4lo vs 4hi

Hey guys, I'm new to off roading. So far I've only used 4hi and it's gotten me everywhere I've tried to go.
In what scenarios would I need to to use 4lo? And I don't have a locker, but what scenarios would require that? Crawling?
Which is best for mud? Snow?

 

When you are in rocks it's useful....or going down very steep hills

 

Going down steep hills in 4lo reduces the need to brake. Braking in certain situations might cause the wheels to lock up and your truck goes down sliding. Not fun.

I would say it depends on the mud but usually 4hi is the go to for mud. Most mud just requires speed and the skinny peddle and you don't want to be in 4lo going fast.

Never offroaded in snow so couldn't tell ya on that one.

Usually if you get stuck in 4hi, most people flop it into 4lo to see if the extra torque helps them get out of the situation.

There's probably a few YouTube videos on the differences between the two gears and when to use which one. BleepinJeep (something along the lines) probably has a video on it. He does pretty good 4WD Videos imo.

 

Go here and read what they have to say about off-roading...

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...o-know-to-go-off-road-but-were-afraid-to-ask/

 

That's a great article. Thanks.

 

4lo is rarely needed for general off roading. Slow technical terrain, where more precision is needed is for 4lo. Down steep hills it helps also.

 

agreed ! Thanks Pittrider

 

What about for hill climbs?

 

How slow do you have to keep it in 4lo?

 

Hi David,
I have been 4 wheeling all my life (almost 60 now) and most of that in Baja California, Mexico along with our California deserts and some snow in our mountains.

Low Range is for safe, slow crawling UP or DOWN steep grades, usually with deep ruts or loose rocks. It is also for increased "power" at slow speed for pulling others or to get through deep stuff like mud or snow. It is not good for sand, because you don't want to dig in sand, you want to float on top. High Range and lowering tire pressure is the trick in sand.

The advantage of owning the Off Road TRD 4x4 is that you get A-TRAC (or MTS) traction control and a rear locking differential. These systems are for situations where one or more of the tires loses contact with solid ground and want to just spin.

Traction controls limit or halt the useless spinning and transfer power to the other tire that still has contact with the ground, to move you. They use engine regulation and brake spinning tires to slow the spin. A locker connects both tires together using a gear in the differential, both tires turn equally, regardless of the soil below them. Normal differentials allow the tire the can spin the easies to get the power... which makes turning easy.

In my signature video clips (below) you will see a couple of samples of my Tacoma in Low Range, climbing or pulling another Tacoma.

Your non-Off Road has traction controls in H2 and H4 (High Range), but nothing in L4 (unless you do a trick called the Yellow Wire Mod or 4-Low Trac Mod). In H2 and H4 the standard mode is called TRAC and it helps limit spin by cutting power and applying some brakes pressure. The increased traction level is called "TRAC OFF" in H4 and "AUTO LSD" in H2. Both of these modes are achieved by simply pushing the VSC button (the vehicle with squiggly lines below it). Push it quickly moving or stopped to have more traction control. Push it again or restart the truck to go back to standard TRAC.

If you want the tires to spin uncontrollably (like to clear mud or snow out of the tread, then stop moving and press and HOLD IN the VSC button for a few seconds... a light will come on and tell you yoyu are in VSC OFF MODE. This puts the truck into just open differentials, no traction help. Again, to go back to normal TRAC, press the button again or restart the truck.

TRAC is for most conditions, H2 or H4.
AUTO LSD (H2) or TRAC OFF (H4) are for anytime the tires begin to spin instead of moving you. Spinning is bad!

A GREAT TRICK off roading is to LOWER the TIRE PRESSURE! Dropping to 20-25 pounds on dirt roads improves the ride, improves the traction, and helps prevent tire flats from sharp rocks. Dropping to 15-20 pounds may be needed for deep sand... even more if you get stuck in sand. GET an electric air pump to fill the tires back up when you return to the highway... See posts on the MV50 for a fast, but not too expensive air pump.

Always happy to help... just ask!

 

These are in Low Range, A-TRAC on. When I pulled James, I also had my rear differential locked.

PULLING JAMES UP DIABLO DROPOFF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m1u1pba4Ps

CLIMBING PANCAKE ROCK 2014: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8K1MTS4-ic

 

Right, low range is for serious crawling and climbing four wheeling.
The great thing about four wheel drive (and low range) is you don't need speed or momentum to get over or through bad stuff. 2WD trucks need to take a run at bad stuff for momentum to get through or over bad terrain. This speed is what brakes things! 4WD and low range allows you to just take your time, creep over rough areas, and no damage to you or your truck.

 

Well, we are talking about the advantages of Low Range... Low Range is not a speed gear set. Speed or momentum may be useful in sand or snow... but this would be in High Range... You may be surprised that going slow in 4WD is really enjoyable in rough terrain. Jeeps (the first non-military models) were not designed for speed, at all. You ever drive a CJ-5 on the freeway? I have!

 

Ok, so I've just been punching the gas and cruising up hills (uneven dirt with loose rocks, for example). Should I be in 4lo and just crawling up those hills? If the terrain changes quickly, do I need to constantly switch between hi and lo?

 

You have a nice, expensive truck. Treat it well and it will give you years of service. Use 4WD as it was created for, to get you past the obstacles that stop 2WD trucks. Speed is not part of real four wheeling and is only needed if you have bad tires, too much air in the tires, and in light of the comment about slick mud, maybe but at the risk of damage and only in an emergency.

Now, you chose the Sport over the Off Road, so that assumes that off roading was not a prime use for the truck? Only the Off Road has the additional traction features found in Low Range to stop tire spin and with only one tire on firm ground, can move your truck (A-TRAC/ MTS/ CRAWL). If you want the spin control in Low Range for more serious off roading, then the Yellow Wire Mod is for you.

 

4hi is the truck doing coke.
4lo is the truck coming off coke.

 

So, 2 hi must be the "coke blues".

 

I don't see any high speed four wheeling photos... rocks and trees will destroy you. Maybe we are not communicating well? To me, 'wheel spin' is NOT speed. Whatever it takes to get through!

 

I am no arguing or disagreeing with you. I am not saying there is only one way to wheel. The thread is about LOW RANGE. Low Range is NOT a speed system. If crawling slow doesn't work, and you are competent to go fast off road without wrecking your 35,000 dollar pickup, then enjoy yourself.

 

If you are giving your truck more gas than you seem to be moving, then you should be in 4lo. If you are simply cruising along in 4hi in slippery situations and seem to be moving without having to push the gas pedal hard to keep moving then 4hi is fine.

You'll know when 4lo is needed. Basically when you seem to be pushing the gas pedal a lot and the truck is resisting moving.

It's pretty straight forward stuff for the most part.