Forum Discussion

Explorer

May 01, 2018

Backing up a steep driveway in 4WD Low gear?

Hi folks. I'm looking for advice on whether I can, or should, use 4WD low gear to back up my 25 ft. Microlite (7k lbs.) in low gear with my 2017 Chev 1500 5.3L. The standard reverse gear seems kind of high, and I've gotta back up a pretty steep drive, concrete, with a 90 degree turn on the drivers side onto the driveway and a 90 degree turn to the passenger side on the top after it flattens out. I'd like to take it slow, but don't want to put bad stress on the drive train either. THanks for any help.
-Luther

Tow Vehicles

Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
May 01, 2018
It depends. When I had my F350 I had put WARN hubs into the front end. That meant that I could use 4 X 4 low range and still only feed the rear wheels, or I could put the hubs in and have 4 X 4 front and back.

It certainly was a handy feature when I needed to go slow and steady. So, certainly on pavement and making sharp turns isn't good, but it does depend on what happens in your differentials and what gets driven.
TurnThePage
Explorer
May 01, 2018
Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. I think the wear and tear will be less on the 4 wheel drive components in 4low than on the transmission in standard 2high/4high.
time2roll
Nomad
May 01, 2018
On a hard surface? I would not use 4WD. Gravel or dirt driveway? You bet.
ScottG
Nomad
May 01, 2018
I do it all the time. Works great!
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 01, 2018
YES........

Use 4WD low & slow

One of the practical reasons for 4WD