How To Use 4 High Vs 4 Low Explained - [ Real Time Driving ]
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2024
- How to use 4 High Vs 4 Low explained in real time for beginners, and which gear range you should select while driving 4WD tracks and crossing rivers.
4WD high Vs 4WD low range, they are two very different gear ratios that you have available while driving off road.
If you're driving along a dirt road, it's recommended that you select 4 high range for maximum traction around the gravel corners and at the times when you will be travelling at speeds above 40 kph.
Driving up steep tracks or down steep dirt 4WD tracks is when you should engage 4 low range. This same low range gearing is recommended while driving across rivers.
Selecting either 1st gear or 2nd gear will be suitable for low range driving.
4 low will give you maximum traction in those terrains. You will have a great deal of control in the 4 low gear ratio range, while travelling at slower driving speeds.
Low range driving is all about slow speeds and using the engine compression as braking while coming down steep 4WD tracks, allowing you to stay off your brakes as much as possible.
Having a 4WD is a great way of life, and learning how to use 4 high and low, is really important so you select the correct gear ratio for the terrain you are driving.
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![Exploring The Vic High Country - [ 4x4 Tracks From Jamieson ]](/img/tr.png)
![GU PATROL WALK AROUND - [ What's Been Done Since New ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DHnHRBHjpcQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Het Batesy. You have done it again. This was a great one for Newby's. Keep up the great content.
Gday mate,
Thanks for that.
I greatly appreciate your feedback.
Hope it helps new 4WDers.
Cheers Tim
Awesome video as usual Tim! Great to see more of the 4wd stuff again.
Thanks mate.
I’ll have another 4WD trip video coming in a few weeks.
Thanks for your feedback.
Cheers Tim
Thanks Tim. Another very informative video. Been looking for a video that shows off this stuff for ages but could never find an in depth one. I'm bloody wrapped.
G'day mate,
Thats wicked you found some helpful info in this video.
Top stuff mate.
Thanks for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Hi Tim, very informative vid. Ive been a mechanic for 40 yrs and windup can be very dangerous and expensive to repair. Ive seen a transfer case split in two from windup. A tip from an old mechanic is to jack up ONE wheel carefully and it will spin and release the windup and the dash light will go out
G'day Robert,
Mate, thats wicked feedback from your mechanic experience and tips to sort out drive line wind up.
It sure can be a pain to release if it binds up tightly enough.
Thats a great tip you have mentioned with getting one wheel off the ground and release the wind up that way.
Thanks a lot mate for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Thanks buddy this is going to help so much. I'm going for my ps late this year, I have grown up around the bush I cant wait to hit the tracks And keep doing my role to keep the tracks open!
Gday mate,
Top stuff.
All the best with getting your license later this year.
It’s a game changer once you have it.
Thanks a lot for your feedback mate.
Cheers Tim.
Another very educational video, thanks Tim, I learn something more about 4WD everytime I watch one of your videos.
River crossings is something you have to be so very careful of this time of year as they can rise very quickly & you can get caught increadibly fast on the wrong side of a crossing.
I remember doing a Telstra job in the Barrington tops & I was warned about heavy approaching rain & that if I didn't get out very soon after the rain started that I could be caught for several days until the river thst I had, had to cross to get into whetevI was went back down.
It gets back to planning, always check tje weather where you are going, tell someone where you are going & when you expect to be back, always take some extra supplies with you just in case & always carry adaquet comms with you to be able to make contact with someone incase it all goes pear shaped.
G'day Wayne,
Thanks mate for your feedback, i greatly appreciate it.
Im glad to hear that you find some of my videos helpful.
I'l film a more direct video about river crossings at a later date.
Forward planning is key, thats for sure.
Cheers Tim.
Thanks Tim, great advice mate, safe travels.
Thanks mate, i appreciate your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Yet again another great video. Awesome knowledge mate. Well done 👍
Gday mate,
Thanks a lot for your feedback and reply.
Cheers Tim.
Great video, i have learnt a lot , thanks Tim
Gday mate
That’s great.
Glad you found the video helpful.
Really appreciate your feedback
Cheers Tim
Awesome video as usual Batesy, great tips & tricks for people new to 4WDing.
