mud where I am from. I’m sure everyone wheel’s different. To each their own. 😎🤙🏼
Trying out the terrain is where direct connection manual transmission really shines. Listening to the engine, knowing the throttle position and watching the speed, you know exactly how much traction reserve you have. I can go very far in sand and mud in just 2WD. You know when is hopeless long before you get there. You can find a higher spot to stop and reverse out of there. Having driven manual 4x4 for years without getting stuck, I got stuck immediately with an auto. You just can't feel the traction.
I always put my Jeep in 4High when I drive through campus, because girls like it. When I drive by guys on campus, I put it in neutral and Rev my 2.0L turbo with my oversize muffler. It sounds just like 1996 Honda Prelude with Vtec. But when I'm in the drive thru at Culver's, I always use 4Low because then I can drive up the curb and park halfway up the landscaping and represent properly.
I agree, I watch many off road youtube channels and in my experience they all way over use low range, not that many situations call for it. If you over torque the drivetrain the tires break traction too easily, gear selection is key to overcoming just about any obstacle.
This is the issue I run into while backing my travel trailer up the grass-covered hill into my yard. 4-HI backs up nicely 4-LO I'm digging holes. :)
Good and technical information. jt´s good when people do not want to surprise and selling someting in the background or showing themselves for 60 second fame, and really want to improve your 4 x 4 knowledge and your driving skills.
i use my 4-LO when setting up my camper. it helps when pushing the camper on the wooden boards and "levelers". i've noticed it's much smoother because i'm not having to use as much throttle to get the camper leveled. honestly it's rarely necessary, just makes the job a little easier.
I seem to run into the opposite problem when backing my TT up the grass hill to get it into my side yard. In 4-LO I seem to spin tires more while in 4-HI it backs right up. Maybe I'm just using too much throttle.
I am not an expert, but in my experience: 4Hi for the beach and/or relatively maintained forest roads 4Lo for mountain trails
I went cruising around the beach in 4hi and saw my trans temps climb too high. 4lo is good for me in the sand
@@jamesalexander958 Weird. The only time my trans temp climbed too high on the beach was because I didn't know my Liberty's front skid plate was caked in mud. That didn't allow for enough airflow and the trans temp light came on. Otherwise, in my current JKU, the engine temp rises slightly, but no issue.
@@JamesSmith-uc8tk there's many factors like air temp, how deep the sand is, and how crazy you drive. Deep sand will build up heat
Yeah. I have just found 1thumbs down commit. I want to see why. This is a great video explaining how and to when to use 4 low. Good job!
Just the video ive ben looking for.
I have a manual transmission. 4low is pretty critical. You try managing clutch, and RPMs at 4 high in some iffy spots. In 4 low, its nearly impossible to stall out.
I agree, I used to have a manual Tacoma with the lil 4 banger. 4lo is what made the most sense in most obstacles, even if it was starting off in 3rd
Title to the vid is click baity, but good info. I run east coast trails in my second gen Tacoma and almost always use 4lo. My truck is also a stick though, so I'm always aware of throttle and shifting, because, if I'm not, it won't go too far haha.
On some vehicle if you drive on high you have the traction control on and you can only disconnected when is 4low so example you will climb Sandy Hill or something similar when you need a lot of momentum and lose all the power so you must go in 4 low. Also sprinter van four-wheel drive the 4 low it's still fast so it's recommended when you go on a trails just go 4low.
Some of the Tacoma models putting in 4 low disables the atrac which works good when you don’t have manual diff lockers
On our jeeps its easier to shift into 4 low while moving at 1 - 3 miles per hour, both into and out of low range. During winter when the ground is white, we usually leave the rigs into 4 high and put them into low when pulling someone out of the ditch.
Another application for 4 low is to keep the revolutions up on your engine while climbing since this will help keep your power steering from overheating. I didn't do this on a recent outing and had a "hot oil" idiot light come on. My oil pressure was fine and was at normal but when I opened the hood of my Jeep I found the power steering unit was extremely hot and had blown some fluid out. I let it cool down (it was time for lunch anyway) and had no trouble thereafter, especially when I shifted into 4low first gear to go down the mountain.
If you have an Automatic transmission in your jeep the Hot Oil light is the transmission fluid. If you don't shift into 4lo or stop and let it cool it will go into Limp Mode.
@@jamesglenn520 I found out what I was doing wrong. I've learned. Now I keep the tranny in 4lo when going up steep hills as well as going down the mountain. At least I didn't damage anything. It won't be too long before I need to change the fluid anyway. Fresh fluid always helps. I've been going off road for over 50 years but have only had a Jeep for the past ten years. Now I'm on my third one (my wife has the second one).
