Using 4wd to slow down

[craig7h]

I was reading the last issue of trailer life, the article a couple wrote about looking for a new truck. In the article they said that when going down a step grade they will put their truck in 4wd low and low gear to help slow down. I would like to know if this is common practice. I would have never thought about doing that, is this something that the trucks transmission can handle.

[msgtord]

TooManyTents wrote:
Please translate "EB" and "EH".

Exhaust brake and tow haul.

[SCVJeff]

smkettner wrote:

kofire wrote:
I would imagine they are referring to putting the transfer case in 4-lo. It's still in 2wd until the front hubs are locked. There's nothing wrong with it at all. It won't hurt anything.

Some will some will not. Many front hubs are automatic.

Yeah... That started around 1973. Soon after, manual hubs were an option

[time2roll]

kofire wrote:
I would imagine they are referring to putting the transfer case in 4-lo. It's still in 2wd until the front hubs are locked. There's nothing wrong with it at all. It won't hurt anything.

Some will some will not. Many front hubs are automatic.

[kofire]

I would imagine they are referring to putting the transfer case in 4-lo. It's still in 2wd until the front hubs are locked. There's nothing wrong with it at all. It won't hurt anything.

[bpounds]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Question.......
ALL that wide open area and you had to get the 'back-in' site :B

Trying to leave a minimal footprint. Besides, I need the backing practice. 😉

[d3500ram]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
...
Question.......
ALL that wide open area and you had to get the 'back-in' site :B

LOL :B

[Old-Biscuit]

bpounds wrote:
I know most of you here just go from one full service resort to the next, but some of us have a little more developed sense of adventure. 🙂

I used low range pulling my fiver just a couple of weekends ago. The road was rocky, rough, and somewhat steep. It wasn't the grade so much as it was the need to go very slow over the bumps. Needed 4WD for sure. When leaving, I would have been riding the brakes most of the mile out of there, just to controls the speed over bumps. This isn't exactly what the OP described, but we don't really know do we?

This is about as rough as I'm willing to do with a fifthwheel, but plenty of people are pulling small popups that can easily handle this stuff.

This was our campsite for Memorial Day weekend. No crazy partiers around us!

Exactly^^^^^^^^^^^^


Question.......
ALL that wide open area and you had to get the 'back-in' site :B

[bpounds]

I know most of you here just go from one full service resort to the next, but some of us have a little more developed sense of adventure. 🙂

I used low range pulling my fiver just a couple of weekends ago. The road was rocky, rough, and somewhat steep. It wasn't the grade so much as it was the need to go very slow over the bumps. Needed 4WD for sure. When leaving, I would have been riding the brakes most of the mile out of there, just to controls the speed over bumps. This isn't exactly what the OP described, but we don't really know do we?

This is about as rough as I'm willing to do with a fifthwheel, but plenty of people are pulling small popups that can easily handle this stuff.

This was our campsite for Memorial Day weekend. No crazy partiers around us!

[time2roll]

We really need a link to the article before passing judgment.

Otherwise if low gear will not provide enough braking while towing on a paved surface you may have the wrong vehicle. And yes if going VERY slow down a dirt road using 4LO and first gear is fine.

[bpounds]

What does stopping have to do with it? You stop. You shift. You go.

Obviously the OP is paraphrasing the article, and what I'm getting at is that, no he should not do that with his travel trailer. But not everyone is pulling a travel trailer.

Also, a common modification made to new trucks is the ability to engage low range, while still in 2WD. Guys will use that on pavement and no harm is done to the truck. That could be useful on steep grades for some situations.

[eichacsj]

Huh? Like many stated you would have to stop. But 4 low and in low gear? That would be a top speed of 5 MPH I wouldn't even do that on a forest service road. If I was on any rode that was that steep the TT wouldn't be behind me, it would be at the camp site.

[bpounds]

craig7h wrote:
I was reading the last issue of trailer life, the article a couple wrote about looking for a new truck. In the article they said that when going down a step grade they will put their truck in 4wd low and low gear to help slow down. I would like to know if this is common practice. I would have never thought about doing that, is this something that the trucks transmission can handle.

Everyone here seems to only think about their own rigs, on the highway, pavement, etc.

We didn't read the article, and it might not have gone into detail anyway. But the couple could easily own a truck and trailer for off-road use. There are plenty of pop-up trailers designed for getting off-road. And yes, going into low range on a steep descent works great at holding the load. If you need low range to climb the hill, you probably need it for descending as well.

[gbopp]

pitch wrote:
Several posters have already mentioned it. How do you get into 4lo while moving?

The OP's next question will probably be, what's that grinding noise and why isn't my 4WD working? :B

[Cummins12V98]

You have to stop to put into 4 low on the rigs I know about. I am sure a person could do so and let it go thru the gears and lock out the one that holds the speed where a person wants. Still think the right tool for the job is a better idea.

[JiminDenver]

I think I would also be worried about the RPM of the engine.