Keep up the good work mate & let's get you to 20k subs!
G'day Shannon,
Thanks mate for your reply, i greatly appreciate your regular feedback.
20k isn't far away. Lol
Cheers Tim.
Great video, Tim. So much good information. Cheers, b.
G'day mate,
Thanks a lot.
Glad to hear you found the video helpful.
Cheers Tim.
Good tip regarding stopping just after you come out of the water so you don't drag it up the track and make it harder for those coming after you. Makes total sense when you think about it, but I had never heard anyone mention it before.
G'day mate,
Yeah it works well if you have a few 4wds in your convoy.
Even more so if the exit is steeper than what i came out on.
Thanks heaps for your reply mate.
Cheers Tim.
Great vid bloke,top info for the newbies.Thanks.
G'day Doug,
Thanks mate for your feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Just what I needed. I’ve had a 4wd for nearly 4 years and I never go out because I’m not confident by myself (and broke lol)
Great work mate
G'day mate,
I hope you can get out soon and thats great you found the video helpful.
Thanks for your reply mate.
Cheers Tim.
Thanks Tim, very informative and a good reminder!
Thanks mate. I appreciate your feedback.
Cheers Tim
Great video and advice mate
Thanks mate, i appreciate your feedback.
Cheers Tim.
G'day Tim. Great practical vid. Especially for newbies. I have an auto with the circular dial selection inside you mentioned. But, same principles apply as to what you spoke about. Thanks for sharing.
Gday mate,
Thanks a lot mate for your feedback, I greatly appreciate it.
Cheers Tim.
Excellent video and content as always mate. Lots of info for everyone. Thanks mate. 👍🇦🇺🍺❤
Thanks mate.
I’m glad to hear you found the video helpful.
Top stuff.
Cheers Tim.
Another great video mate.
Cheers DJ.
Thanks mate. Really appreciate your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Tim Mate , I have not got a 4x4 yet . Still stuck in Northern Thailand . I take all your videos in , and helps me to understand more. You are amazing with your knowledge of techniques on driving .. Oh,my Thai wife thinks you cooking is great , she cannot wait to come back too, she loves pies .. as she says "a dogs eye with dead horse "Thanks Tim ...Big Kev ..I am excited .
G'day Kev,
Hahah Lol
Thats ace mate. Bush cooking is the best and you cant beat a dogs eye and sauce in the camp oven. Lol
I hope you both can get back here soon. Take care mate.
Cheers Tim.
Another excellent vid Tim.
G'day Steve,
Thanks a lot mate for your reply and feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Top video as always tim, I do love my GU can't beat old school gear levers vs push button 4wd systems.
G'day Adam,
Yeah mate, im the same. With Old school leavers, you know it's been engaged.
Thanks for your reply mate.
Cheers Tim.
Great instructional video, Tim. You provide a really good balance between safety and trust in your vehicle. As with some of your other similar videos, the techniques for automatic vehicles are similar, but with some small differences. It would be great if you could recruit a mate with an auto to do a couple of steep track tips, like low range and hill starts etc. Keep up the grewt work, mate!
G'day Garry,
Thanks a lot mate for your feedback, i do appreciate it.
I will try and look into a video with an auto transmission.
I reckon i know someone that i could do that video with.
Cheers Tim.
Nice video Tim. Having my manual, diesel, Troopy has been a revelation in terms of driving up and down the steep mountain tracks, although I haven't tried it much in the sand here. I love the engine braking compared to my petrol Y61. So much control. Aside from learning to use the right gears, I've had to force myself with both cars to be a lot more patient. Better low and slow than being in a hurry and falling off a mountain... :)
G'day mate,
Yeah the diesel engine will have a lot better engine braking than the petrol.
1st gear low range and the engine braking all working together, makes for a much slower and controlled decent.
Slower is the go rather than being in a hurry. Gives you time to take in the views. Lol
Thanks mate for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Thanks Tim, very informative video. I’ll be taking a lot of your tips next time I’m out.👋
Gday mate,
That’s ace you found this video helpful.
Thanks for your reply and feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Great advice tim
Thanks Gary, i really appreciate it.
Cheers Tim.