@@Harry-zz2oh I have an 09 jku Rubicon and my wife drives a 10 jku sport that we have had since both were new. And we have a 1958 project. LOL
@@jamesglenn520 My JKU Rubicon is an 11 but it is the bare bones one with only AM/FM/Sirius but no Bluetooth. It works pretty well for my purposes. Of course I've spent money on it adding things like bumpers, a winch, and LED lights. I have more items to add but my wife wants me to fix the mower, collect all the wood from the trees, make a haul to the dump, paint the house, install the new fence, etc. etc. etc. ....... (My list has some of that but I also need to do taxes and read a few books.)
I use 4 low and my secondary low range box as-needed. but the truck is purpose built. so I use whatever is needed. 300ci 4spd 203/205 4.10s on 38s. full blown crawler.
I'll try to make this short I had a 92 Blazer S10 with a 4.3 it was 1996 or so. The truck had 160, 000 miles on it. Went through flat field with deep snow tried out for high and for low did it in both went little faster in for low because engine was too weak with four high to keep pushing through deep snow. Long story short I would say horsepower matters on applications. PS when I had that set up in that truck and have it in four low the automatic trans would hit 2nd gear and pull a 6-in wheelie. Boy it hits hard when it hits second surprise the rear end didn't blow end it up blowing the front end getting stuck in a cross rut trying to get it out in for low going from reverse to forward got it out but blew the front differential (weak setup). Thanks for the video peace out.
I always say 4-low is easy mode. I can usually just modulate the brakes as the idle power is enough to let the vehicle crawl up/over things. If throttle is needed, the response is nice and smooth. It's much easier and safer than getting the engine into high revs and lurching over obstacles. Much much safer when you're near any type of exposure or dangerous trail conditions.
Guessing you're talking about a automatic... that is exactly how you burn up your transmission. Just letting it idle and throttle to go over things slowly is just putting so much unnecessary stress on your torque converter It's not "easy mode". It's called being smart and utilizing the tools you have.
When you hit the trailhead, put it in 4L. This guy talks like people go back and forth between 4H and 4L constantly. When you go off-road, put it in 4L and know your gear ratios. Need more speed? Don’t go 4H - put it in a higher gear. Example: stock JK Rubicon (3.6L) with manual transmission. 6th gear in 4L is approximately the same as 2nd gear in 4H. So - probably the only time you need to go back to 4H is if you’re truly overlanding or “commuting” long distance dirt roads between trails or obstacles. If you have a tcase with low range around 2.8:1 (instead of something deeper like 4:1), you basically never need to leave 4L when off-road. It’s all numbers. Know your rig.
yep, 100 % I know there are not too many trails i wheel on that i can use 4H haha
I totally agree. I have a YJ. As soon as I hit the dirt I am in 4 low. It does not matter if a 2 wheel drive pickup can drive the road. I love, the control it gives me, I have a manual. I end up using the brakes far less and the driving is very easy.
High range is for driving in town in the snow or backroads that aren’t very steep lol it amazes me that some people are convinced 4 low only has 1 gear 😂😂 4 low just hides all the other gears into its ass I guess
I often switch to 4LO not because I need more torque but because only then I can lock the rear axle. Steep hills with loose gravel for example. Also just when I want to drive really slow. With manual transmission I can just let go of the pedals and focus on steering while crawling forward.
Yea 88 ISUZU Trooper def needs 4 low to get all the power out of my 2.6L V6. 5 speed manual with manual transfer case. Tho I also use 4 low in my 97 Suburban for trail driving always fun pulling my friends trucks out of the mud/sand with 8 people in the limo :D :D
The first time I really needed to use 4 low was when I went through a trail I frequent after it snowed in the area, there was a steep hill that I found myself kinda struggling in 4 high, so I kept it in 4 low for the rest of the trail and crawled around at 20km/h
Great tutorial!! There's a reason auto manufacturers make it harder to go into 4L as opposed to 4H.
To push a button isn't that hard. Or, to pull a lever. Or twist a dial...
@@ecojoe2214 yeah but in most cases the vehicle must either be in park, or neutral. In a manual shifted transfer case, the shifter has to be pushed down and then shifted. I didn't say hard to shift, I said harder. Name a vehicle that's just as easy to go to 4l as it is 4h.
@@vinceruland9236 my Jeep cj7 with an auto is a forward (straight) to get into 4lo, and backward for 4hi.
@@Cencal_cj7 but you know that's not a standard procedure. I can shift my tundra into 4h up to 60mph, but I have to be in park for 4l
@@vinceruland9236 thats interesting, my ‘11 tacoma needs to be stopped and placed in neutral before switching to 4Low.
Great informative video! Can you do same video but cover topic of when you use lockers? Front, rear, when to engaged, risks, etc.
Great suggestion!
TrailBuilt Off-Road I see the video! Great stuff. Next topic request; what is likely to break offroading and how to be prepared. For jeep, I mean. I know something will inevitably break, so perhaps what’s most common/likely to start.
I got 2-low. For when I need torque but don't want to stress the knuckles in tight negotiations . It is nice for teaching new drivers how to use a clutch but really isn't necessary 😃.