Talking to a fellow traveler and not being mechcanical minded, I would like to get some other opinions.
He advised me to put my 4x4 into 4 wheel (H) drive when travelling up steep mountains (regardless of weather).
His claim is that this will give better fuel consumtion and also spread the load over the whole car rather than on the back axle when in 2 wheel drive. He informed me that he was a road train driver and that is what they do and nobody (car dealers) ever advise customers off this.
The only advice I could offer is regarding "older" 4X4s ... 100series Cruiser and older etc etc. Others will join in and provide other, perhaps more informed, advice.
4X4s with part time four wheel drive should not be put in four wheel drive on sealed, or solid, surfaces ... and usually are restricted to 80kph, for instance, even in four wheel drive on unsealed roads.
The reason is that the transfer box will 'wind up' as there is insufficient 'slip' for the wheels which builds up each time the wheels are turned away from straight ahead. This 'wind up' will damage, and even destroy, a transfer box.
A good (bad?) way to demonstrate this effect of 'lack of slip' is to find a large open area (car park for example of any surface) put your 4X4 in four wheel drive (H), then put the vehicle on almost full lock and try to complete a circle. The transfer box will become gradually 'jammed' and the vehicle will not drive.
I now have a full-time four wheel drive vehicle so it is no longer a worry for me.
Cheers - John
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
Bit hard to answer your question as with vehicles today there are many different 4x4 drive configurations. My discovery is in constant 4x4, they run a centre diff to avoid "axle wind up". If your vehicle has free wheeling hubs (auto or manual) and you engage 4 wheel drive when on hard surfaces you will get axle wind up and cause axle wind up if the free wheeling hubs are engaged (if they are not it is pointless anyway). Have a look at your owners manual and most if not all will tell you not to engage 4 wheel drive on a hard surface. cheers blaze
Talking to a fellow traveler and not being mechcanical minded, I would like to get some other opinions.
He advised me to put my 4x4 into 4 wheel (H) drive when travelling up steep mountains (regardless of weather).
His claim is that this will give better fuel consumtion and also spread the load over the whole car rather than on the back axle when in 2 wheel drive. He informed me that he was a road train driver and that is what they do and nobody (car dealers) ever advise customers off this.
Cheers
Ben
The following comments are very true, if you want the correct answer to the question you need to supply info as to what your vehicle is. JC.
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Be your self; there's no body better qualified ! "I came into this world with nothing , I still have most of it"
When towing I always travel in 4wd high as I believe it spreads the load between the diffs this is in a Pajero which does have a centre diff, so 4wd can be used on sealed roads, don't think it would improve economy, more likely to cause a slight increase as there is more running gear in use. Cheers David
My Rig is a 2007 Mitsubitsi Triton 4x4 V6 petrol. ( I know it should have been a diesel but I bought it before I had planned to to travel around Australia )
My Rig is a 2007 Mitsubitsi Triton 4x4 V6 petrol. ( I know it should have been a diesel but I bought it before I had planned to to travel around Australia )
Cheers Ben
Do NOT engage 4 wheel drive on this vehicle. You will damage the driveline.
I had the same vehicle as a diesel and have now got the later MN model which DOES have a centre diff and can be flicked in & out of 4x4 on any surface at up to 100kmh.
Having said that I don't use 4x4 towing on any hard surface as a rule (whilst towing)
As to your first post, I have never seen a B double that had 4 wheel drive as such. They can lock the power divider effectively locking the two (rear) drive axles but they wouldn't do that on bitumen for the same reasons as the car.
Cheers Neil
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Neil & Lynne
Pinjarra
Western Australia
MY23.5 Ford Wildtrak V6 Dual Cab / 21' Silverline 21-65.3
Bensuz 29 I had a freind who bought a Jackeroo a few years back. The salesman told him when towing to use 4wd which he did the first time he hooked on a small van.
After his first day of towing he had torn half the tread off a new set of tyers and all the splines from a front drive shaft.Not a happy camper.
as already stated here it depends on the type of 4wd. and dont believe all that you are told.
Landy
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In life it is important to know when to stop arguing with people
and simply let them be wrong.
Talking to a fellow traveler and not being mechcanical minded, I would like to get some other opinions.
He advised me to put my 4x4 into 4 wheel (H) drive when travelling up steep mountains (regardless of weather).
His claim is that this will give better fuel consumtion and also spread the load over the whole car rather than on the back axle when in 2 wheel drive. He informed me that he was a road train driver and that is what they do and nobody (car dealers) ever advise customers off this.
Cheers
Ben
I just read this out to my husband, who is a road train driver himself, and he had to laugh. He said the guy who told you this is telling you porkies. Trucks don't have 4WD they have diff lock, which locks the diff and is ONLY to be used in slippery conditions and up steep hills, and ONLY at a crawling speed.
The same for the 4WD. If you want to double check, contact the manufacturer of your car and ask them. This way you will know what they recommend for their vehicles. You can also check up on your handbook for your car.
Thanks for your replies, the guy that told me this also told a few other stories which I knew were BS but I really wasn't sure on the 4x4 hill part. Again thanks for replying