Good practice advice as always cheers mate
G'day Greg,
Thanks mate.
Cheers Tim
Great video Tim 👍👍👍
G'day Louis,
Thanks mate.
Cheers Tim
Fantastic ep tim need more like that .mike
Gday Mike,
I’ll have more videos like that coming up.
Thanks a lot for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
G'day Tim, Great video as always Mate, We live in our HINO GT1J 4X4 & it weighs in at 13.5 ton & when ever were heading down a hill like your on
we use 1st gear Low Range with the bloody exhaust brakes On. The bad thing on the HINO's is that they have small air tanks for the breaks & we
rectified that problem by fitting an additional two extra tanks.
Safe Travels Mate, Steve.
Gday mate,
Thanks a big 4wd to be moving around and a lot of weight with the 13.5tons.
Exhaust brakes do work well. Having the extra two air tanks would make a massive difference.
Thanks mate for your feedback and reply.
Cheers Tim.
Loved it Tim. Thanks heaps. I drive a patrol manual transmission too and im planning to do some tracks this weekend. I'm pretty confident now after watching this video. Cheers mate
Gday mate.
I’m glad you found the video helpful.
Take it slow and you should be ok.
Thanks for your feedback mate
Cheers Tim
@@timbates4wdadventures Thanks Tim. Quick question- I've only had the patrol for a year and I'm keen on having some modifications put to it. Do you recommend going for suspension lift kit to get more clearance ? Are they very expensive ?
@@sto88 you could stay with you standard suspension.
But the more you go out, you will quickly work out the sun after market suspension lift is needed.
Better ride , more clearance.
The Patrol is a very capable 4wd.
2 inch lift is plenty.
Can be up around a couple of grand in cost.
@@timbates4wdadventures Hey Tim, could you also please recommend a good air compressor to inflate/deflate tyres when we go off-roading. We had a cheap $28 one from bunnings which was taking ages to inflate. I guess I might have to go for something more expensive ?
@@sto88 There's so many options now days when it comes to air compressors
I'd go to a 4WD accessory store, they will help you out better than Bunnings will.
Good video tim 👍
Thanks mate. I appreciate your feedback.
Cheers Tim
Great video Tim. You took the time to drive the GU and show us proper gear selection in all scenarios. I have an auto GU and after putting 33" tyres I found it had a dangerous tendency to run away downhill. I spent a bit of coin and got 43% reduction gears installed. Still haven't hit the really steep tracks yet but I have noticed a great amount of reduced speed downhill. Some say that I should've got 83% for an auto but I went for the 43% because it's an all rounder. Oh well, at least I have a lot more control going downhill than what I had before and that's all that matters. Tyre size makes a huge difference to your vehicle that's for sure. I never had that problem when the big GU was stock. Cheers mate, love the vids and really appreciate the time and work you put into your channel and hope it keeps growing every day.
Gday mate,
I also looked at the bigger reduction gears.
I’m glad I didn’t get them. They would have been to low.
The 43% works well I reckon.
Maybe a lock up kit in your auto could have been another option.
The gears sure help with staying off the brakes in steep country.
I greatly appreciate your feedback mate.
Cheers Tim.
@@timbates4wdadventures No worries mate, hope to see you in the High Country one day.
@@stavio12 cheers mate. Fair chance I’ll catch you on a high country track some day.
Love warning your old videos Tim hope you are well . I’ve learned a lot and I couldn’t thank you enough from serving the patrol and driving
Do you run sway bars outdoors
Gday mate
Thanks mate, that’s great you’ve found my videos helpful.
My sway bars are connected all the time.
They are still the standard setup.
Works well.
Thanks mate for your feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Very helpful thanks Tim
G'day Norm,
Thanks mate, i appreciate your feedback.
Cheers Tim.
@@timbates4wdadventures Tim can you season your camp oven in a stove oven? Cheers
@@normrathmann9487 I have heard of people doing it that way.
I have a video showing how I’ve seasoned my camp ovens if you haven’t watched that one.
In Older auto Patrol like mine I think where you have manual 2/L it might be good to have 2/L as well instead of D. I am no expert, but driving the Polaris Ranger on steep slopes and absolute slimey mud/ water I understand that 1/L should ONLY be reserved for extreme crawl tracks. Auto is great for not stalling except without a torque lock up (can't find a fitter here) and HDC, very hairy experience even in 1L going down hill. Regarding stopping after coming out of the water to let it drain a bit - best way to remind oneself doing that is to remember to be a bloke - do a wee and then....before zipping up! Simple and will never forget 🤣
G'day mate,
Yeah i would lock your auto in 2L and don't let the auto change gears when it thinks it needs to.
The lock up kits are great to have, they work like my reduction gears.
Thanks mate for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Great video, Tim, very informative. Did you lower the tyre pressure for that track and, if you did, what pressure did you go down to? Did you lock the diff? Keep up these educational type of videos because they're great and all of my river crossings have been dry and I normally only go bush in the winter time in North Queensland. Cheers.
G'day Derek,
Yes i do lower my tyre pressures mate.
My go to pressures are 20psi in the back and 18psi in the front.
Those numbers seem to work well for my Patrol.
I always lock the rear diff, because once the rear locker is installed, it removes the standard LSD. So, locking the rear diff helps to keep max traction.
I hope those rivers get some water in the soon mate in North Queensland.
Thanks a lot for your feedback.
Cheers Tim
Really good info Tim, thanks for sharing. For newbies and/or weekend warriors like myself these sort of videos are invaluable. On river crossings, I’ve heard people recommend that you should park and let the diff cool down for 5-10 mins prior to crossing. Any truth to this? Cheers,
Matt
G'day Matt,
Yes you should wait until diffs, gearbox and transfer case cools down before crossing a river.
If you don't have breathers, you can have water ingress through the seals, which isn't great.
Im planning to do a water crossing specific video down the track mate.
Thanks heaps for your feedback.
Cheers Tim
Great vid as usual 👌 do you know any nice easy shallow water crossing tracks around licola as I don’t have a snorkel ?
G'day mate,
Theres not many river crossing around Licola other than the Macalister River. But they can be ok one day and a meter deep the next. Just depends on rain fall in the area.
Thanks for your feedback mate.
Cheers Tim
hi Tim good video for newer 4wds that have crawl mode can you use it for steep down hill tracks? .And with water crossings you not cross straight away if you have been using brakes a lot ,you can crack disks and pads.
Great video Tim. I'm glad I stumbled across your channel the other day! Subbed after watching the first 30 seconds! Great passion and informative. Quick question, do you have diff locks (front or back?) if so, would you recommend locking when doing river crossings? I have manual trans ford ranger with locking rear diff from factory FYI.
Cheers and keep up the great work legend
G'day Daniel,
Thanks a lot mate for subscribing to my channel. Thats great you found the video helpful.
Yes, i have front and rear air lockers in my Patrol.
I always lock the rear diff, because once the rear locker is installed, it removes the standard LSD. So, locking the rear diff helps to keep max traction.
I would lock the rear for sure in a river crossing. You want max traction during a crossing.
Disengage when you get across if you need to.
Hope that helps mate and thanks again.
Cheers Tim.
@@timbates4wdadventures Ok awesome thanks for your response! I’ll be sure to do that.
Keep up the excellent work mate 🤟🏻
@@danielosborne9238 no worries at all.
Thanks mate.
Great video Tim, you explain things well. One question when you engage 4wd with the gear selector do you push it down then move it 4H or 4low. Or do you simply move it into the preferred range?
G'day Robert,
Going from 2wd into 4H, i just drag the stick straight back.
Going from 4H into 4L, i have to push the stick down.
Thanks for your reply mate and i hope that helps.
Cheers Tim
Another great one Tim.
What is the axle ratio on your 4wd
Gday mate,
I think they are 4:11:1
But they will change with bigger tyres.
Thanks mate for your feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Up in Dargo near Wonnangatta
Gday mate,
Nah just near Dargo i went for this video.
The Gatta is about 3 hours away.
Cheers Tim
G'day Tim...greetings from Gundaroo, NSW. Good vid and oh how I wish I still had manual hubs and a transfer case shift that I could actually FEEL the engagement from 2WD to 4WD H to 4WD L. I always have in the back of my mind with electronic shifting, "Has it really engaged...like REALLY TRULY engaged?" I know the light on the dash says we have, but it also tells me the air con is working when, sometimes, it isn't. And PTOs (or at least the option to use one)...where have they gone? The only one I have now is on the tractor! Also agree with stopping to change LOW to HIGH to 2WD...doing it on the fly saves you what, 20 seconds? Let's see how long he'll be there waiting on a country track with a transfer case that has shit itself because he couldn't spare that 20 seconds!
G'day Ross,
Yeah mate, i do really like the ol manual shift of locking hubs and moving the small stick inside the cab.
Electronic shifts would take some getting use to.
The ol PTO winch mate, not many around anymore these days. Strong as houses those things.
Stopping to change ratios is the go, as you say it only takes 20 seconds.
Thanks heaps for your reply mate.
Cheers Tim.
Hi Tim. Great video. I have a 2000 Patrol Auto petrol. Any chance of doing this again using an auto gear Patrol? Thanks, MikeE
G'day Mike,
I might try and run this concept again with an auto if i can find one.
Thanks heaps for your feedback mate.
Cheers Tim
Heaps of good info here Tim! I've just started doing some 4wding. I have an auto. When I'm in low range, IV been using the tiptronic to choose the gear. Assuming that's the right way? I haven't experienced a long downhill but I'm guessing if I leave it in auto it will want to keep changing up gears and run away. Only thing I noticed is it won't let me take off in 2nd gear.
G'day Paul,
You're doing the right thing with your auto. By locking it in a gear, so the auto doesn't do the gear changes for you.
Im going to look into making a video with an auto 4WD.
See how i go mate.
Thanks a lot for your reply mate.
Cheers Tim.
@@timbates4wdadventures that would be awesome I reckon there would be a lot of others that would learn a lot from it too!
@@pauldelazzer8722 Yeah i would be handy for a lot of auto transmission 4WDers.
Hi again from a Aussie trapped in the UK. I always drive manuals so what would you engage coming down hills in an automatic? Most proper 4wds here are automatic. These videos make me homesick!
G'day Tim,
Ahh thats no good mate, i hope you can back home soon.
In an auto, you would still use low range, but lock the gearing into 1st. So the auto cant change gears when it thinks it needs to.
Im planning to get a mate with an auto and film a video using an automatic transmission.
Thanks for your reply mate. Good luck getting back to Australia.
Cheers Tim.
Sound advice, nice job but the only thing I would change is the advice regarding the farmer's gate. Don't leave it how you found it because the guy ahead of you may have not closed it, heed the advice on the sign on the gate or just close it, better safe than sorry.
G'day mate,
Good point.
But the ol saying has always been. Leave a farmers gate as you find it.
But thats also why i did focus on the sign on the gate as well.
Thanks for your feedback mate.
Cheers Tim.
👍
Thanks mate.
Cheers Tim
Hi Tim, what would you recommend for really steep asphalt driveways. The patrol struggles to get up in first in rear wheel drive
Gday mate.
Gee it must be a very steep driveway.
You could use 1st gear low range as long as it’s a straight drive up.
Turning on asphalt in 4wd isn’t ideal for the drive line.
See how you go mate.
Cheers Tim
Sorry Tim bit of topic ...but what are the toggle switchers and your center console go too..2 are for your lockers but the others ?
Gday mate
Three are for lockers.
Two higher switches are for driving lights.
Cheers Tim
So true young felah all 4wheel drives drive different, l've got two, Land Rover and Daihatsu Rocky, they both drive completely different. l find the Rocky easy to drive where when l take the Land Rover out, Toyota and Nissan drivers get scared and run away, l'm thinking it might be because l am senior citizen.
G'day Greg,
Yeah spot on mate. all 4WD's are different and handle very different from one to another.
You sure have two very different 4WD's mate.
Thanks for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Hi Tim. This was a nice easy looking track for beginners. Where abouts is this track if I may ask. Just for a bit of experience for a few newbies ??👍🏼
G'day mate,
You can always ask where i go mate. I dont ever make videos to keep locations secrete.
This track is Randells Track out from Dargo. It's a good drive mate.
Thanks for your reply.
Cheers Tim
@@timbates4wdadventuresThank's heaps Tim. Already trying to organise with a couple of mates to try visit in the next few week's before we have another blumen lockdown. 😣👍🏼👍🏼
@@MrTimstaaa yeah mate. Make the most of the time out.
Hey question, if your not doing steep stuff like VHC , just sand/Forrest tracks do you need reduction gears???
G'day Louis,
You dont even need reduction gears to do the high country.
They do come handy for any off road terrains.
Hope that helps mate.
Cheers Tim.
Hey Tim, Im presuming your gear ratio mod is a transfer case reduction, what was the ratio changed from and to. Cheers mate
G'day mate,
Im not sure of the actual standard low cluster ratios.
I just know it's now a 42% reduction from standard. They work really well.
Hope that helps mate.
Cheers Tim.
@@timbates4wdadventures i was just interested in a comparison to the mighty LC70, and you can never be sure what a bloke with a round jaffle will do 🤣
@@crusty181 ahh that’s cool mate.
Good Ol round jaffle iron. Lol.
Hey tim what is tonight's live chat about
15 min mate. Lol
Cheers Tim.
Hey Tim. Because of you I’m researching secondhand 4WD’s to buy..😂 It’s all too confusing trying to seperate the lemons from something half decent in my price range and not abused. If you have any advice I’d appreciate it. thanks mate
G'day mate,
Thats great you are looking for a 4WD to get out in the bush.
What model 4WD are you looking at mate?
Heaps to look at.
Cheers Tim.
@@timbates4wdadventures I’m not even sure yet. I’m checking listings and reviews. Some models are reliable secondhand but depends on how they were driven. Just got to hack at it and find some lows kms ones if I can. I hate homework! 😂😂😂😂
@@The_Stoic_PhilosopherAU Try work out what you need it for.
Is a family tourer
Is it going to be used for work and play on weekends
Dual cab or wagon
When you decide on a 4WD, highly recommend you have a good mechanic check it out.
Check it has a good service book history.
Hope that helps a bit mate.
@@timbates4wdadventures Thanks Tim. I’ll let you know how I go.
Check Out Ronny Dahl’s channel (if you haven’t already) he has done a very informative series of videos about buying a used 4WD.
New boots on the GU??
G'day Wes,
Yeah mate. Got the Duratracs on.
Wicked tyres.
Cheers Tim.
What percentage reduction gears do you have?
G'day mate.
Mine are 42%
Cheers Tim
@@timbates4wdadventures All your gear selections make sense to me based on the reduction gears.
I’m running 85% reduction gears in 2.8 GU Patrol. First gear is ridiculously low. Don’t use it often but when you need you need it.
Biggest negative is a lot of swapping between high and low range.
@@justinwright6611 yeah I did look at the 85% when I did mine.
But, I thought it was to much of a reduction
I know what my 1st gear is like. Can only imagine what your 1st is like in low range.
Thanks a lot for your feedback.
Where exactly is this Tim???
G'day Dennis,
Just out from the town of Dargo.
Randells Track.
Hope that helps mate.
Cheers Tim.
What if you have an automatic car?
You’d need to lock it into either 1st or 2nd gear low range and not leave it in drive.
Hope that helps a bit mate.
Thanks for your feedback.
Cheers. Tim.
Doues the button man stories bother you
No mate. Not at all.
Cheers Tim
Batesy
That oven rattling in that cage must be driving you mad
Not a bad idea but definitely would be better on the brains on the back floor
I’d be stuffed coming down those mountains I would definitely need a low range reduction
Hahah Lol
I don't think it's the oven mate. That oven is solid as a rock on that mounting.
I think it may have been something in the boxes.
I best check it out.
The gears sure help mate with coming down steep country like that.
Thanks for your reply mate.
Cheers Tim.
@@timbates4wdadventures thanks for the honest interactions mate we love your content
Sounded tinny could it be the tray in the oven even
Anyway you have it sorted no doubt
Take care out there mate
@@dirtyoff-roadaustralian5525 yeah I think it’s something loose in one of my camp boxes.
I appreciate your feedback mate.
Cheers Tim.